"Do not ever drive flatbed"

Well I was out of chain. Nice fella.

 

Starting on flatbed, especially this run, do not do any particularly hard labor on late saturday into sunday, relax and get your rest. The driving is the easy bit but for the first run youre going to be over-paranoid and a bundle of nerves about your load on top of driving.

Having your body be rested going into that is important

 

Welcome to trucking!

 

Thanks, I've my class a for 3yrs now, but was local for most of it. I did two months with a regional company but there equipment was trash. I broke down on my first solo for 34hrs and i came back and left. I was scared to be honest since i just got my cdl lol.

Anyhow i appreciate all the helpful comments. No need for a gym membership now!

 

My butt was puckered tight for the first 100mi. I’ve never secured anything so heavy on a flatbed. I had to go thru richmond va and the roads were twisty and lots of traffic. I just hung out in the right lane and let everyone go around to avoid hard braking etc.

i definitely feel less scared for when i finish the run on sunday night.

 

Pick which one yours belongs in


The Truckers’ Report flatbed Hall of Shame.

Post flatbed load photos here V2.0

 

On a sportbike. Left lane. In a tractor right lane. These four wheelers love to jump in front of you and mash on the brakes. I just had a old person do that to me in my personal car. If i was in a tractor i would of ran them over! Stupid people!

 

Did you at least turn the heat on for him?

 

Thats extra.

 

Well, update on day 4 of my flatbed experience ‍♂️.

I got sent alone to Georgia pacific to get plywood and wasted literally 3hrs or more messing with the tarp machine they have instead of just throwing straps on it and going out the gate and tarping it.

I felt so mentally and physically exhausted like i have been on drugs the last 3 days i was out. I just wanted out of that truck to go home. I got home today because i have a doc appt tomorrow and i took a two hour nap and i feel myself coming back to normal.

I wasted so much time on that tarp, that i had zero time to shower, or even eat. I don't like running like that anymore. I did that for 3.5yrs at UPS. i slept like 6hrs and hit the road again. My arms, face and neck were dirty with dirt i felt disgusting. I took a 30min shower and scrubbed myself twice lol

I read that i may be experiencing driver fatigue or burnout.

I called my old job at the post office and told them i might just go back.

I cleaned my truck out in case i decide to go back to my ez union job.

A part of me wants to keep going with this flatbed job but my body screams no!! It's not the labor part, but i cannot use the bathroom when i feel under pressure. My pee was dark yellow which means i was dehydrated. I just feel like i am running myself into the ground.