Trucking: Trailer/startup inq., flatbed loads, stepdeck

Question
I purchased a mint 2000 Peterbilt 379 with low miles.  I live in VA.  I have the ability to purchase a trailer outright.  I have extensive lowboy experience, but this area of VA is over-worked.  I want to start on my own, but am not sure about finding enough dump trailer loads on the east coast.
I was also interested in trying a 53' stepdeck.
Please Help!!!

Answer
Hi Brad.

I would worry about finding dump loads too (not to mention that your Pete will never stay clean).  I have a lowboy, but truthfully, it's for one of my big customers.  Otherwise, I pull flatbed mostly.  Stepdeck isn't a bad way either, but as you know, there are always a ton of flatbed loads out there.  I haul a lot of lumber and it was a pain trying to work it on a stepdeck, but if I got a load of palm trees out of Homestead, it was great.  Thing is, palm trees don't pay scratch and the lumber did, so now it's flatbeds for me.

I would stay away from dumps and if you don't want to focus on flatbed, go with a stepdeck.  Join www.getloaded.com and see what's running through Virginia.  I'm sure you can find plenty of loads which ever way you go.

Good luck!

Bob Stephens