Well I took the plunge...... Now I am crapping my pants.

**newskate** · 06.13.2012

Hello: I am looking for some serious advice on how best to proceed with my ambition to be a professional flatbedder. My background is as an otr expediter driving a class b truck. I have done so for the past five years, and developed a small 6 truck fleet. Quite frankly, i am sick of dealing with my drivers, and want to go flatbedding. I Have recently purchased an 06 pete 387 and a 48ft spread axle conastogga. Right now i am doing my cdl refresher course, and have my own authority. I realize I may have put the cart before the horse, but I just can not subject myself to indentured servitude at the cdl experience mills. I need to know where i can take a really good load securement course that I can pay for myself in the Michigan area? Thank you in advance for your response.

**MNdriver** · 06.13.2012

if you have half a head on your shoulders, JJ Keller has an online load securement course that didn't look too bad when I was looking at them. Most corporate programs will be based off that "canned package" course anyway.

I'd provide a link, but I can't seem to get into the website tonight.

**rockyroad74** · 06.13.2012

Go to a truckstop on a weekend. There will be plenty of flatbedders laid over, since most places flatbeds go to are closed for the weekend. Ask them to teach you, and offer to pay them cash for their effort. Also, do it yourself rather than just watching. At least with the conestoga you can forget tarping. Get a cargo securement book at the truckstop too. Flatbedding ain't rocket science.

**revelation1911** · 06.14.2012

Originally Posted by newskate

Hello: I am looking for some serious advice on how best to proceed with my ambition to be a professional flatbedder. My background is as an otr expediter driving a class b truck. I have done so for the past five years, and developed a small 6 truck fleet. Quite frankly, i am sick of dealing with my drivers, and want to go flatbedding. I Have recently purchased an 06 pete 387 and a 48ft spread axle conastogga. Right now i am doing my cdl refresher course, and have my own authority. I realize I may have put the cart before the horse, but I just can not subject myself to indentured servitude at the cdl experience mills. I need to know where i can take a really good load securement course that I can pay for myself in the Michigan area? Thank you in advance for your response.

The way I learned was I always asked the shipper their prefered method of securement, most were always willing to show me.
There's a LTL fourum and gary has some decent pictures online of load securement and the green book has decent explanations of what's federally required and few pictures too.
The Alabama online coil securement course also has pictures and you will need the certificate if load or unload a coil in Al.

**PayCheck** · 06.14.2012

I'll bet you can get a good crash course at a truck stop for a lot less then what a course will cost. You'd probably learn a lot more to.

**Clasix1055** · 06.14.2012

Originally Posted by newskate

Hello: I am looking for some serious advice on how best to proceed with my ambition to be a professional flatbedder. My background is as an otr expediter driving a class b truck. I have done so for the past five years, and developed a small 6 truck fleet. Quite frankly, i am sick of dealing with my drivers, and want to go flatbedding. I Have recently purchased an 06 pete 387 and a 48ft spread axle conastogga. Right now i am doing my cdl refresher course, and have my own authority. I realize I may have put the cart before the horse, but I just can not subject myself to indentured servitude at the cdl experience mills. I need to know where i can take a really good load securement course that I can pay for myself in the Michigan area? Thank you in advance for your response.

There is a place in Columbus, Oh I can find the name later this evening....I live in Toledo, Oh if you want to come down I can help you out...I'm new also but you got the tarp part licked and i have a securement manual and we can get you together....we can also go to tarpstop and get your equipment .... Let me know

**CAXPT** · 06.14.2012

Originally Posted by newskate

Hello: I am looking for some serious advice on how best to proceed with my ambition to be a professional flatbedder. My background is as an otr expediter driving a class b truck. I have done so for the past five years, and developed a small 6 truck fleet. Quite frankly, i am sick of dealing with my drivers, and want to go flatbedding. I Have recently purchased an 06 pete 387 and a 48ft spread axle conastogga. Right now i am doing my cdl refresher course, and have my own authority. I realize I may have put the cart before the horse, but I just can not subject myself to indentured servitude at the cdl experience mills. I need to know where i can take a really good load securement course that I can pay for myself in the Michigan area? Thank you in advance for your response.

Seriously.... I started by using the JJ Keller Load Securment book available at most truckstops. This is the link for their site: http://www.jjkeller.com/
There's also a free online manual at the OOIDA website that you can read on your computer. This is the link for their site: http://www.ooida.com/

You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders so what you learn from the books will help you immensely as compared to being fed what someone else does that may not be up to regulations. If you don't understand something in the book, then as others have suggested, check out a truckstop and talk to some flatbed drivers to get their input. The best thing about flatbed that although it's not rocket science, it is a challenge on how to apply the general principles of proper loading per the regulations to loads that sometimes aren't typical, but for most other "common" loads, the procedures for doing it are simple... the problem is getting people to do what they know is right rather than what is easy. Hence the need to know what the regs require at minimum. There is no such thing as too much securment.

The JJ Keller book is good because it gives a good and simplistic explanation about requirements and then gives graphic examples of securement sufficient for those requirements.

If you still want some hands on instruction, you can try some of the companies that deal with contractors that you could haul loads for and see if they'll offer you their training.

Good Luck.

**newskate** · 06.14.2012

I appreciate all the responses... I may take you up on your offer Clasix and head down that way to purchase my gear once the truck is on the road. Follow up question, do you beleive OOIDA has the best prices on insurances or CIS?

**MNdriver** · 06.14.2012

Check w/ www.sentry.com

I am working with one of their agents and its been most educational to me

**Clasix1055** · 06.14.2012

Originally Posted by newskate

I appreciate all the responses... I may take you up on your offer Clasix and head down that way to purchase my gear once the truck is on the road. Follow up question, do you beleive OOIDA has the best prices on insurances or CIS?

I went with OOIDA.....BUT.....there are about 5 companies that do not accept this insurance Landstar being the biggest ... They beat every other quote I had by half...come on down anytime