You bought a good 2004 tractor for $64,500. You have your own authority. You have a good driver - single, no dependents, FAST approved, can cross the border and either stay on the road forever or do local work. Your goal is to get MAXIMUM BANG out of your investment (truck). You also have Yellow Pages, envelopes, stamps, a phone and are ready to start showering shippers in your area with direct mail letters offering your trucking service. You don't care what loads/trailers you deal with as long as you get ahead. You think you can:

1. Buy a 5th wheel attachment and winch for $30,000 and turn your truck into a Class 8 heavy duty tow truck, towing highway trucks at $300/hr.
2. Start hauling construction machinery and equipment with a lowboy/float RGN trailer for 5 bucks a mile.
3. Get a stepdeck trailer and haul oversized loads
4. Get a flatbed trailer, install a QuickDraw tarping system and haul steel and other expensive metals in style
5. Dismantle the truck and sell it as parts at 200% markup compared to the cost of the truck
6. Approach the tourist board of your city/town/village and put their ad on one side of your 53 ft dry van trailer at $1,000/month a side.
7. Hire another driver and make your truck a TEAM OPERATION. Train yourself as freight broker and sell excess loads that you get from direct shippers at 15% profit to other carriers.
8. Buy a reefer trailer and start hauling produce.
9. Extend the frame of the truck, install a straight truck box, and start an expedited transport company. 2 drivers drive as team; the truck moves constantly 365/24/7.

What do you guys think? Which of these can get you a ton of money? Any other suggestions? What trailer/application has the potential for absolute maximum profit?

 

Lots of shorthauls doing any of the above commodity, at a decent short haul rate. Keep the truck loaded both ways.

It really depends what you have lined up for loads, long or short haul.

 

The time to ask your questions is before you buy the truck. I think the best answer to which type of trailer or operation you should pursue is to do something which you have experience or knowledge. Do some research in your area. Each of the various types of operations have their benefits and drawbacks. Find an area you can enjoy. Something which works for me and that I enjoy may not be your cup of tea. Check rates and need in your area.

Unless you have experience pulling flats or steps you don't want to buy an RGN or start pulling over-sized loads. Unless you know what you are doing you can lose your shirt. There is more to both than hooking up to a trailer and taking off. Some steel pays fairly well, but steel usually doesn't pay all that great. Having a fast tarping system could maximize your profitability. Short steel runs can pay more than the longer runs.

 

I might look into that tourist board thing. Hell I'll let them throw a picture of a big palm tree with beach scenic view.

I have actually thought of this before but I was thinking more companies that might want to advertise. But I like the tourist thing better. Less chance of a conflict with one product advertising where they shouldn't be.

I'll report back what I find out.

 

Gman, I tried flatbedding last summer and I enjoyed the exercise. I have prior experience in towing (5-ton rolloff truck) so learning to chain and strap came easy. The only thing I positively hated was TARPING. I don't believe in the 21st century when we lower windows by pushing a button and change TV channels with a remote, we should do so much manual work as involved in tarping. I later discovered I could get a Quickdraw tarping system (or something similar) put on the new trailer and have everything financed together. From what you and other guys are saying looks like a cheap tandem flatbed with a tarping system can bring in the big bucks doing SHORT/REGIONAL runs. I live near Guelph, ONT and when I checked the Yellow Pages I found lots of companies listed under "STEEL DISTRIBUTORS AND WAREHOUSES".

 

I saw trucks advertising small communities in Ontario so definitely someone is out there who can use the 53 foot moving advertising board

 

Or just a second half... :wink:

 

There are lots of steel plants and distributors near you on both sides of the border. The problem you can run into with steel is waiting to load or unload. It can really eat into your day. Having a side kit, Conestoga or similar setup can save you a lot of time and work well if you don't like tarping loads. I prefer a side kit. The Conestoga and similar setups are very expensive. As I recall, it can add about $17,000 to the price of your trailer. I would think the roll tight systems would have a similar price tag. Keep in mind that whatever you choose, most steel plants load either from the side or top. Before buying anything you need to decide what type of freight you want to haul and match the trailer to the freight or application.

 

How about getting your own escort car drivers so you can charge big bucks for oversize loads and pocket the escort fees.

"Profit" is a funny word.

You could run lots of miles for less money and post a big number at the end of the year.

You could run less miles for more money and post a number on each load...but fewer loads.

 

Actually I thought of that too (just becoming a freight broker working from home) but then this guy on the loadtraining.com says you can get more loads if you are also a carrier (have a truck with a driver) on top of being a broker. Is that true?