The Truckers’ Report flatbed Hall of Shame.

Dont give me that, it has NEVER been part of most humans decision tree to look beyond themselves

 

There are correct and incorrect ways to get the most leverage out of your bar even without lengtheners, seems you found 2 of the ways that are incorrect.

Best 2 i have
1. Place bar in holder, turn your back to trailer crouching beneath bar, bar goes on your shoulder, grip with both hands, and let your weight come down, can fully lift yourself off the ground safely (*keeping feet under you*) even if the bar breaks, your stance is such that a forward roll has your hands right there ready to break the fall, downward, at most you have 1 foot straight down and land on your feet.
Note, does not work well for stepdecks

2. Place bar in winch, lock right arm straight, left arm about midway, but very important, make sure your right leg is on the other side of the bar, once again you can use your full weight even going off the ground, but with the right foot on one side, left back as normal, even if the bar breaks, you just land on your feet.

 

10 years pulling flatbed and my feet never left the ground to strap a load. Guess it was a miracle I never had any lumber fall off my trailer. Lol

 

Nor me but I had a close call one day. Loaded timber out of Tilbury docks for the North. Ready for a break I pulled into a small transport cafe just outside the port. I took it easy driving into the park because the surface was like the moon, muddy craters everywhere. Nevertheless by the time I had parked the timber was looking a little wobbly so I went round, put extra ropes over it and double dollied all round. OK to go, but with care.

Got to the outskirts of London and it was looking worse so I parked up near the depot of Pickfords, a well know British heavy haulage company. They trundled out with a giant forktruck, big enough to pick up loaded containers, then put the forks under the load gently and, equally gently, pushed everything square with the mast. I then went all round re-roped, double dollied and the load did not move again for the rest of the journey to destination.

Taught me a lesson though, and I never again loaded timber until I had bought myself some long chains and sylvesters. (Even in little England there are several regional names for those, stretchers and dwangs are but a couple of the others )

 

You weigh more than 135 lbs id wager

 

Usually the guys that are jumping all over the place trying to get straps tight are the same ones that roll the whole strap up on the winch. Once I started folding up the excess and only having a few wraps on the winch, the straps got tighter much easier. And they stayed tighter as well.

 

Some of us are just small and never wind em up on the winch

 

Physics can be your friend, for sure!

 

Physics is a cruel mistress that is a friend to no one. She might seem warm and cuddly, but make no mistake she will eventually break your leg just for a laugh.

 

Pulled up behind this guy just now. Hoo-boy, he's lucky he's not on his side on a clover.

Been pulling flat since '19 he says.

Told him that's dangerous having it loaded that way