Driving flatbed

I would pick up dog crap for $5000.00 per week.

 

If you haul pipe USE pipe stakes they are required most non palletized or banded loads. They will help you with a few tenths of a second to get under the trailer or away from the ends.... There have been several killed in most big companies being in the wrong place during loading or unloading. I was told of 3 in 3 years while in training for my flatbed job.

 

I consider myself a rigger first and a truck driver second. Lots of people can drive better than me I'm sure. I get paid to secure safely without damaging anyone or anything.

 

Get familiar with securement laws and learn how to calculate your securment. Also wouldnt hurt to have someone show you securement of pipe. I see more and more of it sliding and leaning everytime i go to north dakota.

 

Didn't think of this earlier...don't know why.

are you expected to drive and deliver on site to the oil fields? I mean off pavement? Watch the mud holes as they will rip the brake chambers off the bottom of the truck. Watch your speed, so you don't snap axles and twist driveshafts. Better buy a grease gun and grease the truck at least once a week. Doesn't matter if its you are not the owner. If they assign you a truck, care for it as if it were your own. Oilfield trucks live a very rough existence, and the more you can keep yours out of the shop, the more money you can make.

one more thing... I learned this from running into the mines and wind farms and oil fields: Check your front wheels, the steers, for cracks around the lugs holes. I mean, clean off around the lugs and inspect them.

 

Oilfield will put you in some ridiculously tight places at times. If you're delivering to a drill rig, there are a thousand things going on at one time. Most likely they'll have at least one spotter, maybe two...watch them. Do not move without a very explicit go-ahead signal. Also, protective equipment...flatbedders forget this one more often than some others. Fire retardant outer layer, hard hat, safety glasses, reflectives either on the FR's or a vest, gloves, steel toes. Do not get out of the cab without all of it on.

If you're delivering somewhere to a pipeline, most of this still applies, but they're less rigid without a rig boss or OSR standing peering over your shoulder.

 

Interesting. I just obtained my CDL and starting Flatbed with System Transport in Jan. Any further recommendations are helpful. I have always said prior that mistakes I've made are the best way to learn but hopefully not in trucking safety.

 

Let us know how it goes. Systems pull big loads. You will have room for advancement.

 

The main difference in flatbedding is you have to give more direction to the warehousemen with the forklifts. Center pallet loads by starting in the cenver and working both ways. Most pipe loaders have a good eye for center. Also remember to only take off straps on top layer of pipe when unloading. Be very careful when loosening last strap on larger pipes. Sometimes last strap can only be loosened when you are being protected by forklift. Watch other truckers load and unload.