With a stepdeck if you do fall of it's only about 3' so it's not as big of a deal. Everyone has their preferences and the reasons for them. As I stated earlier, my preference is stepdeck so you can work at "slinging chains" from waist level while standing on solid ground. Rarely did I ever have to climb up except for climbing the steps of a piece of equipment to cover the exhaust. If you have a choice in what you load you can pick & choose what works best for you & what you're comfortable with. For tall stuff I would usually throw straps across so I didn't have to climb up on the load. If it has to be a chain instead of a strap, throw a strap first then hook the chain to it and pull the chain over without getting up on it. Remove your strap & repeat.
My father in law just turned 65 today and plans at least another 10 years hauling steel on a flat with a side kit. Out works most younger guys everyday.
Get a step only 40 inches to fall to the ground,,too old? heck I am 63 and use only 1/2 in and 5/8 in chains as well as tarp OD load when they want to pay my high dollar tarping fees , I start at $300 to tarp and get it..
is there still money to be made for O/O without tarping? I been running flatbed now for 3 yrs for a shoring company (company driver, no tarping needed) but I'm thinking of becoming an O/O. To be honest I never tarped a single load, don't even know how to tarp (I'm sure its not that difficult) I'm just not interested in tarping when it's 5 degrees outside as I live in the North east.
OF COURSE!!!!!!!!!!! I only tarp a few loads a year and only because they are just steel tarps and easy.
Would leasing on with a company be harder if I only wanted to run loads that didn't have to be tarped?
Skate-Board, are you with LS? I've researched lots of companies but keep coming back to LS as my best fit for when I make the jump to O/O. Now, after getting started doing heavy haul I've got to decide if I'll do step deck or heavy haul when I make the move over there.