Post flatbed load photos here V2.0

What is the qualification of their employees to train you in securement practices?

Not looking to pile on here:

Sounds like you need a short course in securement. Ie you stick with straps because it's what you know: immediately get called on doing it wrong via a night time picture...that tells me you're not as familiar with how to use straps as you may think.

I'll take some pics of what to do with straps tomorrow....hopefully I'll remember.

Chains don't take much to learn. Learn from someone else tho, so you keep all the teeth you have in your head

 

If you are ever in doubt. Something I like to do to try to put things into perspective is to imagine my wife, kids and friends in vehicles on the road with me while going down the hwy. Is the load safe enough for my family?

The other mental image I put in my mind is to walk away from the load,.. go out and view the trailer from about 75 - 100 ft away to either side of it. Look at it and try to imagine the truck hitting a brick wall at 65mph. Visualize the force of the impact smashing the front of the truck, the rear of the tractor lifting the axles and 5th wheel into the air with the front of the trailer lifting with it. The loads momentum now straining against the securement used. Visually imagining the loads force wanting to continue. Will your securement prevent that load from smashing through the rear of the cab and killing you ? At the very least,.. self preservation needs to rank high in your list of priorities.

Thats how I load my trailer and secure the load thats on it. Thats why when I have doubts or need a second opinion,.. I ask questions.

I like to think I have a pretty good handle on things with many years of experience. But there are still moments when common sense says that there must be a better or safer way.

You can ask anyone here. I am not always the easiest person to get along with. But I will admit when I am wrong and accept negative criticism as part of being a better driver.

edit:

Found a pic of one I did a while back. Not the one I was looking for,. but this should suffice.


Hurst

 

I had a monster coil awhile back. 48k lbs. I had six chains on it which covered the requirements but when I finished I looked at that beast and said nope not good enough. Put one more holding it back. It's always worth the extra time.

 

5/16 grade 70

 

That's what the company provides. That's all I see most company drivers using.