New to Flatbedding

I have found that it can help to ask the shipper how they would prefer their product to be secured when it is something unusual. There have been times when I have hauled something and after asking the shipper I secured the load differently than I would have otherwise done. I could have damaged the product had I secured it the way I would before asking. When in doubt ASK. In fact, ask another flatbedder. You will find that those who pull open deck trailers are more than willing to give advice, when asked. It is one of the few segments of this industry where drivers are willing to lend a hand, when needed. You can also observe others and how they secure or tarp their loads.

 

I am surprised that they would start you out with an oversized load.

 

What company?

 

Very true Gman, some shippers have very specific policy's on how many straps to use and where to be placed before the truck leaves there property and you can always add more if you like.

 

Use your brain. Trainers aren't always right and neither are shippers.

I recently had a construction crew wanting me to use straps over the first layer of used 30" pipe and the second layer was going to sit right on top in a pyramid formation.

"Yeah right" I said, "if you want to buy me new straps."

He said all the other drivers did it and got mad at me and walked away.

I used chains on the first layer. Problem solved.

Moral of the story is: look at these drivers as they walk to and from the truck stop. Do you really want to do things like even half of them? Really?
The dregs of society, I'm tellin' ya!

 

and never pull coils till you have alot of experience and watch your curve speeds and know exactly how many straps and chains are supposed 2 be on a ld. DOT know and my all time favorite dont wait till a rain storm to decide to tarp your ld under a bridge cause you didnt think it was gonna rain. And if you wanna really learn how to back up ask a refer hauler with experience for some reason skateboarders cant back up to save a whale and if they can back up they use to haul a refer or van.

 

Your straps and chains and rub rails will almost always block your view of the clearance lights on your trailer. Murphys law!! That makes for tough backing into a dark hole at the truckstop or anywhere- especially if you have a door slammer audience.LOL Many times I have kept my foot lightly on the brake pedal to just get that red shadow. Of course, you can see all the lights when you're jack knifed and anyone standing and watching will definitely have a clear view of them. You can use your work lights but thats kind of frowned on when guys are trying to sleep
Just another part of flatbedding...

 

I am lost on this one. Hauling pyramid pipe why would you need to secure the first layer with a strap or chain you use chocks and then pyramid the pipe. Belly wrap it with chains, strap it down or chain it down and go.

You said you put a chain across the first layer and then layed pipe on top of the chain?

 

Don't always rely on shippers because sometimes their not even paying attention when they load you. Years ago at Cargill Steel in Tulsa they loaded a newbie (never hauled coils before) and he made it outside to the securing/tarping area. I was in line waiting to load when I was looking at his load and their were no coil racks under it only two 4x4's on a 48k coil. I went over their and he told me he had no coil racks and never hauled a coil before. I went in and got the shipping supervisor and brought him out to the load and he got mad. I told the driver I had four extra racks that I would give him so they could redo the load so he wouldn't loose it. They reloaded it and I helped him secure and tarp the load.

He headed west on 244 and I went to get fuel and then headed west myself. When I got toward downtown area they had an accident and traffic backed up word on the radio was a flatbed with a coil was on its side at a bridge at the curve and lost his load. Sure enough it was him and I read the next day paper and it said the driver was driving to fast.