The right trailer for the job?
 

I'm beginning to think I made a mistake with this Conestoga sliding tarp. We do have one shipper that pays almost 3 bucks per mile going into US hauling machinery. They prefer dropdecks with sliding tarps (mine has a 10 ft usable height on the main deck) but most often would load you with a 6 ft tall machine. So, it can be done with a similarly dressed up flat (conestoga, chameleon, roll-tight etc.) Took these machines to Houston, TX and after 2 days sitting got a load offer to haul utility trailers from TX back to Canada. The problem was they load you with trailers sticking out 3 ft in the back and 2 ft in the front, so I had to turn it down because of my rolling tarp. Waited another day and finally got another load: 7 bundles of 16 ft long boards. Pays pretty good - according to Dispatch - but it's going to be tight with my 37 ft long main deck.

After working for a couple of months with my sliding tarp dropdeck, I've seen a few advantages but many disadvantages. I haul general freight for a carrier, so it's best either to have an open dropdeck, or ... a sliding tarp flatbed.

So, I'm talking now to the maker of my Conestoga to see if I can return the thing and open up the trailer. Maybe even exchange it for a 53' with a long spread... I've had lots of problems with this rolling tarp and even though I save time when tarping, I then have to bring the trailer to their shop for constant repairs/upgrades :( So far they haven't charged me but it's still annoying as it takes time away from trucking.

One good thing about all this is people like the look of my Conestoga LOOK system. Was unloading aluminum at one shipper and a whole bunch of people came out to look at my trailer :) Evidently they were thinking of getting their own trailer and mine spiked their interest.

If there was one type of trailer available that would be able to do it all, it would be the only one on the market. I pulled a flat, and found shippers that would only load a covered wagon. I pulled a covered wagon and found shippers that would only load a roll-tite. I've pulled oversize loads that would never fit into a covered wagon or a roll-tite.

Now, the repairs and upgrades are not something I would expect to have to do on a continuing basis. That means time and revenue lost. Definitely a down side.

Perhaps changing companies to one that will need your set up. Or maybe you can sell your trailer to the people looking at it.

According to Members Edge, shippers in Maine are paying $5 per mile.

Why would someone buy a specialized trailer and then try to haul general freight with it? You first limited yourself buying a step deck and became further limited with a rolling tarp step deck. I would suggest looking into leasing onto a specialized carrier that utilizies your type of trailer. I have seen a couple of carriers around with the exact type of trailer you use.

Verduyn Tarps gave me a phone number of a guy in US who had a Conestoga and then switched to Verduyn "Eagle" sliding tarp. I called him from Texas and he said it took him 2 years of constant downtime and complaints till finally the dealer agreed to take off the Conestoga off his trailer. He put EAGLE on the same trailer and said his problems disappeared. I forgot to ask if he had a dropdeck or flat.

After re-reading the many posts on the topic at classadrivers.com, I'm thinking it's best to:
- use a flatbed with a sliding tarp system, but
- keep a stepdeck open

I'm meeting with the tarp system dealer next week to see if I can get rid of the system somehow. The problem is my financing contract is not with the dealer but with a financial company. This financial company bought the tarping system from the dealer and then leased it to me. Lease contracts are very hard to get out of, unless the dealer can influence them somehow ...

I was mostly buying it for myself - to use when I have my own authority. But I don't like the quality issues I'm having with this particular system, only 2 months after it was installed. If I could get rid of the tarp system, I'd probably go back to Wilson and try to change my trailer to (in order of preference):

1. a 53 ft dropdeck with 17" tires (tandem) and 10'1" spread with a sliding axle; or
2. a regular 48 foot flatbed with a 10'1" spread and a sliding axle; or
3. a 48 dropdeck with 17.5" tires (tandem) and 10'1" spread with a sliding axle.

Because my current trailer was custom-spec'ed from the plant for 61" axle spread, it's impossible to change the spread (the frame shape is different)....

Is this where I say told ya so? ;-)

Hey look at the bright side... the dollar is at par now so you can buy another one cheap.

Yeah, I know :) I do get to haul electric thingies that pay 3 bucks per mile to Texas and the shipper WANTS to have rolling tarp dropdecks. All I need to do is go on my own, that's what I figure. MacKinnon only has flatbed freight, that's the problem. Once I'm on my own, I'll call myself "specialized transport service", put some specs on the side "10 ft inside usable height" and start hauling stuff at 5 bucks per mile. Any tips on the name that can attract the big bucks would be appreciated :)

I submit:

Size Matters Specialized Transport

Hey, that's pretty good :) Thanks, Red Clay!