Is better to own your own trailer or just haul whatever is out there? Do you get more money for owning your own? I always wanted to own a few flatbeds but have no clue how it all works yet.
Is it worse to have it though and sit around while they unload only to deadhead somewhere else to load it again? It just seems like a lot of sitting and waiting. Just playing devils advocate here. I would love to own my own trailer and get it to match the truck. I just wondered what was best...
get your own trailer......the d/h is much less than some power only's as an added bonus you know what condition YOUR trailer is in compared to pulling thiers where its luck of the draw......and you'll never have to hunt for one either
Pulling a flat/coveredwagon don't usually involve drop and hook preloaded deals, thats usually only for vans. If your gonna run a flat your better off to own it.
Once you own your own trailer, you likely will never go back. Yes, more money, but OTOH, more headache and time spent in upkeep. Although with a van/flat, there isnt nearly as much as with a reefer. I'm partial to a spread, but they eat tires up. I just put 8 new virgins on mine. Just shy of $3,000 all said and done.
There are pros and cons to both. Here are some. pros for owning your own flatbed: You get paid more, You know the trailer better and what is or isn't wrong with it, meaning less unexpected brake downs and more miles. Cons for owning own flatbed: Cost you more to maintain, If flatbed freight goes down you are stuck with trailer that hopefully you don't owe payments on, because it will be parked in the back forty while you are out pulling some other form of trailer ie, tanker, van, reefer to make ends meet. My opinion is if you are going to lease to a company and that company pulls multiple types of trailers I would not buy one, that way you can switch if need be to another trailer type that is available and your not stuck sitting. Good Luck in which ever path you take.
If you're leased on with a trucking company, you would get paid an average of 10% more., having your own trailer. But now a days , there's lot more trucking companies that are charging the drivers for using the company trailers. And they're charging an average of 125 dollars a week! Now that's on going. Never stops. You can finance a trailer and have it paid within a year. Not much maintance to it except tires and brakes. If you have your own trailer? You've got it made! Screw the companies, you can get your own customers and ship their products. Forget giving your money to the middle man or trucking companies. Yes, you'll make more money having your own trailer. An Owner Operator should be their Own Independant Business Person. It's Fun, Challenging, and more money to be made.
