Getting started with bulk freight

Feb 17, 2021 at 09:43 AM CST + 1 - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. So we are a flatbed company, and have a customer who ships his product on walking floors as well, and giving us oppurtunites to grow with our brokerage and trucking company. So in the flatbed market, it's pretty to get back hauls, and etc., to get to the customer using loadboards like Truckstop and DAT, because there is so much flatbed volume I don't have to worry too much about available freight (the freight cost is a different story). So my question is, how much volume is there to bulk freight, specifically walking floors; and, what's the volume and demand to bulk freight? Am I able to take a load anywhere and be able to get a load back to the customer or am I mostly emptying back? How do you get started with hauling bulk freight if there is an opportubity with a customer? It seems bulk freight is a little more specialized than your average van, reefer, and flatbed freight., and probably a little more difficult to find freight.

Replied on Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 07:11 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Bulk Freight is nothing compared to Flatbed. You've got area's where you can get reloads somewhat easily, and other area's that are essentially a "Dead Hole". Be prepared to bounce out. Also, the cost of Walking Floor trailers are exorbantly more expensive to purchase, and maintain, than a simple flatbed. You can easily spend over 100K for a nice Floor, or go find a cheaper used one, that will likely give more trouble than it's worth. To be completely honest, it will likely be tough to break into the market, Profitably, especially going straight to a Walking Floor, if you havent even begun in the Bulk market yet.

Replied on Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 07:11 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Bulk Freight is nothing compared to Flatbed. You've got area's where you can get reloads somewhat easily, and other area's that are essentially a "Dead Hole". Be prepared to bounce out. Also, the cost of Walking Floor trailers are exorbantly more expensive to purchase, and maintain, than a simple flatbed. You can easily spend over 100K for a nice Floor, or go find a cheaper used one, that will likely give more trouble than it's worth.

To be completely honest, it will likely be tough to break into the market, Profitably, especially going straight to a Walking Floor, if you havent even begun in the Bulk market yet.

Replied on Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 12:01 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Bulk Freight is nothing compared to Flatbed. You've got area's where you can get reloads somewhat easily, and other area's that are essentially a "Dead Hole". Be prepared to bounce out. Also, the cost of Walking Floor trailers are exorbantly more expensive to purchase, and maintain, than a simple flatbed. You can easily spend over 100K for a nice Floor, or go find a cheaper used one, that will likely give more trouble than it's worth. To be completely honest, it will likely be tough to break into the market, Profitably, especially going straight to a Walking Floor, if you havent even begun in the Bulk market yet." I see. Thanks for the reply. I'm still considering getting into it in the next few years if my customer continues to work with us and ship. I've heard you can load palletized freight on walking floors like you can with dry van trailers? We're on a priority list with the flatbed freight and they tell me if we want they'll give us the freight on the walking floors aswell. BTW, cool to see an answer from a local in my area

Replied on Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 12:01 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Bulk Freight is nothing compared to Flatbed. You've got area's where you can get reloads somewhat easily, and other area's that are essentially a "Dead Hole". Be prepared to bounce out. Also, the cost of Walking Floor trailers are exorbantly more expensive to purchase, and maintain, than a simple flatbed. You can easily spend over 100K for a nice Floor, or go find a cheaper used one, that will likely give more trouble than it's worth. To be completely honest, it will likely be tough to break into the market, Profitably, especially going straight to a Walking Floor, if you havent even begun in the Bulk market yet."

I see. Thanks for the reply. I'm still considering getting into it in the next few years if my customer continues to work with us and ship. I've heard you can load palletized freight on walking floors like you can with dry van trailers?

We're on a priority list with the flatbed freight and they tell me if we want they'll give us the freight on the walking floors aswell.

BTW, cool to see an answer from a local in my area

Replied on Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 01:20 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "I see. Thanks for the reply. I'm still considering getting into it in the next few years if my customer continues to work with us and ship. I've heard you can load palletized freight on walking floors like you can with dry van trailers? We're on a priority list with the flatbed freight and they tell me if we want they'll give us the freight on the walking floors aswell. BTW, cool to see an answer from a local in my area" You definately can, just make sure the trailer is spec'd out for Forklifts, not all are. Some folks get the crossmembers spaced farther apart so they dont need as many, for a better lightweight. Don't wanna be running forklifts into a trailer that don't have enough support for a bunch of weight at a small spot (Forklift tire).

Replied on Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 01:20 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "I see. Thanks for the reply. I'm still considering getting into it in the next few years if my customer continues to work with us and ship. I've heard you can load palletized freight on walking floors like you can with dry van trailers? We're on a priority list with the flatbed freight and they tell me if we want they'll give us the freight on the walking floors aswell. BTW, cool to see an answer from a local in my area"

You definately can, just make sure the trailer is spec'd out for Forklifts, not all are. Some folks get the crossmembers spaced farther apart so they dont need as many, for a better lightweight. Don't wanna be running forklifts into a trailer that don't have enough support for a bunch of weight at a small spot (Forklift tire).