LTL 48ft Or 53ft Trailer

Working on my authority and decided I wanna pull refer preferably LTL I want to be knowledgeable and do all my homework before I make any moves. I got a great deal on a 48ft Great Dane but I don’t wanna run into issues on getting loads. Also I been looking into different brokers I was told H&M is a decent one to start with. Any advice, or tips are greatly appreciated

 

Have a lot off cash in reserve.

 

If all you plan to do is ltl, then you can get by with a 48. You’ll some what limit yourself by not having a 53 doing truck load. I’ve loaded some Sysco corporate stuff that’s between 40-50 pallets.

 

Refer go with a 48 spread axle if possible. You don't need a 53 for temp controlled loads. Temp loads tend to be on the heavy side, and even in a 53 you don't want to load past the 42' mark anyway

 

I do ltl and 95% of the time it’s loaded to the back door. Average is around 32 pallets.

 

The last company I worked for before becoming an O/O ran both 53 and 48 reefers on LTL. I have to admit, the 48's were kind of nice. I'm based in California, and you can run the tandems all the way to the rear on a 48 and be legal, and they really hold about the same amount unless you haul light produce loads where they load pallets all the way to the doors. As an O/O I'd probably stick with the 53. I'd hate to miss out on loads because of a short trailer. I know you're planning on LTL loads, but I think you'll find after you get into it for a while that the full loads are much easier to get and pay just as well in most cases. I do LTL for a contract client, but my back hauls are always brokered loads and many require a 53.

 

If it was me I would do the 53 because you never know when you will get a load where you will need the space. I bought a trailer years ago and it was a 48' by 96" wide instead of buying the 48' by 102" and ended up many times I couldn't load the trailer because it wasn't wide enough so I look at it buy the 53 and than you have it and when it comes time for resale you should have a better chance of selling it.

 

With doing LTL, I’d aim for a 51’ spread or independent sliding spread. I loaded 30 pallets weekly when I ran mine, then 28 pallets on my way back. Just make sure you get a 102 wide and be mindful of interior specs.

 

Better to have and not need then need and not have, 53s are a lot easier to find too

 

Appreciate that guys I think I’m gonna play it safe and go with a 53 spread axle. I got a list of brokers to start off with until I build the contacts to go fully direct if y’all have any other brokers I should give a call to please let me know