Pros and cons of flatbed versus step deck

tryin to stay instate is gonna be hard...theres alot of steel that leaves il, not much that stays in it

flat is more widely accepted, and can load just about anywhere...con..cant due a whole lot of machinery, and it doesn't take much to need a permit for height

step....a specialized trailer and should pay more than a flat, though it often wont...can haul any flat load, if the shipper will allow it (some wont), more versatile, can haul taller without permits
con....you will sit longer in some areas, and it costs more

 

dry vans are cheap!!!

get a flat, learn to PROPERLY secure loads, run yer hiney off..smiling as you enter the bank

 

The way rates have been dropping i dont think theres any difference in money pulling a flat or van.

Good luck strapping in -10 or tarping on a 100*F day.

No pun intended to you stinky flatbedders

 

Short runs like this might pay OK mileage but remember the time you have loading, securing your load and tarping. Then unsecuring and untarping. It's not like just bumping a dock with a van.

 

Trouble maker. In Tx, LA, OK we haul mainly pipe, pallets with well heads, other drilling fittings, mud. Have only had to tarp about 10 loads in last year and most were partial to cover high dollar stuff. Some of these electronic directional assc can cost over $200k. Lots of these mud and other fluids are in huge containers and you just throw a couple of straps accross em. I know a lot of these guys hauling lumber get cobbed into tarping a 400 mile load on a clear day with no rain in sight for a week. Uggh! But you can drive by any of these refrigerated houses and there are guys sitting there for 24 hrs or more, squeezed in like a freight yard where they have trailers stored. So either one has it's good and bad points. Sounds like you have a pretty good cust base and get to avoid these Hell holes. Now you just need to get a good old Binder like Double L and you might amount to something. Heard that Pete of your's wouldn't pull a sick wh ore off a piss pot.