That is what I read on a landline link when I googled the question. But since I have never Flatbedded, I did not make a comment. I also cannot recall whether most have them. I just have not been back out since I read the question.
Flatbedders: Headache Racks REQUIRED?
Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by Jarhed1964, Nov 17, 2007.
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Ok, so wait a minute.......
I have NO bulkhead on the trailer (I can build one two timbers high with the dunnage, but....), I have NO headache rack.....
Am I going to be pulled over and put out of service in Mexifornia? AZ? TX? NM?? -
BTW, I HAVE seen trucks around here (Fontana, CA) pulling flats without headache racks or bulkheads on the trailer. I dont know whether they were legal or not, but every trailer dealer I went to yesterday in Fontucky flat out agreed that they WERE required and either DOT at a weigh station would shut me down, or a CHP would pull me over and shut me down, or local Commercial Vehicle Enforcement would shut me down. There are a LOT of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement types around here, being that essentially Fontana IS a giant truck stop.
This will be interesting to say the least. I've decided that if they are not required, I'll pull, but VERY slow. If they are required, I have their Credit/Debit card, and the CAB RIDE back home from wherever I get stopped WILL be a serious kick in the pants to them, because I'm not planning on sitting around waiting for them to make a decision. I'll come home and let them get it straightened out. All they have to do is spend $500 for a rack (which also would afford me MUCH needed storage for chains, bungies, and straps) and a freebie exhaust repair, and they get piece of mind (I do too). Not sure what a fine would be, but if they shut us down and they tell me to keep driving, I'm telling them to get bent. Not going to put my CDL in jeopardy. -
I dunno if they are required or not but I wouldn't pull a flat bed without one. We just had a company truck dynamite the breaks and his load (steel) shot forward and pushed the cab and bunk a full foot forward on the frame. about $55,000 damage. If he wouldn't have had a headache rack he would have been killed. But then again he was an idiot and didn't have it secured properly. Last I heard they weren't required but there is no way I would drive without one.
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my understanding is that either a headache rack on the tractor or a bulkhead on the trailer is required
the exception being, neither is required as long as the load consists of only ONE piece....(look at alot of equipment haulers with neither) -
There was a old hand that got killed here in town awhile back pulling a helluva trackhoe on a low boy. Had to get on the brakes hard, the rear chains broke and it rolled THROUGH the cab of that W-9. Was a bad scene.
I don't think it really would have helped in this situation, but it may have.
The whole time I pulled skateboard I had a headache rack, I don't care if its required... I'm gonna have one for my own piece of mind.
*forgot to mention, he didn't have a headache rack and it was his last day pulling for that company, last load, last day.. really turned out to be just that* -
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Don't ask me. I'll look for the article on it from the local paper. May have been on a dove tail. -
I'm like mack,I thought they were required at least on the tractor or trailer,and they had to be at least 4' high,maybe they changed the rules,I would check fmsc to make sure,seeya.
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Also, crawler mounted machines with hydrostatic transmissions tend to not want to roll too freely.
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