Were all you flatbedders nervous when you started driving?

And others non with haveing my truck and been in van my load securement training was a 10 min video a book and one ld second ld wss supposed to have someone there but they was more than 3hrs behind so ld secure and go

 

I carry 12 chains, 8 rachet binders and 4 snap binders (since the new equipment manager tore through my equipment and reclaimed all my other snaps), skid or friction pads, enough straps to mummify the trailer, a boatload of steel edge protectors, felt padding, 2 decent sized lumber tarps (6' drop) and 1 large steel tarp (also a 6' drop). Why yes, I do feel under-equipped sometimes!

 

So that they can run the flatbed as a team operation.

Even in 8 weeks you can not learn everything that you need to know. Even two loads of the same product will behave differently.

 

I carry 12 chains and binders on the truck. 10 each 3/8" x 25' and 2 each 5/16"x20' only because I had them already. The RGN has it's own set of 1/2" chains. Each trailer has it's own set of straps. Approximately 25 in the box. No tarps on any trailer or truck. If it needs a tarp they can call someone else. Or they can PAY for it till it hurts.

 

I started flatbed and have done dry-box since but primarily flatbed. Nervous? Yup. Scared? Nope. there's a difference. I think if one gets "complacent" or let's their guard down-disaster is around the corner. Channel your fear or "nervousness" into something positive and make "it" work for you..The day I don't feel a tingling in my gut about a load...or going into a new shipper/receiver in a major metro area or job site is when I am done........

 

I could write a book and make a movie on this topic. when I first got my ga license to drive a truck all ya had to do was get someone sign an affidavit that you could drive a truck, I did that and got my license. the only truck I had actually driven was a long wheel base international that we had taken the fifth wheel off of and put on a grain body. I hauled grain off the farm to the silo within 30 miles of home, I also puleed 40 foot 4 wheel cotton trailers behind a pick up.

I had just got out of the army in 79, got the license, a uncle gave me a reference that I had been driving for him, and I went to builders transport in savannah and passed a road test, physical etc. , my first load was a double stack roll roofing that went from savannah to Baltimore,md.

the road test was the first time I had ever hooked to a fifth wheel trailer even, but I had a wee bit of common sense, and listend and paid attention, I been at it ever since.

nervous wasn't really the word for it, not truck school, no trainer, I simply told a little lie , got a job and went to work.

but that was in the days before computers, electronic records, etc. your job reference got checked with a phone call, heck drug tests didn't even exist when I started. the cdl was easy, I got grandfathered in.

but was I nervous, yep you bet, nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

 

My first load was 49,000 and I was nervous but not scared. The first load I had to tarp kicked my ### lol

 

I agree with everyone else. The nervousness is there but after a while you sort of come to expect that. The first 100 miles or so on a fresh load definitely keep you anxious. The first big bump always makes me pull over and start tugging on my chains or straps. I usually stop 3 times in the first 100 miles to double check everything. And when you throw the tarp in the equation it gets worse for me. I'm always weary of what's going on underneath it. And I'm always re-adjusting bungees to keep it from waving around as everything settles in for the ride. After that windows come down..cigarettes get lit..and the music goes up. I say my prayer and do my thing the rest of the way. All in a days work. I wouldn't trade it..the good or the bad

 

I actually learned from the best flatbedder in the world, my daddy! I ran six months with him learning the trade and when I went out on my own I worked for a small flatbed outfit. I was more nervous about driving in the big cities then worrying if my load was tied down and tarped right!