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I'm a little confused, you said if you bought another step it would be 48 or 50 but in this last post you said you like the added flexibility of the 53. Plus if you like an 11' top deck that means you would need a 53 for the containers.
Please bear with me, sometimes I apply what I've learned in construction to trucking, one of which is being as versatile as you can.
Did you mean to say higher ones as in height?
Originally Posted by RostyC
First off, thank you for using some of your time on a Sunday and answering my questions. Having said that, I got some more.I'm a little confused, you said if you bought another step it would be 48 or 50 but in this last post you said you like the added flexibility of the 53. Plus if you like an 11' top deck that means you would need a 53 for the containers.
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I spec'd this trailer for my personal applications.
I kind of understand this but, let's say I have a few local shippers that I use to get out and for that application I only needed a 48' with a 10' top deck. However, once your out and need to pull a load off the board or one of your own broker contacts to return it seems to me the more versatile the trailer the better, which in my opinion would be 53' w/ 11' top.I spec'd this trailer for my personal applications.
Please bear with me, sometimes I apply what I've learned in construction to trucking, one of which is being as versatile as you can.
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The better paying loads tend to be the higher paying ones,
Truer words have never been spoken! :lol: The better paying loads tend to be the higher paying ones,
Did you mean to say higher ones as in height?
I am always glad to answer any questions. I believe I stated that if I bought another flat bed that I would go with either a 48' or 50' rather than a 53'. I think I will stick with the 53' on the step deck. However, I would consider a 51' or 52' step deck. With the shorter length you could hang off the end, if needed. You can't hang off of a 53' without being over length. You don't need a 53' step deck to pull containers. You only need to have 40' on the bottom to pull a 40' container. I can haul 2-20' or 1-40' container on my lower deck. I have 42' on the bottom. I could haul the same containers if the trailer was 2' shorter and still have the 11' top.
I like being as versatile as possible. We were getting more of a premium for a 53' step deck before more people bought them. The more who buy them the less specialized you will be thus the rates may not be quite as high. You can still do the LTL freight with them, regardless. You will never be all things to all people. You need to find something you enjoy which is versatile or in demand enough where you can earn a good living. One reason van freight is so cheap is because there are so many of them. Flats pay better because there are not as many and some people are not willing to work that hard. The same with steps. You will still need to tarp or lose some good paying loads. I don't like to tarp, but keep 5 tarps on my step deck. I had to use 4 on one load a couple of months ago. Had I not had those tarps, I would not have gotten that load.
You can do well with a 48' step deck. I usually don't use my entire deck for most loads. It is those which occasionally come along that require more deck that I need it. And as I stated, the LTL freight can sometimes use the extra 5' of deck.