So, I parked my flat and bought this dry van . My experience

How big of a rate difference would you say your seeing going from flat to van?

 

That's the million dollar question. Even in slow times, a driver can still get a flatbed load easier than dry van, especially if they stay in the right lanes. Spot market freight stinks for most drivers regardless of what type of trailer you pull

 

1st, I say, great idea, climbing around a flat in freezing rain is no day at the beach, and yes, the van will be heavier, think of it as a flat with metal sides and top. Cupping tires( and funky ride) could be wheel bearings, often overlooked, and in Spring, makes a great storage place. At least you didn't do the ultimate foolishness and buy a reefer.

 

I'm contemplating doing the same thing, but I think I'm just going to put a conestoga on my flat for the winters and take it off for the spring through fall times.

Dry van rates seem to always be lower and the shippers/receivers seem to treat door swingers as less than human.

 

I'm not sure that putting on and taking off a conestoga is that easy and that storing it for the summer is as easy as breaking down a side kit.

 

the side rails stay on. The headboard unbolts and the rest will slide right off the back.

 

Silly me, I was thinking you take the rails off. Do you leave the doohickey at the rear that tighten it?

 

Those are usually easily removable for loading/unloading, but I would definitely take them off for the warm season even if you had to unbolt them.

 

I run my own authority, and have both a flat and a van. I have ran the van all year, flat rates have been in the toilet all year.

If you run the spot market, you have to know how to run it. I haven't hauled a load under $2 mile in a long long time and don't intend to. If you are one of those guys that have to book a day or too ahead, you will always haul cheap loads off the spot market.

Edit: I should add that I do not run cross country. I stay in a pretty tight area, Midwest/Southeast.

 

Some say that, but DAT trend lines always show Van's lower year round and last minute booking in a down market is a terrible idea in my experience. Sometimes you'll do well, but just as often you'll end up sitting that day and I expect to profit 400-600 dollars everyday I'm on the road or else why am i living in a truck thousands of miles from home?

How many miles are you getting per week with these $2 + per mile van rates and what's your running mile if you don't mind me asking.