1st job is hauling OD equipment

Driver always make sure you have the amount of equipment for the job, never be afraid to ask the loaders a question and if that don't work know your limitations.

 

Make sure you have plenty of chains and binders. Carry a cheater bar. It's always handy to have some web strap tie downs too. If you think the equipment might move then put more chains on. Be more careful and slow down a bit.

 

That's what I kinda figured. I was in a big hurry on the other post so maybe I can help some more. Make sure you've got a good measuring tape and if you haul loads over 14' I would make a device that you could extend from your front bumper to the height of the load. You always want to make sure you measurements are correct and on the spot. They will check. Get yourself a good set of leather gloves. Things that will help and you can buy at Lowes or big store, nylon tie straps, duct tape, 6' roll of think plastic, maybe four or five boxes of cat litter. You might want to get some extra wide load signs or any other sign you might have to use. Get the pocketbook for overloads. In there you can find out how many chains to a certain weight. I'd wear steel toed boots. A real nice set I used was wellington cut Wolverine 10" in black and would run me about $125. They're just real easy to get off and on when your moving from the box. Tool pack, strap wrench, and all the other goodies you should have when driving.

If you haul any equipment with turbos make sure they don't spin backwards. You can tape the stack on most of them. Always check for any items an operator may have left and check for items that may fall off. If it's got doors then lock them. If the loads heavy make sure they bring you just enough fuel for you to load and then get it off. Just remember some states may make you move it to make their regs. I don't know what type of trailer you have or how heavy the loads will be but there's hardly any two states the same on bridge laws and weights. Have all the law books you can find like in a truck stop and keep them. For example the FMCSR pocketbook, CFR49 parts 100 to 177, Hazardous Materials Compliance pocketbook, and so on. Some are better than others but you'll be better informed than just going blind.

You'll need to really plan you trips out because of the restrictions on your permit. Read it and understand all of it. If it says you go a certain road during a certain time make sure you'll there. We I was going all over with heavy wide loads I'd start driving and the very first place I found where I could pull over safely I did to check the chains. They all come loose no matter how tight you get them. Then once on the highway I'd drive until I needed a pit stop and I'd pull into a rest area ( never get off the highway) do my thing then check the tie downs agian and the truck and away I'd go. I did that all day long until I was out of hours. If you start when the sun comes up then you'll stop early enough at night where you can find a good parking spot and then relax until the next day.

 

Get experience hauling regular flatbed freight before trying heavey haul over dimension freight. Work your way up to the bigger, heavier freight. When you are at the point you are being asked for advice, instead of asking for it, you are ready to consider OD freight.