Flatbedding....Too tuff for older drivers?

thanks blackw900 for info. do you know about myteeproducts are they good or not

 

I have no idea....Been getting mine from Sharps for years.

 

Hey buzzard tmc will have you pick up & put their lumber tarp on the trailer,then you will have to jump and pull yourself onto the trailer from the ground, at the trailer highest point from the ground, then lift the tarp and roll it over a steel coail. if i remeber correctly the lumber is 120 lbs. its not that hard but there were some who could not do it.

 

Will be 70 in July, last big load is in Profile pic, nuff said

 

My son laughed at me when I signed on with Mercer in 2001... I was 50 years old, 300 lbs. and hadn't pulled a flatbed since the early 70's.

I loved the work... if I didn't want to tarp I turned down the tarp loads (but we got paid $75-$125 tarp charge so I DID tarp some loads). I hauled steel, machinery, military freight, aircraft engines and frames, wheeled vehicles, lumber... the works.

One of my toughest loads was a made-to-order shipment of 1" MDO plywood I loaded in the summer Arkansas heat. The ambient temp was 105F... the product coming off the press was 130F and I was tarping it in the sun... on a blacktop lot. I drank two gallons of water in the two hours it took me to load, strap and tarp the load then drove 10 minutes to the nearest parking lot and cranked up the air and slept 8 hours!

I finally had to hang it up in late 2006 when my torn rotator cuff and arthritis in my right shoulder (an old injury from dragging my ### into cabovers for 20 years) would not allow me to even lift a chain... I made good money at Mercer and still miss the folks I worked with, the agents and the office personnel... all top notch in my book.

In short... you can do it if you want to... but don't be a hero. Ask for help when you need it...

 

I pulled a flat for an o/o in 99 when I was 48,but just came off a disabling injury that kept me off the road for a year and had surgery on my rt shoulder. I was really weak-more than at any other time in my life.But in a month I was able to chain and tarp a
steel coil at the mills in Gary In. in less than 1/2 an hr.
You can do it, just get back in shape and youll b safe.

 

Hi Guy's
Enjoy the posts...I was going to go and start with dry vans, but with all the horror stories about all the lost time constantly hunting around for empty trailers, I was wondering do you keep the same skateboard or do you have to keep swapping it out? btw I'm 60, in good shape, just retired from cabinet installing by myself (lot's of heavy lifting). Lack of work forces me in another direction...start Swift school 10/29/10...Does it pay better than dry van ?....any input would help alot..thanks

 

I am 58 and still pulling my step,but I would'nt pull a flat any more.Too much tarping on flats.I still have to tarp a few loads a year and the folding them bothers me more than carrying them or tarping.If your in shape you shouldnt have any problem doing the work. I had a torn rotator about 10 years ago but I don't have a problem with it anymore.At your age I would try and work for small outfit that will be willing to train you on steps or dd's. good luck

 

It sucks to be middle aged....

 

well.....i like flatbedding, but tarping does suck, esspecially when you have to tarp a load of hay. it can be very dangerous, when the wind is blowing and trying to trap a tall load.....