The Truckers’ Report flatbed Hall of Shame.

If the customer was insisting on putting the piece metal to metal, then refuse the load. Their interest is protecting their item from damage. I can't figure out why they would refuse to allow you to prevent friction, other than if the lazy forklift driver didn't want to wait for you to set up the deck correctly.

In the future, the moment a forklift driver or crane rigger tells you you can't set up your deck the way it needs to be for safe transport, then use your SWA (Stop Work Authority). Tell them you won't allow the item(s) on your deck without X. Every time I have done this by definition it gets kicked upstairs real quick. The lazy forklift driver gets over ruled, he might be upset but explain to him I'm going to haul this load next to the school bus with his kids in it. Would he want that load to leave the yard metal to metal? That usually gets the light bulb to come on.

 

Yeah, the guy with the wood deck...

 

Don't care what "That guy over there" does all the time. I was brought in for my skill, my experience, and my expertise. So it WILL be loaded to MY satisfaction.

Or you can get "That guy over there" to haul it.

 

Lol... oh I learned..
Heres the best part. I talked to the guy who took the first compressor. He delivered yesterday, I'm delivering in the morning.
1 he has 4 months experience. Total. Paid 60cpm out of Chicago.
2 our rate cons listed the dims at 9'10" wide, but the broker told me 10'4". I measured when I got there, to be sure, and ordered my permits accordingly. I told them i wasnt allowed to run during the holiday weekend in AZ, and both AZ and CA restricted me to 55mph. The broker was like "why?". I politely informed him that I'd bet the pink slip to my truck that the other company permitted for 9'10. Allowing them to run on the holiday and not be restricted like I was being over 10ft. I had to dodge curfews in Houston, Tucson, Phoenix, and LA.
I told him to count his blessing that his $620k compressor made it there.... lol

 

Reading this reminds me of the day, I went to retrieve a truck that was left on the side of the road. Because the nutsack driver was busted for speeding, while in possession of Marijuana.

I took out a driver for the truck, and 8 deliveries. Totaling maybe 18 skids? I brought back 6 deliveries that day.
Because nobody thought to call one of the receivers who had 12 skids of that load for around 18K# of weight.

 

Ehh, it’s a CYA thing. It’s plenty strong.

 

I'm with you on this. I see guys using the rub rails for securement on ALUMINUM trailers all the time. It might be okay with steel rails, but not aluminum. I saw a guy ALMOST make delivery of frack trees to a frack site. The last ditch as you made the tight turn into the pad got him, the sudden sideways dip as the trailer is forced into ditch.

He had used the stake pockets to secure the ends of his chains. That's a no no on an aluminum trailer, you should use the spools. One frack tree over the trailer axles took most of the side force. It ended up leaning at about a 30° angle, held barely in place by two straps on either arm. Both chains ripped clean off, taking chunks of rub rail with it. The aluminum deck was punctured by the side of the base.