Well I was just told that my bus ticket has been ordered so I'll be in Gary on Monday. I'm pretty stoked.
Mentor is in Mexico tonight. I'll ask why on the chains and get back with you. I am in Laredo getting a run to East of Flint Mi. I looked at all the flatdicks here. Some use the high rise 780 Volvos.
Flatbed rates are in the crapper now, and we get paid by percentage. I can't say it's good, but it pays the bills. They are MUCH easier and quicker to put on. With flatbed or step, there's a lot more room above the front drive tires compared to vans, so doubles aren't too bad. You can get by with singles on drive axles in Oregon. Not sure if that will meet CA's chain requirement.
No offense but the rate being low is just because of who you work for. My nephew is working for a flatbed company on % and he is doing great. He showed me his pay check stub for last week and I couldn't hardly believe it. 2300 miles and his gross was 1400, not too bad I would say
The problem with % is if you are getting the right % and what the freight is doing. When freight is high $ it can be a lot better. If everybody is cutting throats to get the load the rate will come down. Another factor is how far you have to bounce to get that load. Sometimes a good cpm that pays to bounce is a better option.
75% plus FSC. Possibly. Hoping to catch some Landstar flatbedders at truck stops and see what they are currently averaging. And what notarps said. Right now, cpm carriers are probably better way to go especially if they pay for empty miles (though that usually comes with a catch like forced dispatch).
mentor tells me if the doubles come loose they can tear stuff up brakes chambers wrap around the axle etc. Singles on the drives are legal for Commifornia. That is what they had on the handout at the Sparks NV terminal. No doubles needed on any axle. Also drive at 30 or less. 35 will sling chains (better chance)
