Tips and Tricks of flatbedding

I saw a trucking co offering 100$ for tarping bonus , i thought well thats pretty good . Not so much now .

 

I was 51 when I started open deck flat I’m not in bad shape but not as nimble as I used to be either. It’s not as bad as you might think. I actually enjoyed a lot of it. The last 18 months or so I ran a conestoga so that was a bit easier. That’s one that slides open from front or back, no tarping. Securement is pretty easy to grasp, a lot of common sense needed so all those years as a plumber it should come easy to you. The biggest proble I had was places that required to tarp but didn’t want you tarping on their property or didn’t have the facilities or didn’t allow you to tarp inside during bad weather or wind. I pull pneumatic bulk now. Might consider doing either liquid bulk or pneumatic bulk. Basically just hook up 2, 3, or 4” hoses apply air from a blower or compressor or utilize a truck mounted pump and let her roll. Physically not very demanding but still need common sense to monitor pressures and flow while loading or unloading. You do have to get on the tank sometimes but there is generally a load rack with fall protection. With you’re background it wouldn’t be hard to pick up hazardous materials endorsement and run chemicals.

 

I might add liquid and dry bulk is a whole different world from reefer dry van or flat bed. Generally treated better than reefer and dry van. I’m assuming with 33 years plumbing you’ve got to be close to my age, that being said if I were you I’d be looking at the bulk side. End dump and hopper bottom isn’t a bad gig either.

 

Thx again gents , ill keep looking around . I just know after this last winter storm that rolled thru im done laying in mud and water under some sh tty mobilhome with no underpinning , just so the sub 0 wind can turn ya into a walking icecube .

 

That's why my advice. Get yourself a copy of the Cargo Securement Handbook for Drivers, often available in truck stops, for a reference with pictures, and also study the FMCSA section here:
Federal Register :: Request Access
And read up on securement requirements for cargo of different kinds. Have any questions, ask where you're loading, here...or reference the books...which is why I suggested you take it slow and figure it out. Speed will come, getting it right is more important in flatbed securement. Good luck, and ask away.

 

Hmmm well then flatbed (open deck) may not be for you.

 

Securing a load cant possibly be as bad as frozen burst pipe service plumbing . All outdoor all day and sometimes night wet for 10 12 hrs its a real b h. but again i know nothing . Ill run by the loves off 65 down here south of Nashville and look for that booklet . Thanks for the info .

 

FYI, I used to be a Water Department Employee, so I know what you're talking about, and being in that hole was warmer than being at the top, and that was better than being on top of a load in windy, ice cold water rain, trying to secure and tarp a load that took almost 4 hours, fighting the weather to get it done, despairing, but never giving up. I then took my 10 hours right there afterward and slept almost all of it after I warmed myself up and got somewhat dry.
Flatbed work in the weather, was worse than any water department work I ever did, but also strangely, the most rewarding knowing the adversity I had overcome to get the work done. That's why we say, you don't have to be crazy to do flatbed work, but it helps.

 

I ve seen you water dept guys , 4 guys to hold up the shovel , while the other guy hollars where's the shovel !! Haaaaaa lol . my water dept gave me a half dozen meters to use as replacement when winter showed up last week many frozen .

 

Hehe, yeah, many people look at it that way, but the reality is that often, we're trying to get the water main repaired quickly without trench protection (as allowed by OSHA in stable ground areas), and those guys around the hole holding the shovel, are watching the sides of the trench for movement of the walls to alert the guy(s) in the hole so they can get out or address the issue safely. Honestly, watching the sides and trying not to falsely alarm the workers, but still be able to warn them is much more stressful than working in the hole digging out the water main to put a patch on it, and I usually preferred to be in the hole.

As for the water meters, you were doing them a favor and they you. Win-win.