flatbedding tricks of the trade?

Oh, and the above equipment, IS PAID FOR!

I didn't do that hauling LUMBER!

Mike

 

I'm steady but where in heck are these (constant) rates for over $3/m?
I know live bees go around $4/m range and haz-mat in the $5/m range.

 

Lumber scarcely pays for fuel now...unless they're composite beams....

 

And who do you work for? Steady freight at $3 a mile might coax me over? I might even take the kit off...

Mike

 

I go through a few brokers on the boards and some I have developed a good rapport with. They know what I like to haul and where I like to go.
I learned to have several in my pocket from my dump biz days. Doesn't pay to just work for one unless you like to sit and wait, which if you're a flat-bedder, you know better. If the load does not pay.....
It's on the phone asking about someone else's freight....and keep rolling....

 

Dude,

I never moved for LESS THAN $3 a mile! My tractor is a 2007 and the trailer is a 2006. They are paid for. The tractor just turned 130,000 miles! The trailer has 250,000 miles on it, but never moved out of the house for less than $3. I rolled most of the 2009 assembly line for the new Dodge ram, all sorts of stuff for Ford, the above picture, and part time for GM hauling dies and tools. Under my own authority. Money was fantastic up until about 8 months ago, then it went piecemeal and than nothing.

Not trying to pick a fight, I am new here, and don't know you, and you don't know me. If this is going where I think it is, I want to call a truce. I ain't calling you a liar, please don't call me one. As I am the guy that is dragging the Schneider trailer. When you make that kind of money, you tend to live the lifestyle. I am trying to keep what little I have left right now. Things are not that great out here right now. and if you are honest...

Mike

 

I'm not calling you a liar at all.
I hear both sides of the rate story.
O/O's here telling us that all they can find is $1.20-1.40 range and then we have O/O's who turn their noses down for $3 or less/m.

I'm just asking you where those "high dollar loads" are at other than haz-mat or bees.

After all, the purpose of this forum is pass along the info.

 

I was enjoying this thread untill the how much you get started. Im starting with Roehl jan 12th in their flat bed fleet. I need all the help I cen get and want to learn as much as possible before starting. Anywy, thanks, this thread has been a big help. I have saved it to go over from time to time.

 

Rates right now are a sore subject for a lot of O/O's.
Just a couple of months back when fuel was running for $5 gal and some brokers were hording the FSC and padding their cut....
Now the rates are dropping and the "low cost of fuel" is one reason some brokers say the rates dropped other than the time of year and the economy.

I don't want to accuse anyone lying on the board. I just want to know how they got into a great situation. My experience though, the "Gravy Train" only last for so long....

 

Ron,

Right now, I wish I knew. I went back to the boards about 8 months ago, and I have my brokers too. Rates sunk like a rock, no, like a 10,000 lb anchor. Expedite automotive is now under $2 near 98% of the time. The small steel haulers are now getting in on the action cutting rates further. I have been out here near 20 years, and I have never seen such cannibalism of rates.

I hate to say it, but f'n Schneider is paying me better than what I MYSELF can do right now. And my dh is next to 0 compared with what I would do right now with my flat, more money in my pocket.

I had some direct accounts last year that TMC and Rhoel came in on and slashed the rates to $1.65. What does one do?

Hell, if you have your own authority, you know the costs.

Mike