Maybe Going Skateboarding (to do?)

IF your only like 5 foot 9 300 ponds- and you wanna pull a flat-You will
1.Be out of Breath
2.Sweating profusely
3.Huffing and Puffing to catch your breath

But...You'll shed that weight quick...As long as you Leave McDonald's alone

Next- Things you'll need-

Depends on your application and exactly what you'll haul..But here is a small example of my package-

14-16 4inch winch straps(Nothing fancy-You don't need the ones with a chain end)
6-10 2 inch ratchet straps
10-12 16'-20' chain and binders- I Prefer 3/8 (5/16 are junk and stretch)

2-4 foot drop tarps- and 2- 8 foot drop tarps

100-150 bungees or rope- edge protectors and coil cuffs

6-8 pieces of hardwood dunnnage- a few sets of coil racks and beveling


Please see your doctor first if you never worked really hard- Flat work is vigorous work and is a daily workout....
As for trailer- You have 2 very good choices-
1.Great Dane Freedom
2.Mac
Best of luck.

 

Landstar nor Mercer will accept you without recent flatbed experience. You can call them and verify and IF they say ok they will have their list of required item and will get you the bare essentials. It is a hard job, especially dealing with the heat, rain, cold, snow, wind.

 

They ran me through their securement class (LS) before I started - (Feb '15), which I found very helpful. I'd already bought a 53' flat at that stage. I had no recent verifiable experience. Not sure if they're still doing this.

Yeah - it can be a tough job, but so much more rewarding than door slamming. There's some good threads in the flatbed section that'll help you narrow down what you need, with tips and tricks - but @stayinback had most of what you need there.

Good gloves, a strap winder, bands for your rolled up straps, hand cleaner, an 'ergo' winch bar, lots of carpet strips for edge protection, LS will want hazmat on your license, though you'll rarely pull any.

My 5'10" 210 lb soft handed wiggle wagon pulling butt could handle it, so can you.

 

Does Landstar or Mercer require a headache rack behind the cab? If not I still think it's advisable. Get the enclosed three door (I wish I had one).

Can't have enough side boxes. Organize them well.

A ladder is a good idea if you tarp a lot of loads. An extendable 4" paint roller from Lowe's, with attachments, can do much of the high work (like placing edge protectors).

Dunnage - solid oak 4x4's and 2x4's. If you haul pipe you need at least three per layer. I use 4x4's for the first three layers, then 2x4's after that.

Pipe stakes - if you haul pipe you need at least four pipe stakes at least 4' tall.

Coils - if you haul steel coils, get cleats, and rubber mats.

Beyond all that read through the Tips and Tricks of Flatbedding thread. Lots of great advice there.

 

Flatbeding is easy. Except tarping. Tarping can be real work.

 

May want to double check with LS about leasing that truck on... I heard at one time LS was was only leasing trucks that are year model 2000 and up, and or has a diagnostic port for E-Logs. The pre 2000 LS trucks you see out here are probably long time bco's that had their trucks 'grandfathered' in

May not be true now, or maybe never was... I don't know for sure I guess

 

6'5" and 300 ain't all that bad. I once worked with a girl who was 5'2" and 115. She did it no problems. You'll love it over a van or reefer. I like Fontaine trailers, but have had east, Ravens and trans craft too. Oh and I had an old Lufkin once. They all did the job. Get some good grade 70 chains and ratchet binders. I would go with 4 to 63/8 chain cut in 20' lenght. And 4 to 6 cut in 10 or 12' lenght. Good hard wood dunage, pine won't last.