Is this the WRONG time to get a flatbed?

I currently run reefer.
The reefer I have, I don't own.
I own my own truck.
Rather than buy a reefer, I am considering going back to a deck.
I ran RGN, 8 years ago, but I am thinking step deck would be better in my current market (FL)
Just to be clear, I would not be starting a new business. I have been running my own truck two years now.
Thinking of changing because my market it is hard to find a load from the house for more than $1.20 a mile.

Just a few questions if its a good idea....
What tarps, and size, should I grab?
Been looking on the boards, and its asking for 6' and 8' tarps? Would that be 24' wide, 20' long x3?
Straps and chains isn't an issue, I am familiar with those due to running RGN.
Do you consider anything else essensial?

I would buy a reefer, but the thought of it having mechanical issues terrifies me. Waking up at 2AM to no engine noise..... Also the Florida reefer market has been ####, so the first 1000 miles from my house I make... nothing.

 

Your comments about the FL reefer market astound me. I guess, the same lopsidedness in the rest of south FL trucking affects reefers, too?

If it were me, I’d still buy a reefer and just stay above I-10. There’s so much food and produce moving east to west, I’d think it would be worth it.

I had a guy tell me, running straight up I-95 is where the FL reefer money is. He said no one wants to go northeast, so the rates are much better. We were loading out of the Coca Cola/Minute Maid facility in Dunnedin. He said he loads out of there, every week.

 

Sure, run up 95 1.50. Then you can get another 1.50 a mile from the north east. Reefer is great from the mid west to anywhere. going back to the mid west, is bad.

 

I would get a low pro step with ramps and haul cars and small trucks just to get out of florida,same thing to get out of new england.

 

It's isn't really open deck season. It will kick off again around the tail end of March, early April when snow disappears & construction picks back up..

Leaving FL sucks on the spot market far as I see it. One can wait around & piece something decent together or make a 100 calls & finally land on $3 bucks a mile. But it goes 700 miles, picks Monday & delivers Wednesday.. lol Time wasted either way..

 

A lot of stepdecks hauling Ford Transits out of the plant I was in Tuesday.

 

I have hauled cars on the RGN, $1 a mile each too.

 

I've only come out of South Florida(150 mile search radius from Okeechobee) loaded a few times with a flatbed, all of them except for one required a team so they paid well. The one that didn't was onions that needed to move on a Saturday or Sunday. I think it was $1400 for just under 400 miles, no tarp. Other than that, I would deadhead 300+ miles to get a decent rate.

 

I know it’s not a step, but i seen this the other day
2018 Reitnouer Max Miser Flatbed Trailer

 

I got a 56 week old one of these, I put 2 60” boxes on it. Used it for 5 loads since new. I’d let it go for $45k.