Flatbed question

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by H3R3T1C, Feb 28, 2021.

  1. H3R3T1C

    H3R3T1C "Question Everything"

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    I've been driving for over 12 years and I have driven flatbed for 2 of them, but its been awhile.

    I just started this new job and was sent out on a job where they wanted me to tarp building material, with all sorts of issues for rips and tears in the tarps.

    My question is at what point do you say something, like calling dispatch letting them know the tarp isnt going to survive this run but if you say so ill do it, and send me a written message in the ELD software saying that I warned you first?

    I kinda of know this answer already but im curious what other drivers would do. This was actually only my second with this company and I thought they might be hazing me a bit but I think they are legit. Legit stupid.

    Maybe its just a CYA they put on the BOL "in case" something happens because like I said this is building material while it was in a cardboard box they dont sell this product in the box.

    Now that im back pulling the skate board around I remember now all the "other" helpful items you need to pull this kind of freight.
     
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  3. Cowboyrich

    Cowboyrich Road Train Member

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    "Building materials" is a pretty broad area.
     
  4. shooter19802003

    shooter19802003 Road Train Member

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    This is why I have moving blankets and carpet rems. I carry alot of crap. Which is alot less than it used to be. I take it you are a company driver? Are you responsible for the tarps? If they say tarp it.....tarp it the best you can with what you have.
     
  5. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    As a company driver demand enough tarp pay for what you think your time is worth to tarp it... for me that is atleast 100 dollars an hour...
     
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  6. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    When I was temp driving, one of the customers had me do a chips run with metal chips in metal totes down to the processing foundry, a 25 mile trip, the first (and second time) they had me do this run, they had those cheap plastic harbor freight tarps and insisted I use them, then they would b****tch and raise hell with my company on the time I took to tarp the load, they kept saying their driver can load, tarp and be out in an hour, where I am taking two hours - really had to wait for a forklift and guard it when I was on the truck most of the time.

    well the second time they rushed me out the door and it was a nasty very windy day. I got onto the freeway the wind caught one of the tarps and ripped it in half and chips scattered on the on-ramp and freeway with the wind blowing them into the grass. No flat tires but after 30 minutes on the side of the road getting it tarp again with a new heavy tarp someone stopped and gave me (thank you Mercer driver), I was on my way.

    so I decided I had enough of this crap. Went to a truck tarp place near one of my customers, bought my own tarps and put them in my van so if a customer told me to do a chip run (three customers always had them from machining dies), I wouldn’t be messing with tarps that were cheap and falling apart (and straps were another thing i carried). About a month after that second run, the regular driver for this company lost two totes full of chips on the freeway, I was working for another customer that day and enjoyed the three hour stopped traffic thanks to the idiot not strapping the tote down right or checking the chains before he left.
     
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  7. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    Gotta love those loads. And tarps aren't cheap.

    I don't know why conestogas aren't the requirement.
     
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  8. shooter19802003

    shooter19802003 Road Train Member

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    Heck, Half the crap that goes on a flatbed can go in a dry van.
     
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  9. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Dont tell anybody or we might be out of a job !
     
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  10. shooter19802003

    shooter19802003 Road Train Member

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    Lol, right.

    Alot of things that I've loaded would have been better off in a dry van. Always made me wonder.
     
  11. H3R3T1C

    H3R3T1C "Question Everything"

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    I agree, of course its been a decade since I've run flatbed and of course as soon as I saw the load it all came back to me.

    Im running through my head what ill need now so I dont get caught like this again.

    Thanks
     
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