12'6 - 14 wide loads

I honestly don't know how any one man operations can even do them....

I did a couple dozen or so OS loads (10' to 12') and I could not stand being on the phone speaking with permit service people.....it seemed like endless call backs and questions and route figuring....all while the broker wants your truck that day yet takes forever to come up with the super detailed information required for the permits.

Even if I could figure out a way to quote for that stuff I would way rather just be out running something that didn't drive me nuts before I ever even saw it!

Someday I will get back in them but only Oh and PA and then I will just set myself up in their systems for annual permits.

 

Use a permit service.
@mattvogelpohl the one I use has all my equipment and measurements on file, all I need is load dims. Charges $19.95 plus tax per permit and I have them in my inbox in a short amount of time (some states take longer than others) clean & filed correctly.

 

For what it's worth, it appears that keen has a good training program. I've had more than one load beside me and ask me to go over the load and permits cause it was his first od load. To date each one had the load secured right, flagged right, and the route memorized when i thought I'd be sneaky and quiz him on it. So that tells me they teach their new guys well.

Note: these were not rookie drivers, they are rookie od drivers. I don't think keen hires trainee drivers.

 

I have tried several and they none of them do things at the speed of business IMO....

Not their faults I am guessing.....the States tiny little permit departments probably get overwhelmed at times.

I guess if I ever decide to quote one again it will be so high that I won't get it!

 

I'm not a newbie, just somewhat new to flatbed. I worked through a temp agency a couple years ago in a day cab, on call.... And that's the extent of it.

 

Always quote high. Gotta make it worth your while.
"If you want cheap: you don't want me!"

 

I agree doing irregular route stuff is hard as a one man band.

Don't do it!!! 99% of my OS stuff is between GA, NC, and somewhere in ME, NH or VT.

This allows for relationships of sorts with the states involved; and things go pretty well. For small carriers niche deals are where it's at (imo)

 

In BC we have to do night moves on anything wider than 14'6. Alberta is day time only so by the time you finish a trip out there you feel like death from your messed up sleep schedule.

One thing is fueling. Good luck trying to squeeze threw some fuel islands! At the end of my day I always drop the trailer and bobtail to fuel so I'm ready to roll as soon as I can first thing in the mornings or night.

 

Get at least a year (preferably 2 or 3)with regular flat bed and then try getting with a od/heavy haul outfit. You are a heck of a lot more likely to be hired on with no od experience when they can trust you got the securement part down. Assuming you aren't pulling nothing but lumber and drywall a year or two is enough to get some odd ball loads that make ya think on how to keep it on the trailer.

 

Down here if you plan your route right you usually don't run into fueling problems unless you are 16ft wide. Lots of small independent truck stops with an extra wide fueling lane. Just gotta do that trip planning right.