My Maverick Experience

Too late for that. If you do decide to apply though let me know and I'll give you my info to give to the recruiter.

Doesn't matter that it's still a class with note taking. It's not 12 hours of watching videos and taking 10 question tests on them. We are actually moving around and doing something so the time goes by much faster.

 

Maverick Flatbed Securement Training Day 1 - Friday 02/01/2013

Today was the first day of Flatbed Securement Training. I was up at 0500 because we had to pack up our stuff and move it out of the Maverick Hotel. Most people had to take it with them over to the training building. I was able to just throw it all back into my pickup. We had to move out because they clean the entire place on Friday. They also had some of us move down to the Galloway Inn down the street from the Maverick Headquarters. I was one of those people who moved. In the morning they will send a van to pick up anybody who is staying at the Galloway Inn to bring them back to the campus for training. I'm just going to drive so I can go get myself some lunch.


Today started out at 0600. Our instructor was Jeff. He had a presentation for us on securing Single Eye to the Side Coils. We went over how to choose the right number of chains and how to build the coil cradle properly. After his presentation we watched a 10 minute video made by Jeff and Scotty on the proper way to secure a coil to the trailer. After this we went out into the barn to practice.

We spent about 3 hours working on securing the coil. For training they use wooden spools with 55 gallong drums for the centers to take the place of a coil. This way we can move the maround easily with two people. They just have us do securements based on the weights they tell us since each spool only weighs about 125lbs. The first securement was for 23,000lbs. It took us about an hour to secure everything the first time. Most people made a few small mistakes on their first attempt. After we all finished chaining down the coils we took a break. Then we came back and went around the room and looked over how each person did and showed what was done wrong. The 2 biggest mistakes were putting the beveled timbers in the coil rack upside down or forgetting to mirror the chain hookups on both sides of the trailer.

We then tore down all of the set ups and did it all over again. The second time we secured the spools as if they weighed 32,000lbs. This time everybody got everything right after trying it once and seeing the easy mistakes.

Here's a picture of mine after finishing the second time. The tube hanging off the side of the trailer is to mark the center point. They had 3 of us on each trailer so they did this to give us a center point to work from.


After the second time we took our lunch break. It was about 1130 by now. 5 of us went to KFC. We were going to take one of the vans, but they were all gone, we had to wait 20 minutes for them to come back. Then when we got to KFC it took 45 minutes to order and get our food. By the time we got back to the campus we were 10 minutes late for class.

After getting back in the Barn we tore down the coil setups we had done before lunch and then did a third securement for 48,000lbs. After this we took a break and went over to the Main Offic building to watch the Driver of the Year presentation.

After the presentation we went back in the classroom and watched a presentation and video about slitted coils. Slitted coils are one coil that was cut into several pieces, and then banded back together before being put on the truck. They secured in a similar way to a single coil except for putting one chain around the top to keep the different pieces from coming apart if the bands break.

After doing the slitted coil securements we tore everything down and got it all set up for the night shift guys. At this point it was about 1530. We took the slitted coil test and then were given our room assignments for the rest of the time in orientation. At 1600 we were allowed to leave. Most of the people going to the Galloway Inn packed their stuff into the van and got a ride down here. Those of us with our own vehicles just drove. We are allowed to drive back to the campus instead of taking the van every morning if we want to leave to get our lunch and not use the van.

My roommate at the Galloway was another driver who got sick during his time with a trainer and had to come stay here until he was better. He's going to be leaving tomorrow night some time. I don't know if I'm going to have anybody else in here at that point.

Working out in the Barn today was a lot of fun for me. It was nice to do something besides just sit around all day. Tomorrow we will be going at it again. Likely with more coils and how to go about securing multiple coils in the same load. I'm looking forward to continuing to work out there.

-Ryan

 

Maverick Flatbed Securement Training Day 2 Saturday - 02/02/2013

Today had a bit of a panicked start. I woke up at 0545 and had to be in the classroom by 0600. Luckily I drove myself because the van was pulling out of the driveway right as I got downstairs. I made it to the yard on time though. For some reason my alarm didn't go off on my phone. The alarms on my phone are the only thing that will wake me up, every other alarm that I've tried I end up just sleeping through it.

These posts are probably going to start getting shorter since most of what we do is physical work in the barn and not a whole lot to describe.

We started the day off with a video and presentation on loading and securing Shotgun coils. Around 0730 we finished that and went out to the barn. First we spent about 30 minutes practicing with straps on a pile PVC pipe so we could all learn how to use them properly. Then we went back into the barn and and worked on setting up and securing Shotgun coils. It wasn't too hard, there's just more equipment involved since they all required at least 3 chains and 2 straps to secure no matter the weight. After this we did the usual walk around where Jeff pointed out any small mistakes. Everybody got it right on their first try. The only issue was some of us had the edge protectors a little lower than he would've preferred but other than that we all got it right. The first setup was for 23,000 lbs. I forgot to take a picture of it though anybody who's done it before knows what it looks like.

After this we tore everything down and did another securement for 31,000 lbs. We then did another walk around and everybody got it right.





After this we took a 45 minute lunch from 1100-1145. Nothing special about it today, I ran into town and others either took the van or had their food with them.

After lunch we went back out into the barn and did one more setup where we secured for 48,000lbs. This was no different from above other than having a couple more coil racks and an extra strap over the top.

After the 48,000lb securement we went back into the classroom to watch videos and a presentation about Slitted Shotgun coils. Not a while lot different other than needing more straps over the top, an additional chain at the back, and a chain wrapping around the top of them so they can't spread apart. After the video we went out into the barn worked to take down 5 of the 48,000lb setups and clean them up to get them ready for the night shift. After cleaning up 4 of the stations we then went in teams of 2 to the remaining 5 stations and just turned the 48,000lb single shotgun coil into a 48,000lb slitted shotgun coil. After we finished that we all worked to tear down the remaining 5 stations and set them up for the night shift so they could use them.



Yes, that is one of my fingers in front of the camera on my phone. I was taking the picture with my left hand and the button was on the right side so I was holding it weird Didn't notice it until I got back to the room tonight.

After the final tear down we went back into the classroom to take a quick 10 question test on the slitted coils. Then we left and went back to our hotels.

Another note about the Flatbed Training program that I would like to add here is their in class model they use. They have 2 tables set up with tape strips on them to take the place of a miniature flatbed trailer. Along the sides they added rub rails with spools and stake pockets and have small versions of everything used for securing cargo. It's really helpful to see a physical model and not only have pictures before we have to go try it out in the barn.



Tonight my temporary roommate will be leaving and I'm not sure if I'm going to be getting somebody different tomorrow, or if I'll just have my own room for a while.

Tomorrow is yet another day. I'm quite happy to finally be moving around. Hopefully the weather keeps getting nicer. That's one of the perks of doing this training in Arkansas during the winter. It may be the beginning of February, but it's still warm enough to do the work and even not use a jacket all the time.

-Ryan