Anyone running LTL flatbed under their own authority?

My father ran LTL reefer freight with a 1 truck operation. He had a dedicated account, hauling frozen cheese from upstate NY to several points in Boston. He had the truck loaded so that the product that was last to be dropped off, was the first to be loaded- so on and so forth. He most often unloaded & lumped by himself. I would think that this would be standard practice when dealing with LTL freight of any kind.

Granted, he didn't get that gig right out of the gate; and this was 10 years ago, so maybe people have lost the organizational skills to load a trailer this way.

 

I see what you're saying. Sounds like a good way to run an LTL reefer. I was unaware that bulkheads like that existed. Also, like I said; this was 10 years ago and seeing that I'm only 22, this is going off of childhood memories.

As for the lumping, I do remember him having to reconfigure pallets at some warehouses he delivered to; based on height of boxes. Some wanted them lower (6-7 boxes high rings a bell) than they could be stacked in the trailer. Maybe I've used "lumping" incorrectly.


On the note of LTL flatbed, I don't see why not. If you can find clients great; if not, there's no reason why you can't haul full loads with it, right? So far it doesn't look like there's many (if any) doing it, so you could be on to something.

 

Roll-Tite is a brand that makes these types of tarping systems for flat bed trailers. A curtain side has a roof that stays in place whereas the Roll-Tite folds like an accordion - roof and all for crane loading. They are installed on any flat bed as an aftermarket addition. I pulled one for a while and it was the cats butt of trailers - mine was a Roll-Tite brand tarp system on a Benson flat bed. The only thing it limits you from is over-size and those big styrofoam loads.

 

now my friend running a flat bed is not all that hard ive pulled them for years and buy myself i always run alone and have no problem getting my own freight and loading and unloading i now pull a step deck and do heavy haul which is even better. and yes there is plenty of ltl freight to be had although i stay away from ltl unless its to fill out a loaded trailer which i d quite a bit , if i load a peice of equipment and there is space left i do my best to fill it with ltl freight that means more money but ltl by itself not enough money for me but tyou wont have a bit of trouble doing it by yourself just turn and burn my friend, best of luck .---southernpride