What makes more money in Flatbeds

Typically the short hauls will pay more per mile. What type should you look for? Are you asking should I get a regular flatbed, a stepdeck, an rgn?

 

Rates depend on where the load originates from and where it is going. Are you going to have direct customers or go thru load boards?

 

Being up here in the north (Indiana, Michigan) you should look into covered wagons. That is what makes money up here where we are. Tarping and such is no big deal with one of them, and as you know, coils and plate steel are what gets the money in our area.

If you are looking to sending your guys over a 500 mile radius tho, I'd suggest a 51' stepdeck, steel frame (coil package) with wood floor. This will open your ability to haul heavy machinery, coils, plate, tractors and many other things. Plus i like the lower loading height for stability of the load and ease of tarping and securement. You won't usually need a ladder and you can haul a much wider variety of things. But make sure you get a 50-51' so you can load 48' flatbed loads most the time. If you get a 48' step you will be limited on a smaller lower deck loading area.

 

Stay in the Midwest, you should do pretty good finding decent rates. What ever you decide to run flatbed or step deck, get a unit that will allow at least 48,000 worth of payload. I will have to disagree with SCH on the steel frame wood deck 51 foot step deck idea. You will weigh to much for most steel loads. A coil package is extra cross members which is a must for coils. Aluminum trailers are stronger and lighter and will allow for heavier load capacity. You can get Aluminum 53ft step decks with full coil packages that weigh around 10,300 pounds.

 

Stay out of the mountain west and west coast... cheap or non-existant eastbound freight.

 

Get a 53 foot tridem step deck and open the doors to cross border freight also.