Flatbed Terminology

After extensively reading through the flatbed part of the forum, I have come to realize that there are MANY terms that I am not familiar with (shotgun, suicide, skidded, v-board, explanation of the different types of tarps 'coil', 'wood', 'steel' etc) and I'm sure there are quite a few other aspiring flatbedders in my same shoes. I thought it would be nice if people would chime in and post different terminology used in the flatbed world and define it and I will compile all of it into this comment so it could be used as a quick reference. I'm sure it would help myself and a lot of other newbies.

Acronyms:
WLL - Working load limit

Tarps:
Coil tarp - A tarp specifically designed to be used with coils
Lumber tarp - 6 -8 side drops with end flaps
Smoke tarp -Covers front of a load to keep soot or other debris off.
Steel tarp - A tarp for covering steel, usually only has a two foot drop.
Drywall tarp - One piece, but has flaps front and back. Usually 6' drops and 25-30' in length

Coils:
Suicide - Coil can roll onto the truck
Shotgun - Rolls off the side of the trailer
Skidded - Coil on a pallet

Chains, Straps, and Boards:
Snap binders - Chain binders that snap tight. (Can be dangerous)
Cross chain - From one side of load to opposite side of trailer.
Deck chains - Chain pots that have been installed in the top of the deck. Useful for chaining triple suicide coils and such.
Gut Strap (Belly strap) - strap going through middle of load. Generally used on loads more that 3 tiers high. Will prevent forward shifting of bottom layers and also (on tall loads) prevent the middle sections from bowing out and collapsing. Gut straps DO NOT count towards straps needed to meet weight requirements.
Direct tiedown - One side of trailer to the load back to the trailer or tiedown. WLL is cut in half when using direct tiedowns.
Indirect tiedwon - Goes from one side of the trailer over the load (or through the load) and to the other side of the trailer. WLL is doubled when using indirect (additional info see post #16)
V-Board - Edge protection that goes under the strap
Dunnage - Wood/lumber

Trailers:
Rub Rail - Reflectorized rail (usually) that goes around outside edge of trailer. On a 102" trailer, entire load must be within the rail.
California spread - 53' flatbed trailer that is CA bridge law legal. Usually evident by 6-7 feet of overhang on back.

 

Shotgun & suicide is how a cool is loaded ,if coil can roll onto truck it's suicide,shotgun roll s of side of trailer.Skidded is a coil on a pallet.V board is an edge protection goes under the strap .A few tarps,coil tarps enuf to cover the coil. Lumber tarp 6-8 side drops with end flaps.

 

I saw a newb ask a question about a term the other day(can't remember what it was) but it got me thinking............maybe there should be a "trucker terminology 101" on here lol

 

there is it called " the old timers "

 

That is kinda what I'm trying to accomplish here except strictly flatbed terminology.

 

Keep them coming guys!

 

How about snap and ratchet binders. Some trailers use "J hooks" that go into a track on the deck and thats the securement method. Winches and the different sizes they come in 4" track winches,2" & 4" ratchet winches, the winch bar to operate them, Coil racks for hauling those suicide or shotgun coils.

 

Need a little more clarification so that I can format it the way I have the others at the top.

 

A coil tarp, or bag, is a tarp that is specifically designed to be used with coils, not enough tarps to cover coil.

 

Ok I will change it.