Returning o/o : Maybe?

Hello all, just needed some advice. I considering getting back into business and getting my own authority this time, its been 5 years since i last drove for a company doing local delivery. Before that i owned my own trucks, i had 3 of them and ran three or four states pulling end dump trailers, i had all 3 of them leased to a guy but had to find my own work. After i sold out i did contruction work and then got a job with the state, but i hate going to work each day, my passion still lies with trucking even though i know what a tough road it can be. So my plan is to buy a used 379 peterbilt with a Cat C-15 NZ engine and buying a step deck trailer, i also plan on getting my own authority and pulling loads off the load boards till i can establish some good contacts for my own customers. The only thing that concerns me is i have never pulled flatbed before, but im an old farm boy and think i can surely figure it out as far as sucurement and tarping is concerned. ANY FEED BACK OR SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

 

I have figured up all my expenses including paying myself $.50 per mile and my operating expense is $1.68 per mile.

 

I realize that the economy is bad right now and freight is cheap as its ever been, but i just think that when things start recovering a little bit you will see a fast jump in rates because of the tightening in capacity. Also that 1.68 figure was for everything including maintainance and replacement truck and trailer fund.

 

Coastie: Have you noticed rates increasing slightly in the last 3 or 4 weeks or not?

 

Hope you can keep the wolves at bay." Good Luck to you".

 

Anyone know of any good flatbed stepdeck freight brokers?