Flatbed versus Refer

Van and reefer don't have the fun stuff.

 

Agreed, LoLoL~!
ps: OOPS,
pps: not me.. thank Gawd.... LoL. @EZ Money .. ever have THIS problem?!!? LoL..j/k

 

@crocky I think I came off more than just a little tad bit strong in my response.

My apologies.

The thing is I think a good driver needs to learn to SLEEP when and where possible. In the example I gave earlier it was understood that when the "bone" (the overhead forklift with the extendable forks) put the first 5000 lbs of drill collars on my deck it would be enough to wake me up. At other times I have the customer knock on my door.

Sleep comes in about ninety minute cycles, going through all four phases of sleep. Take advantage of being able to sleep whenever you get sleepy.

Too many times in company terminals or watching YouTube Queens I hear drivers complain they wake up in the morning and wait ALL DAY for a dispatch, then turn it down because it's an overnight run that picks up at 6:00 pm. These are also the driver's complaining about small paychecks.

Take any load, any time, to anywhere.

 

Well said, man. I didn't have the wherewithal to pen that.. great explanation, in entirety, even though I'm not OTR these days, doesn't mean I won't if the $ signs speak nicely!
@crocky ... I agree with the Lep. I usually do, LoL.
I was just thinking maybe, the O/P spelled his name wrong, actually. Maybe he meant for it to say "Krikey" . . ya know, mate? (NO dis, @aussiejosh whatsoever... love y'alls cheesy sayings, truly!)

 

No. Quite often you hustle to get the gear put way before they get you unloaded. Pull off the tarps and fold them up so they aren't in the way, roll them up later so you can take off the straps asap.

You kinda get back what you put into it. Some people drag thier feet when it comes to "work" and it takes way longer than it needs to. People unloading will forget about them and go to lunch.

Bring an extra jug of water as a portable shower!

 

Same goes with tanks, as well.. If I don't scale (yeah its a certified CAT at the shipper) in a timely manner, and B/S with the office, yada yada yada.. and someone gets my post before me, Sure enough.. could be an hour wait; almost an hour load.
When I get to my shipper, I roll in, scale and swap paperwork all at once; often see guys flailing with their BOL's as I'm in and under the CatWalk. Out right around an hour.
It's all about the hustle YOU are willing to put in, just like you said, @skellr .

Anticipate THEIR next move; be one ahead. Excellent post, imho.

 

Amen. With flatbed you are often delivering or picking up in a yard that may only have one position for loading or unloading, with a queue of trucks waiting for that position. Be efficient with your straps and chains and HUSSLE to get your #### DONE and clear the way for the next driver. You need to have a SYSTEM and a place for everything. Typically I have all my straps or chains stowed before the last piece gets off my deck in an unload. If I am loading I secure enough to move forward to finish the job so the next driver can start loading.

Have a system of how you manage your straps, chains and dunnage. Don't rush yourself making sure the load is secure, but don't fart at the dinner party and be the guy holding up the line.

 

Sleeper berth is actually on duty time along with driving and on duty not driving. But us old timers can't sleep more than 5-6 hours at a time cause of old regs where you could actually split your time and avoid things like rush hour traffic!!!!!!

 

On paper, sure enough~~!

 

4 hours is enough to charge up a little bit in sleep. It's a little bit. If I finished a 2000 mile run without rest I would need between 16 to 21 hours to pay the "Sleep bill"

There is a big price to that kind of work without sleep. There is a section of your mind that does not record to memory what you are doing when you are tired. There are loads Ive delivered but I could not tell you where, when etc. The last one was a ice cream that went into baltimore from roughly NY Mid state over night after spending two days in Boston, that was the last thing I wanted to continue that kind of work without sleep. It got delivered but not very well.

Once i got into the west and settled into the weather patterns of winter where you can hibernate during a storm but getting up every few hours to rock it 50 feet back and forth to maintain a bed as the snow deepens still some work to do.