looking for a change

I agree that securement can be learned quickly, the problem you'll face is any good company is going to require flatbed experience. I love the open-deck field, I'm sure you will too.

 

I would disagree that any good company will require experience. I know several companies I would consider to be good that offer securement training. We train drivers by having them run within 200 miles on hand picked loads. As they build their confidence and ability we slowly move them onto more difficult loads. Eventually, they end up learning everything they need to know.

 

Thank you to the op for posting this thread. I have a couple questions; Is it true most shippers and receivers have tarping stations?? Also, is it true some will not secure a load on their property?? Finally, is it good to go percentage or mileage interms of pay.

KH

 

Most do not have tarping stations. Usually only lumber and wall board shippers. The second questions is a little confusing. Did you mean to ask if some will not allow you to secure on their property? If so, I have never come across this. I would instruct my driver not to move the truck off someone's property without securing.

You would need to learn a lot more about your perspective company to answer the mileage vs percentage question. There are a huge number of variables. Are their rates good? Do they run a lot of empty miles? Do their driver run long trips and lots of miles or shorter trips? Honestly, if the company is offering you a choice, it probably won't make much of a difference. They have already run the numbers.

 

My experience with tarping stations is there just more trouble than they're worth. I don't like having to bend over to hook my bungies.

 

I'll second that. Tarping stations are usually a pain. In my experience, they're more to protect the shipper from a lawsuit than to protect the driver. My favorite are the ones that make you wear a harness and hook up to an overhead wire. I don't know how many times I've almost killed myself forgetting that #### wire was there. Most places don't have them though.

 

The only tarping stations that I like are the ones that you roll your tarp out on the ground and then lift it up and over the load with an overhead crane.

 

first time I have a shipper tell me to move it before tieing down, I will have them take the ld. off me.
Been to some places that you throw a few chains to secure it some and move forward.

I will take that back. John Deere in Waterloo. They drive the tractor on your deck and ask kindly to pull out and chain down if they are busy.

 

JD in Ankeny will do that on the rare occasion that the trlr isn't preloaded.

 

if you sleep at night. how do you unload and load during the day???????

cuz our loads are usually delivered the next day. which means driving at night. sleep when we can.