Flatbed length question

Hers the deal.....In flatbed, a lot of the freight is heavy, or less then 48' long. Most of the freight we carried at tmc maxed out in weight before length. Why drive around with a extra 5 foot dovetail you rarely need? Things like insulation and large equipment (john dear) could benefit from a 53, but most will fit on a 48 so the 48 is just more practical. In vans, we haul a lot of light freight, so space is your limiting factor

As for step deck. There are some loads you cant haul. Anything dock loaded from rear wont load on a step deck. You can haul taller loads though that you cant haul on a normal flat. Both have thier advantages for certain loads, but i feel the most flexible is a normal flat.

Side curtain flats are nice to avoid taRping, but will prevent you from hauling crain loaded product like biig beams or steel coils. Accordian style sliding roof will prevent from hauling real tall loads like insulation and sometimes lumber. Side kits can be removed, but will prevent tall loads as well. They are much faster for coils though. If you want the most flexibility, a regular 48 flat with a normal tarps will allow you to carry the most loads. Step will get you some specialized freight but you will loos some options to. 53; is good if you have a john dear account, or haul alot of insulation, other then that its a waste. Many sheet rock companies wont load a 53' because it wont fit int he 48 dock. If they load it you would be over weight on your trailer since they cant load the front 5 foot.

 

sry taRping

 

Don't forget to check your trailer brakes on your skateboard when running bob tail.

Keep the black side down and the silver side up














Lol Jk....a skateboard is a flat bed. Bobtail means running with no trailer...so no need to check the brakes on your trailer lol

Black side is the tires and silver side is the deck of an aluminum trailer. Basically means, dont roll it.

Cheater bar, winch bar, lazy bar, are all the same thing and are used to tighten the straps.

Hmm, i cant think of any other flat bed lingo lol

 

Where are you getting your info that flatbed freight is heavy??? You were either looking in the wrong places or the company you were pulling for just liked pulling heavy freight. A lot of the big flatbed outfits pull heavy sticks and bricks. Not wise and it definitely isn't the norm with anyone pulling a flat trying to make smart decisions on freight.

 

Yep, its more challenging. Yep, its dirtier. Yep, you get paid for SOME of that, by SOME companies.

There is a Roehl terminal there in Phoenix that trains some of the company's skateboarders. You could stop by and ask the instructors anything you want to.

And a side note: a winch bar has a bent, tapered end to insert into the strap winches. Hence the name. A cheater bar is a straight piece of pipe, open at both ends. Used for extra leverage on a winch bar (rarely need it), or for closing and opening chain snap binders (every time).

 

MJ, any company (as a customer) is going to try to ship/receive every pound that it can for every dollar it has to spend. I rarely carry less than 45k # on my trailer, unless it's insulation.

 

I'll be representing the 53' flats and steps here. I love pulling that extra bit of real estate around, it is the epitome of versatility. Of course it is all aluminum but this outfit rotates in new equipment quite regularly. And the bread and butter of their loads are the heavy stuff. I do get a good share of the lighter loads over time, like today we have a load of insulation coming in at 7800#. Of course it is also 8' high and 48' long, and quite the fuel guzzler with the high profile coming across I-80.