When you load a flat bed, or any other kind of trailer for that matter, how do you know where to place the load on the trailer in order to be legal with the weight distribution? Are there scales in the yard that you can use? I would think that you would know how much each coil weighed or palet or whatever it was that you were loading. But knowing the total weight of the load doesn't tell you where to place it.

I'll try to help explain this the best way I know how. I pull a stepdeck and it all depends on what I am loading. First, if you are hauling a steel coil, you don't have much of an option. I always place the coil in the center of the trailer and have never had any problems. All others loads, it really depends on what you are hauling. If it is skid freight, I just place it evenly across the floor of the trailer. It all really depends on what you're hauling but unless you are going to be hauling a lot of heavy freight, and I mean 48-50,000 lbs, you shouldn't have many problems. Hands on experience is the best teacher.

my rules that I go by are, load a 53 ft trailer like a 48, if palletized freight is on skids,and you have a full load, start with a double in the nose or front and single one in the middle near the front,you need to think 1000 lbs a foot,for 48 ft,that is 48000 lbs,if pallets are lighter may load all the way to back but still stagger one if need be. 12000,on front axle,34000 on drivers axle and 34000 on rear trailer axle. empty truck and trailer could be like 10000,on front,15000 on drivers and 10000 on rear axle,then when you load it you can understand why you stagger the weight towards the rear,you won't be heavy on your drivers and can adjust your weight better. If you have a spread axle like most flatbeds have you are allowed to run up to 40000 on the trailer tandems. I am just giving you examples,with practice you will get good at it. Most loaders know the weight distribution and load you right,but if you watch and see the loader not stagger the front and set weight back,make sure the pallets are lighter than the 1000 lbs a foot rule or you won't be legal on yor truck tandems and be too heavy. i try not to run the full 12000 allowed on front axle,I like 11400 0r 500 area better. hope I helped a little.

A good rule of thumb with coils also is this: with a spread axle 48' find the center marker light on your trailer side below the rub rail, that is apx center point. If loading a single coil, or smaller coils banded together to make one, with a weight above say 42,000lbs have them set it slightly behind the light. A lot of times it depends on the freight being loaded as to where it should be on the trailer. Like the other guy said, with experience and time you will figure it out, and the loaders usually know what they are doing.

Or you could do what I still do sometimes, but used to do all the time when I started hauling flatbed, look at the loads around you and see how they were done.

Am I babbling? Did I just confuse anyone? Probably. I usually do. Mostly myself.

great advice leadfoot,you added what I forgot to,like you said,when you pull a flatbed ask others there where you are loading,they will help you,flatbedders are special folks,did them for over 25 years,also look around the truckstop,take notes on how they are loaded,especially the chaining techniques and strapping,also tarping,one of the drivers in this forum had a whole booklet on tying everything down,it was the best thing i have seen out yet. Maybe someone can put it out here again. Greatest thing for newbees.

If that info could be posted again that would be great. Thanks for your responses.

The best thing to do is learn from experiance, but in the meantime remember to look at how others are loadind and strapping similar loads, also often the guy loading it will know what works, however be careful with that I have run into a few people loading things all wrong and had to tell them how I wanted it loaded. Unfortunately everything you haul will be a little different so it is impossible to just say this is how you load it, just try to remember you need the weight to spred out over your axles so don't load one big heavy peice all the way to the front or rear try to distribute the weight you will catch on. As for your other question, some places you load will have scales some will not, also know there scales are not always accurate when in doubt go to a truck stop cat scale and spend the money to know for sure