I am looking to move couple loads of hives from Montana to California, searching for trucks already the 3rd week with no results. We called trucking companies, owner operators, brokers we knew or found online. I feel desperate in this freezing temperature (we had -3F), especially after such a worst year, the hives are very light.
My current thought is to buy a heavy truck. The setup that came to my mind is: flatbed truck around 25ft deck, tandem axle and a flatbed trailer behind with about 25ft deck. The GVWR (truck + trailer) needs to be 80,000 lbs. This way I can use the flatbed truck around beeyards and when I need to move them long distance the trailer can be attached. I don't know if this is possible. On the truck will fit about 200 hives (3 pallets high) and 200 on the trailer, about the same number as on a 48 ft trailer.
I took as an example a freightliner M2 106, tandem axle. The GVWR online is only up to 66,000. If I attach a trailer can I go 80k? Some small pickups have over 30k with trailer. Maybe someone can suggest a truck model and trailer or truck specs? Is there a department that can teach me on this?
Thank you very much.