Flatbedders: Headache Racks REQUIRED?

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.

 

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.

 

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*

 

I do heavy haul and I can't possibly imagine how an excavator (real name for track-hoe) can climb up over a four foot high gooseneck at go into the back of the cab.

 

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.