53 or 48? What else?

Our conestoga is 3500 lbs heavier if i remember right. Been awhile since i pulled it.

As for scaling 48k. There aren't that many loads that actually weight that. Usually it's 46 - 47k.

As for dunnage as a headwall on the top deck. I gained 1/2 mile mpg by putting the dunnage on the bottom deck against the wall. Cuts down on wind resistance. And with that big gap between the truck and trailer.

Some guys use that extra 5 feet. Some don't. I never did. It was nothing more then a PITA to me. close axles, open axles, close axles, open axles. I'll stick with the 48's. I"m familiar with the overhang laws.

 

I have a 53 with a fixed spread. Several states I can not go to. If I get another trailer it will be a 48 so I don't have to worry about axle locations. I am pretty sure with a 48 you can run in any state regardless of axle locations.

 

Was it 6' tall or something?

 

If I had the same freight that needed to be covered easily,.. I could see myself using a conestoga. I'm not against it. You can always find loads that work within the weight you can haul.

I do too much large machinery,.. over size and things that just wont work inside a conestoga.

Hurst

 

HAR HAR. not.

 

I gotta go with Oscar on this one.

I have 12 4x4's stacked 6 high at the head of my trailer and they have absolutely zero effect on mpg. And its not like they hug the back of my sleeper either,.. trailer has only an 18" king pin set back,.. so it barely clears the front of the 5th wheel. My truck has a 250" wheel base,.. so even with the headache rack set behind the mufflers.. I still have a considerable gap between the trailer and the sleeper.

If it does effect it,.. its minuscule at best. Like .005 mpg,.. certainly not .5 mpg,.. that much I would notice. I keep a log of my fuel mileage between every fill up ever since I've owned this truck from day 1.

Hurst

 

18 4by4. 2feet high and far enough back for wind resistance. .2 on flat land...5 in the mountains. If I had a dirt loader. It was 1 plus. That bucket was a big wind scoop.
Depends on truck spec and trailer spacing but that was my results. 5th wheel was bolted. No sliding forward. Weed exhaust. No side stacks.

 

I'm not questioning your personal results. I apologize,.. I should have made that clear.

Just stating my setup and results.

Hurst

 

Hurst, I am about to return to the Industry after a few years and am going to buy either a 35 ton RGN or a Flat/Step. My experience is mostly moving Machinery and flatbed freight but my question is now that the freight is down across the Country as is rates, do you think an OO can make it working off load boards alone. My equipment and Insurance will be fully paid for up front. you seem to have the knowledge and a down to earth, no BS opinion of the industry. Any advise on companies or Brokers who specialize in Machinery moving would be greatly appreciated.

 

This is as honest and no BS of an answer as I can give.

With the exception of my trailer,.. everything is paid for. I am leased to another company and run under that carriers authority. Other than bobtail, fuel and annual tag/registration,.. I have nothing else that I pay for. Carrier covers the rest. For that,.. I give up 20%. I get 80% of the line haul.

Other than 2 direct shippers in the Chicagoland area,.. 99.9% of what we do is off the load boards. ITS and DAT360 mainly.

The way I make it work is to be careful where I go and how heavy I haul. I try to be as frugal with fuel and expenses as I can.. yet still keep up with maintenance and needed preventative maintenance/repairs to avoid any down time. I try to run short hauls during the week,.. anywhere from say 150 - 450 mile hauls paying anywhere from $650 - $1500 has been the norm off the boards lately. Anything where I can get loaded and deliver the next morning to get a reload the same day and hustle all week like that.Then try to find a longer paying haul for the weekend and sit out sunday for a restart and deliver monday morning to start the week off again.

For the most part its pretty consistent and steady. There are days like today.. where nothing is paying enough to start the truck. How ever,.. cant sit forever,.. if nothing profitable comes up,.. I'll eventually take what ever is paying the most with a light load to get me where I hope freight is moving better.

So the answer is yes,.. you can do it 100% off the load boards. But you have to be willing to hustle and keep at it,.. work a little harder than say someone with dedicated/direct shippers who is paid a bit more and can work at his leisure. What I do is not leisurely at all. Its a steady hump and hustle all week long. Its tiresome,.. boring at times,. and I miss my home and wife like crazy.

It can be done. I'm not rich or living a flamboyant lifestyle by any means. I do like nice things and its nice to know I can afford most of what I want when I want it.

I have guys tell me all the time, that I am doing it wrong. I should be going after direct freight,.. charge more,.. work smarter not harder sort of thing. I live in Florida,.. and believe me when I say this,.. I am always looking for potential shippers when I am driving around at home. I walk in or call business lists. I've given so many bids and rate quotes,. I feel like a robot. I've landed a few shippers that are willing to work with me. But they are not steady, nor do they pay enough to earn the kind of money I want to make. So until something clicks,.. I'll continue to use the boards and keep notching away one load at a time.

Hurst