Exp. Flatbedders!

Would love to know more about the world of FLATBEDDING.

Who are you CURRENTLY driving for?

Company Driver/Lease/O/O?

How long have you been flatbedding?

What are the PROs/CONs of flatbedding for YOU?

What enticed you to flatbedding then....van/reefer/tanker, etc?

Is there a book on how to secure loads, considering everyday could be something different, or is it mainly trial and error within company policies?

The more info you can provide, the more questions ill probably have. Right now i have so many, just cant put them all down at once....

.......ready and waiting!

 

Subscribing to this thread! 99% sure I am going to pull flatbed, so I would love to hear these answers as well

Edit: I'm 100% sure!

 

im an owner op with a small company 12 trucks total... i have been flatbedding just over a year...

i chose flat bedding because it is way more physical than van or reefer and gets me out of the truck doing something else, securing the load tarping etc..

i haul lumber mostly this time of year... in the summer in is landscaping block and bags of cement or sand... sometimes empty rail cans... and equipment and even some oversize stuff that is always fun and pays well

 

Not experienced but I think I'm kind of in your position

Text here because text in the quote doesn't count toward the character limit apparently.

 

Haul anything picture worthy?

 

only couple months into it.The people usually want what you are bringing,so dont wait to get unloaded.It is more physical which can be good.The bad to me are tarps,weather can be a bear i e snow,wind,rain.I am glad i switched though.

 

Who you with NWMAXI?

Me, most of my career was flatbed and stepdeck. The rest was cars with a smattering of tanker and ... ugh... temp controlled.

 

How often do you haul the not so squared off loads, like tractors, vehicles stuff that requires a little thinking as to how its all gonna get chained/strapped down.

 

How does one know what to use to secure the load?

Chains/binders instead of straps?
I see steel coils chained down with chains and binders. I have seen pipe strapped down, and/or chained down. Are there advantages/disadvantages to each one and the product being secured?

 

Hubby has pulled a step for 12yrs,loves it,something different every load.Machinery,steel,Military equip,huge cooling units,hauled something for the space shuttle once.He says the securment is mostly common sense.He likes the challenge of the oversize loads.No one is crazy about tarping winter or summer.You will not stay clean,or keep those jeans nice for long.