Conestoga freight: flatbed pay without the tarp fight
A Conestoga is a flatbed or step deck wrapped in a curtain-side rolling tarp system. You get all the access of open-deck freight — load from the side, top, or rear with a forklift or crane — plus instant weather protection. No climbing, no strapping a wet tarp in the wind, no losing an hour at every pickup. For owner-operators, that means faster turns and a lot less wear on your body across a long career.
Conestoga loads tend to be freight that has to stay dry but still needs open-deck loading: machinery, building materials, steel and metal products, packaged goods, palletized freight, and high-value cargo a shipper doesn't want exposed. Because the rolling tarp is built in, you can often book flatbed-rate freight that a standard van or open flatbed can't touch.
Why lease your Conestoga on with ARI
ARI is a motor carrier, not a broker. When you lease on, you run under ARI's own DOT/MC authority — you do not need your own authority, and you cannot run your own authority through ARI. Getting your own authority is a separate path that exists in the industry, but that's not what we offer. What we offer is access to better, higher-paying Conestoga lanes than a single owner-operator can usually land alone, because ARI moves real volume and has established shipper and broker relationships.
- True 82% revenue share — you keep 82% of gross linehaul; our 18% covers dispatch, compliance, and billing.
- Same-day pay — deliver before 12:00 PM EST and submit paperwork, get paid the same business day, with no quick-pay or factoring fees.
- Zero escrow — ARI holds $0, while some carriers hold $2,500–$5,000.
- Dedicated dispatcher — capped at 7 trucks, who knows your Conestoga lanes and negotiates your rates. No self-dispatch load-board app.
- No forced dispatch — you pick your loads, routes, and home time.
- Bring your own freight — find a customer, tell your dispatcher, and we run their credit and book it under ARI's authority.
What you need to run Conestoga with ARI
- Sleeper semi, year 2000 or newer, DOT-ready
- CDL Class A and about 2 years of driving experience
- Clean record and 25+ years old
- A Conestoga trailer (or one you're acquiring) — securement know-how for open-deck freight is a big plus
Fuel discounts up to $0.45/gallon and a 40% fuel advance at pickup help you keep more of what you earn. Apportioned IRP plates (~$70/week), ELD (~$30/week), and flat insurance (~$300/week) are available to keep your operation simple.
Ready to roll?
See the full breakdown on why owner-operators lease on with ARI, compare other owner-operator opportunities, or start your lease-on with ARI today. Call (888) 600-9098 with questions.