What do you call the Bulkhead (edited since I know now)

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Michael-CO, Jul 17, 2022.

  1. Michael-CO

    Michael-CO Light Load Member

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    What do you call the temporary thing you put at the front of the trailer on a flatbed that doesn't have a step deck, in the even freight breaks free stopping short, it doesn't slide forward so much and end up killing the driver? I know they install it and it requires two chains to keep in place, but I don't know what it is called. Is it called a "header?" What is the technical name?

    Thanks.
     
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  3. PoleCrusher

    PoleCrusher Road Train Member

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    Bulkhead. Some hardwood 4x4s, a chain and a binder is all you need to build one.
     
  4. drh72

    drh72 Light Load Member

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    Bulkhead
     
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  5. loudtom

    loudtom Road Train Member

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    bulkhead or headboard
     
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  6. Tumbleweed TowMan

    Tumbleweed TowMan Medium Load Member

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    Whew, thought I was at the age wherein something isn't called what it used to be called.

    Headache Rack

    Semi Truck Headache Racks
     
  7. Val_Caldera

    Val_Caldera Road Train Member

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    It will not likely slow down a 40K Coil loaded suicide with weak chains at a sudden brake locking stop, not that I've given such a go.

    Never understood WHY it's labeled a "Headache Rack", as above "scenario", a "headache" would be moot.
     
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  8. Tumbleweed TowMan

    Tumbleweed TowMan Medium Load Member

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    Bulkhead makes more sense, it implies integrity & durability.
     
  9. Michael-CO

    Michael-CO Light Load Member

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    And can anyone tell me if I was doing a pretrip inspection on freight that already had one of these tied down, what is regulation spec to look for to make sure that it is DOT compliant? I have an interview tomorrow with a road test and they said the tester will be looking for me to know if it is up to par. I was told that it requires two chains to be compliant. Anything else I need to point out to tester pretrip on it?
     
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  10. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    He's not talking about a headache rack. He's talking about a bulkhead.

    Here's an example of two bulkheads. One fixed to the trailer, and one constructed to actually help stop forward movement.

    OP, I've never heard of a two-chain requirement. Not sure about that.

    20210428_132853.jpg 20210428_132859.jpg
     
  11. CAXPT

    CAXPT Road Train Member

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    Although it's Western Express, this is about the best description and example I could find on short notice of building a bulkhead/header/barricade:



    The headache rack, tends to do double duty. It's a weak protection, although it will deny it being appropriate for that purpose, but it mostly is used for holding securement gear (chains, binders, etc) and comes in many variations. Also, the one shown above by GPD, is another example of a header on a trailer, but it too, tends to be used to hold securement gear, but doubles as a header/barricade/bulkhead.
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2022
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