Question:
I am not sure if I am right about this or not but it seems like flatbed drivers get a LOT of empty miles. It seems like at least 8 out of every 10 flatbeds I see everyday are empty. Is this the case or is it just my observation. I was just wondering if they rack up on the empty miles, which wouldnt be too bad I guess as a lot of companys pay empty miles.

Answer:
When I pulled flatbed I did less than 10% of my overall miles deadhead.
The thing with flatbeds it is really easy to tell if they have a load on or not. Unless you are from Krypton or there is something really wrong with the trailer it is really hard to tell with reefers, vans, and tankers.
Answer:
miles is miles, as long as you are paid on miles.
my longest deadhead was just over 1,000 miles. a couple of weeks ago, it was 550 miles. just went another 450 miles, to sit 4 days in Reno snow. they couldn't move the forklift, so they couldn't load me.Government Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


Answer:

That is a very cool observation. Dead on.Hunt, Fish, Shoot

Answer:
Don't know. My longest bounce (yes, bounce, bouncy flatbeds) was about 300 miles and I only did that a couple of times. Mostly I bounced between 100 and 200 miles. Hauled enough to make plenty, without trying.

Answer:
Do you live close to something such as a steel mill or a lumber mill? I know I live close to Ameristeel in Jackson Tn. so the flatbedders are heading over there of course empty to get steel loads. I pull a skateboard and deadhead no more than 150 miles 99% of the time. The company I drive for as a rule won't go over 150 to get ya reloaded.

Answer:
Where I work, there is a large lumber yard down the road, and therefore half the flatbeds I see are running empty-the ones heading back to the highway!
You didn't say where you are, but I'll bet that you live someplace along a route between a big reciever and a big shipper.
Answer:
i cant remember my longest dead head. maybe 300 miles.
Answer:
You may be seeing trucks that are running dedicated accounts. They get paid round trip miles to deliver a product then haul (edited) back to the shipper to load again for the next day.

Answer:

That would be correct. We go out loaded and come back empty 99% of the time. longest deadhead back, 468 miles SPEECH IS WORDS THAT THEY WILL BEND
FREEDOM WITH THIER EXCEPTION"
Metallica "Eye of the Beholder"


Answer:
I'm not very good at sitting somewhere empty waiting for a load. I'd rather deadhead a day and get a load than sit for 2 or 3 days waiting. I prefer to do my sitting at home.