Owner Operator Finding Conestoga Loads

What I've noticed is: if it is an overhead crane Unload, they will take it. If it is forklift ....prolly not. Obviously ymmv.
Now, on the complete opposite end of that...I had a customer in Michigan tell me this winter that they weren't going to load any flats, conestogas only. When they were accepting flats up until that point. This is a tarp inside place too. So.....I dunno.

 

...just get better dispatch ...i run 2 conestogas full time and never waited for load... Pm me if you need dispatch

 

I was talking to another OO the other day while we were sitting at a Shipper and he was complaining of the same with his conestoga. Seems to me if you don't have the type of freight that specifically requires a conestoga than you're losing a very large percentage of loads that could just be tarped.

Nobody is going to tell you who their customers are that require conestogas. Why do so many of you think that your competitors are your sales team? Your problem is easily rectified by removing the conestoga kit and buy some tarps if you're unwilling to find customers for your equipment.

 

Are you starting a dispatch service?

 

No ... Too much headache . I use independent dispatch under my authority and she is looking for 2 more flat/step units

 

Your region obviously matter tremendously. Conestogas are in high demand where robotic & electronic machines are common. Shippers do not want your dirty greasy wet tarps touching the product and will pay well for a Conestoga.
Also good many steel shippers prefer them and these are very common across the eastern half of the nation.
Where are you primarily operating?

 

out of the Denver area

 

Well I would say that’s most of your problem. Connie’s are great in the eastern half of the country especially in steel county.

 

Finding freight out there is next to impossible.

 

Yeah, you're screwed there then. About the only thing regular out of Denver is pipe, and they don't like the liability either, since they load you stem to stern and those conestoga's tarp and bars just get in their way, plus you'd need pipe stakes which may or may not work on your connie. Even the railroad rails and metal out there they load is dirty and same issue, liability. Maybe try running it as a van out of that area?