Flatbed or Hopper - thoughts welcomed

Hey everyone,
I ran flatbed for 5 years including rgn, and a hopper bottom for 6 months which was a memorable experience. I'm having a tough time making the decision, can't quite get off the dime. Which trailer to get?
Maybe rent each for a few months? Heck, maybe split the year up with both? Looking at the prices of ownership and depreciation versus rent / write off, either are comparable minus startup costs for chains-binders/straps/tarps/headboard on the skateboard. My authority: US, ON, QC, registered in the other provinces. No California. Based in St Louis.

This is one of those forks in the road,,, this time I'll ask for help. Rates seem 10-25% to flats, but how's the quality of life folks are experiencing?

Thanks in advance.

mccark

 

Thanks White Dog I think that answers it.

 

I started the CVOR for ON & QC, but asked the lady to stop.... think I'll call her back and restart the process.
Thanks for your reply,

avoir un grand jour, vous voir bientôt

 

Thanks PNDB, it's probably smartest to keep doing what I know and watch closely on the hopper side. I know a guy who runs a couple loads a week on the side for his buddy, central IL. Keep an ear to the ground, see how it goes.

 

Hey all,
Since the last post, the MC came in, Canadian CVOR is in flight, have the truck, and today the trailer - a 2012 Wilson hopper and will load out Monday.

Purchased a 2010 Freightliner Columbia, DD15@560, 13spd, 355 with 22.5, 671K, and no skirts. Clean truck. Good warranty and I'm satisfied, it was 1800 less than the dealership, 2yr/200K everything. I put that new Rand McNally 760 fleet GPS in it with weather overlay. Haven't decided if I'm going to use the electronic log, that will depend on if the lower paid plan logs speeding violations, I know the middle plan offers that for those who have dispatch. More on that, since I have mixed feelings,, kind of like letting a vampire in... you know? I'll probably do the electronic log for a month, can always print them and keep them stapled to the paper log book. I do like the idea of less paperwork. Using a Verizon jetpack hotspot to keep comm going, weather for gps, computer, email etc.

During this journey the biggest annoyance was the catch-22 of having MC completed, having insurance, and having truck purchased, and then the time it takes the state to get their process done. I started everything as soon as I could and after the date of truck purchase, it took 12 days for the state to process title, get cab card, IFTA, and the plate to me. I have 92 cuss words in some fairly creative streams for all that ####.

Back to the search, I spent a lot of time on road trips to go look at trucks, last minute plane tickets is crazy expensive. So I drove. Looked at 6 trucks & road trips, and they all fell through either by the lender, the quality of the truck during test drive, or the lipstick that the pig was wearing, or the lender changing their mind at the last minute.

It's a sellers market, the trucks are going fast. Lots of what I saw in person were rode hard and put down wet. The favorite line of the sales guy was, 'well it's an older model'... to which I replied, "well it doesn't have an older model price"...another story.

Had a sweet used Werner379EXHD Pete, 675K, for 69K got him down to 60K, and the lender came up with some heartburn. Even with 25% down. So at that point I was out of patience, running out of time, money, thoroughly PO'd and remembered this nice looking Columbia was for sale on the road back through Springfield, MO. The dealer did the dpf, DOT, and dropped the price to my ask. Always liked the Detroit so!!! Here we go.

For you guys that gave me help online and off, hats off to you and thanks.

Kevin