I have a 2015 Volvo D13 VNL 780 500HP 12.5/40000 axles 612,000miles. I am planning to switch from reefer to Flat Bed trucking but it will require me to pull 130K pounds weight almost 150miles each day (Steel Coil) Also City Drive. Would appreciate if someone be able to suggest whether it would be wise to pull such weight keeping in view my truck mileage and age etc
I would suggest you post this as it's own thread in the flatbedder section, or questions for experienced drivers section. Throwing a question like this into a response to a completely unrelated thread might not gain the attention of people who can offer advice. EDIT : I see that the mod team was pro-active and started a new thread for this fellow.
130k per load or 130k per day? 130k per load, your trailer needs to have 5 axles on it, and the pay needs to be at the very least 3X what you used to pull for. The truck should be fine ((if you have an 18 speed), but you’d better stack your money for maintenance ASAP. 130k per day is 3 loads at 45k. Common load for a steel hauler. If you have a 10 speed behind your 500, you will be okay. Even so, it’s a hard life. A lot more wear on you the driver. Be sure to get proper rest. Luck in battle.
In Canada there are many trucks spec'd the same as yours that are pulling 140,000lbs gross weight over 500 miles every day on the prairies in hoppers,flats and tanks. This is done on 2 trailers with 5 axles total. If hauling in mountain and hill country then the specs are increased to normally 525 hp or more, 18 spd trans, and 46000 rear ends usually 3.90 or more ratio
