Flatbed scare! Young driver

The stacks are not straight. Two straps per pallet. Is that concrete blocks on front? I would use chains on that. And I would have added an x tie to the front and back. But I must say thays one load that I would be xtra slow withcuz of those gaps.

 

Just a few idea's.

 

you kno what never mind.

 

A noose to go around your neck when things do not go right!

 

Lumber loads try to slide or "walk" out of position....and so do some other loads...like steel scaffolding planks!!!!!

 

I used to haul lumber in my younger years. I would do multiple drops and dump each delivery. That was fun to load the three axle and set it up for four to six dumps.

I used to strap each drop separately and then chain the stack that was to remain on the truck. Oh what fun!

 

First and most important, never let anyone i dont care if its god himself tell you oh well go with it. Its your load, and your rear if dot gets you or god forbid you have or cause an accident. Refuse the load intill it is properly loaded. Now in flat bed we can not always have it perfect per say. but have it your way so you feel safe and are sure it is safe. remember if dot gives a ticket for something it all on you. your company does not have to take the fall. in this job your CDL is your life. its what pays the bills and if you get to many tickets and lose your job or CDL you cant feed you or your family.

Now with that said. pretty good rule of thumb steel on steel cloth on everything else. meaning. chains on metal straps for the rest.chains love to crack or break softer things ie those blocks. a chained tightened a little hard would take a chunk out quickly. personal i would have use atleat 3 strap maybe 2 depending on total weight of them with edge protectors and some rubber. now the tables 2 straps each palley dont care about how light they are. they are a thin easily broken materail. if you run a short highway or have heavy winds you take alot of chance with on strap of them snaping off and hitting someone or something. one strap on each side of the pallet to lock the whole table down. better safe than sorry again its your ###

 

As a rule, I DO NOT put my face into the arc of where the winch bar can move. In other words, I never lean over the top of the bar where, should I lose my grip on it or it slips out of my hands as I'm putting torque on it, my face could potentially be in its path as it recoils upwards. I'm ugly enough as it is, no need to make things worse. I WILL pull down on the bar with all my weight, but I am still careful to keep my face off to the side. I'm a righty, and normally I'm to the left of the bar when I'm winching.

One of these helps to keep your face out of the line of fire: http://www.electotronics.com/kinedynecorporation3703239ratchetwinchbarwith2lockkeys.aspx

Another thing I do when securing rubber bungees while tarping - I look where the bungee is going to go (on a 'D' ring, or wherever), and when I feel the bungee start to stretch, I look away and do it by feel. Nothing like a bungee snapping and taking your eye out to ruin your day. Oftentimes I will use the old school method of rope to secure the tarps. Bungees on either end of the rope, run through 'D' rings and rub rail/pipe spools, and it doesn't put as much stress on the 'D' rings.

 

Why not use a 2"ratchet and use the ratchet to tighten it down instead of your body weight?