Owner Operator Finding Conestoga Loads

It’s a niche market, I guess finding brokers that are deal with it strictly is hard. I looked into a couple of years ago.

I wonder why flat bed loads don’t work with Conestoga trailers.

 

Liability

 

Ok explain. Because from my understanding a conestoga is a flat bed with an auto tarp system no?

 

The conestoga rides on the track on the rub rail. Forklift drivers hit the track with forklift. Conestoga doesn't close. They just bought a Conestoga. Liability

 

Yep, forklift drivers damage, loads too wide to close the sides, etc. It's a specialized tool, and won't work for all customers.

If I didn't want to tarp, I'd just wait for no tarp loads. Kinda like having a Conestoga though, you may sit a bit first.

 

why not just turn your connie back into a flatbed (is that possible?) and dont book tarp loads if you dont wanna tarp.

 

Well, my explanation is from a dumbed down version of what we were told by several customers, why they will no longer accept conestogas, when they have in the past. I'm guessing it has alot to do with the quality and availability of the help they can hire these days.

 

Yes you can remove them. Not a quick or simple job. Rather large investment to set in the corner.

Most steel mills accept them. But I have heard other shippers rejected them for the given reasons. To expensive when their untrained labors damage them.

 

Carry tarps. Best of both worlds. Twice the work. But only tarp the good loads