New Flatbed Training

I was always struggling with load placement prior to securing the load.

Having to reset after scaling sucked.

 

it helps to have gauges on truck and trailer.

although i've never had a problem SO FAR. knock on wood. other then one load that looked good on gauges but when combined i was over gross. with EMPTY tanks. talk about lucky making delivery through the scales.

if there's ever a load i wanna be slighty over on. it's going washington to colorado. through montana and wyoming. wouldn't want to take that risk on any other route or state.

as for the learning. it's all been hands on with the job. but there's still LOTS TO LEARN. tips and pointers would defenitely be nice.

 

When I was new to flatbed I had a few people I could call with questions. if they would have an assigned mentor it might be helpful. It's also good if they have a cameraphone, sometimes it's easier to explain with a picture what you have to do.

Some of the concepts they drilled into our heads at Buchanan was

1. secure it as if it was your family in the cars going around you.
2. secure the heck out of it, but drive it as if you had no securement on it at all. (that's real important if guys have never pulled flat. you want to drive differently. easy on the brakes, slow cornering)
3. those chains and straps weigh the same whether they're on your load or hanging on the rack. use 'em up. (you can undersecure a load, but never over secure one)

 

sounds like the H.H. dept. at ATS, Every driver must send in pics. of their loads, no matter how long you have been doing it.
I do agree with helping out the new people though.
Even I have had to redo loads after taking a step back and looking at the big picture.
Hope this works out for you and your company on teaching the new people.

 

Bill are you offering a load securement program then, or is this something more? I am putting 3 more trucks on in the spring and 2 of them will be running platform freight. I've been looking for a load securement class to send my drivers to. Can you post more details including dates and prices? Thank you!

 

I can be the new full time safety guy for you... Hint hint wink wink.
Good reason to get off the road from driving. flats and heavy haul services only.

 

Rule of thumb on a spread axle 48 foot is 12-18 inches back from center of the trailer. then the easiest is to just work back from there and also forward obviously. I say a 48ft because some people have 53ft spreads that are not CA legal. Having a gauge for the drives makes it so much easier and knowing the max weight you can put on the deck. Load it between that 33-34K mark on the drives and have the rest of the weight rear of that center point. I have never had a problem being heavy on the trailer.

 

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS secure to prevent forward movment!!!! X strap and X chain most everything!!!