I just started with this small startup flatbed company in SoCal. I went and picked up their second 2002 FL Century from the dealer the other day, and took it to the yard in Hemet. I spent quite a bit of time squaring it away, stealing straps and binders from the other truck (found no tarps or coil racks and other stuff, not sure what they want to do about that). Bought two gallons of spare oil and a few other items that apparently they didnt realize you need to keep.

Finally greased the fifth wheel tonight and hooked up the trailer (with questionable tires). Of course, the trailer I'm going to drag has no storage boxes for gear. I crammed the new straps, ratchet binders, and chains in the side box of the tractor. NOT a good long term solution obviously. I looked up and remembered from my TMC days (all 45 of em), that we had a beautiful three cabinet chrome storage headache rack. I have NO RACK on this Freightshaker that they intend to have me drag a loaded skateboard with. Then I remembered something else: someone had told me once upon a time that headache racks were REQUIRED EQUIPMENT when pulling a flatbed. Is this true?

If it is in fact true, I'm going to let them know tomorrow that I need to take the tractor to someone and have one installed. It's bad enough that I'm going to have to sneak the tractor to the dealer or a TA to get the exhaust stack remounted to the exhaust (the freakin clamp is coming off). That leak would surely get me out of service. If towing a flat without a rack will get me shut down also, it's pointless for me to even take a load on Monday, not to mention that I DONT WANT TO BE CRUSHED BY CARGO.

If anyone has any idea, let me know please. I have to take care of this immediately (On THEIR BofA card of course), so I can take a load on Monday.

Believe it or not, a headache rack is not required by the DOT. But stop and think; if the unthinkable happens, and you go from 60mph to 0 in about a truck length, what do you expect will happen to that load of lumber or steel you were hauling, no matter how well you had it strapped/ chained? It won't even slow down as is crashes through the back of your cab an instant before it mashes you into oblivion. Sorry to seem so melodramatic, but you really could get killed doing this and a company too cheap to invest the thousand bucks or so for a quality headboard is probably gonna cut corners in other areas as well, such as cheap retreads on the trailer which may blow out and leave you stranded somewhere. Companies like this will continue to send this kind of junk out on the road as long as they can find fools-excuse me, drivers to run the stuff. Do yourself a favor- don't even mess with people like this.
rx

That is one reason why I over secure. I had 8 chains and a 12 straps on a load the other day that required 6 securements. I do not always over do it that much, but go with gut instincts.I had drivers asking me hey maverick afraid you are going to lose that load? We have had drivers go off in a river before and after the truck was recovered the load was still right where he secured it. He is now a class room instructor for load securement.

I take several things into factor when I secure. Where I am running. Mountains, etc. What the load is? Will I endanger myself or others on the road, etc? That is one thing I have noticed and like about maveick's policies on load securement. I have loaded beside other companies with the same load and would not trust their securement to get me out of the parking lot. In our yards you will see posters of guys throwing extra chains saying go the extra mile.

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

Yeah, I've seen the pictures of the mess that flatbed cargo causes while at TMC. I'm not driving that truck with the trailer unless they go for the rack. Required or not, it's getting installed if I am going to drive it. I found one down the street. Used for only $500 installed. The guy said he'll also go ahead and tighten down that exhaust stack and seal the leak at the connection for free also.

The trailer tires on my trailer are a mess. I fully expect one or more of them to blow if a heavy load is placed on that trailer. Next time I'm at the yard, I'm going to measure the tread depth. This is a rental trailer so I suspect they just didnt want to check it out before renting it. I got it all hooked up and ready to go (except I dont have tarps or enough bungies), but I'll pull the tractor out to get the rack installed.

In reality, I think they need to wait on loads next week. They want to send me out on Monday, but I'm going to suggest that they let me un**** both trucks and trailers and get them legal. If they get shut down, they get no money, nor do I or any other driver. I can help them get this company started by at least ensuring their equipment is up to snuff, especially if they want to be running to Texas, the Midwest, and Northern Cal regularly. First things first, when/if I pull my tractor out of that yard, I'm going to get air in the freakin right front steer.

They can cut corners all they want, but not with my life. Not as long as I have their credit card anyway.

You sound like a very "together" person! Five hundred bucks installed sounds like a good deal, especially if the guy's gonna fix your stack at no xtra. Since this is a used trailer, you'll want to check for cracks in the frame, especially if it's an aluminum spread. I can't stress the importance of good rubber enough though, especially in California.

You'll need 90 to 100 30" bungees, 4-6 chains and binders (use the screw tightening type if you've got the bucks to afford 'em, if you can't, then the over centers are perfectly fine- just be careful 'cause carelessness when binding/unbinding could cost you your front teeth or worse), a "cheater" bar to tighten the binders with, 12-16 straps with a bar to tighten the ratchets, and 2 25'x 24' tarps. It doesn't hurt to carry 'bout 100' of 1/2" manila rope with you but don't bother with nylon rope; it stretches and can be a real ##### to get knots out of- especially when it's wet and cold.

You can make you own ditty box using .10 aluminum sheet and pop rivets with through bolted gussets at the corners. Simply bungee this ugly apparatus down to your deck plate. It'll do till you can afford something better.

I wish you success in your new endeavor, starting a new gig and making it pay can be a very satisfying experience. Keep your stuff clean and neat to aid you in avoiding close scrutiny at the ports.
rx

A lot of people would argue that point with you.

Yeah, I figured on at least 100 bungies. I think they gave me a box of 50. They are buying more (whether they like it or not). I remember seeing pics of dudes with busted up faces from standing over a cheater bar. OUCH!!! That safety stuff taught there will never leave my mind. I'm not out to end up as a bloody pulp working for a startup trucking company, thats for sure. They actually bought brand new cheater bars. I got one in my truck already.

Not a bad idea. Or I may just find an old toolbox at a swap meet and use that. I'm not paying for the boxes for the trailers, they are. So the cost is all on them. They buy the equipment, I'll drive it.

Thanks, and your absolutely right. I like a neat and organized workplace. Whether in my old office when I was having the life sucked out of me at the corporate gig, or in a truck. Not to mention, organization makes the job go smoother and that equals more profits for them and more pay for me.

I thought headache racks WERE required, but either on the tractor or the trailer, one or the other.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

Yeah, thats what I thought too. I would like to have used that to force them to get me one, but I think the price ($500 installed) which would include fixing the exhaust leak for free, should make them jump. Either way, it's MY safety I'm worried about more than any DOT regs. If they are not willing to put a minimal amount of funds into the safety of their drivers, I'm not willing to work for them.

Like I said, "believe it or not"
Watch flatbeds closely if you're out on the road; I know that at least once a day somewhere I'll see one with no bulkhead and no headache rack.

But Mack, you got me to thinking, even though the DOT might not care if you have protection, certain states might and there might be laws on the books in some states pertaining to this.

A sidenote: a while back someone posted that they were unable to purchase over center type load binders at a certain store. According to the post, the clerk had claimed that the store didn't sell them because over center binders were against DOT regulations. What the clerk said was false; over center type chain binders are perfectly fine with the DOT.

Bottom line is this: Basically the DOT doesn't give a rat's patootie about the driver's health or well being. Their deal is safe vehicles. OSHA's deal is driver protection and safety, but to tell the truth they don't care a whole lot about drivers either.
rx

headache racks are required if you don't have a bulkhead on your trailer!!!!!