I doubt it. Depends on the truck. I bet the trailer weighs over 10,000. We havr a Reitnouer 48 and it's just shy of 10K.

Just thought since tracer was talking about stretching, lowering, ramps, weight, customizing, etc., this kinda covered it all. If I was still on the road with my own rig, this is what I would have.

This particular trailer has been posted on here for a while now. They have already gone from $45,000 to $40,000. They might go a little lower. You never know till you ask.

The trailer looks good but if I were to get something with ramps, I'd go to Wilson. They have a model where 2 wide ramps when folded create a level surface, with no gap between the ramps. I think it'd be more useful

Gman, just this once you may be right ;) I think the problem is not with the trailer; it's with the AREAS where I was going. I had good rates going in but getting out was difficul and freight was very limited and pretty much typical flatbed. I'm not a flatbed, so I was at a disadvantage compared to the other guys. Now I"m staying close to home doing runs in IL, IN, PA, OH stuff like that and an interesting thing is happening: LS agents are actually CALLING me offering stepdeck loads! There's lots of freight in these areas and it's not all flatbed so I'm back to thinking good about my step. In these areas I can find specialized STEPDECK freight that pays quite well. My "edge over the competition" is trifold: I can still haul freight up to 10'6" tall, I can be legal with up to 49,000 lbs on the deck, and if someone offers a good rate I can still go to Western Canada thanks to my closed trailer tandem. Thanks for straghtening me out ;) I might turn the front axle into a slider later on still: it can be helpful with LTL and some long and heavy loads. All I need now is a couple of cheap 4' tarps so that I can move stuff like this:

Pickup: PA
Delivery: ON, Canada
Miles: 400
Freight: machinery, 25,000 lbs
Trailer required: Flat or Step
Tarp: yes
Rate: $4/mi

60K on the deck is hard to do with a stepdeck. You need something like a Wilson CF-965 flat:

The 48 ft model with 10'1" Tandem is rated for:

Load Concentrated in 4 Ft. -- 65,000 Lbs.
Load Concentrated in 10 Ft. -- 67,000 lbs
Load Concentrated in 20 Ft. -- 73,000 Lbs.

This is a combo trailer with a heavy duty beam designed to handle heavy coils.

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I"m staying close to home doing runs in IL, IN, PA, OH stuff like that and an interesting thing is happening: LS agents are actually CALLING me offering stepdeck loads! There's lots of freight in these areas and it's not all flatbed so I'm back to thinking good about my step. In these areas I can find specialized STEPDECK freight that pays quite well. My "edge over the competition" is trifold: I can still haul freight up to 10'6" tall, I can be legal with up to 49,000 lbs on the deck..

Hallelujah I think you have seen the light! Do you know why they are calling you? Because they know you are nearby and can get there quick....not out in freakin' Nevada or Wyoming somewhere. Your big advantage is that you are AVAILABLE. This is like having 10 trucks in a coast to coast operation. :)

...and if someone offers a good rate I can still go to Western Canada thanks to my closed trailer tandem.
Arrgh. Don't get sucked in.

...but then what do I know? I'm just a general freight hauler.

it's about damn time you listened to me..... i only suggested this to you 4 months ago. Damn stubborn Russians LOL!!!

Hey Tracer, if you move this load, I'll buy you supper after you deliver. :)

F F Winchester, KY (550) CHERRY VLY, ON (606) 780-4141 100 27 48 38 Landstar

I"m heading to Alexandria Bay NY and then east to Monreal with the 34,000 machine in the picture (10ft high). Deliver Monday, then pick up some 20 ft container and heading west to Cambridge, MN (just north of St. Paul, MN). Oops, Just got a call from the agent who gave me the Montreal to MN load - the receiver needs that load Monday to be in MN. So, they gave it to another company! Hurray! It didn't pay all that well, plus that Cambridge, MN is 400 miles (!) away from Chicago, IL. Whew ... I got off easy ;) Now I can find something decent from QC to US.

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Following your posts and blog makes my mind work those numbers trying to convince my heart to butt a truck just to prove I can make it work. $4 a mile seems good I don't know how guys make money leased to carriers that are paying $1 mile. I especially don't know how they do it leasing a truck.