I'm I too old to pull Flatbed

Seems like you're good to go with Melton. Not many drivers anywhere near your age can lift 100 bs. over their head 4 times and have good strong knees. Melton will probably feel fortunate to have you.

 

I am 55 and have no problems. I don't climb up my tires anymore, I use a ladder now. It is not that hard and pays better.

 

I was parked next to another McElroy driver the other night. He came over & started helping me adjust my tarps & then grabbed a handful of bungies. He'd already done his load before I pulled up. He's 65 & loves what he's doing. If I remember right, I think he said he'd been driving for about 5 years.

 

I'm a 58 year old flatbedder that's probably not in as good of shape as you and I do this job just fine. You shouldn't have a problem. A couple of years ago I was at a steel mill and ran into an old lady that was chaining down her load of steel. I assumed she was with her husband, but she was on her own. I starting talking to her and she told her age.I don't remember the exact number, but it was over 70.

 

Met a driver today he was 63, he was picking up some OD machines from a place where i work. I couldn't believe when he said he has been flatbedding just about 40 years... I helped him put a tarp on with a crane. Main thing he said was he always takes his time to make sure load was properly secured and never jump off of a trailer, always use steps...

It can definitely be done at your age so whatever you decide good luck to you...

 

We have lots of drivers over 60 , one is a guy called geronimo ( I have also heard him called grandpa ) and another called alley cat . They have been at melton a little over a 100 years and they each have to be at least 150 ( I am teasing a little ) both great guys and I have seen both guys working on their loads and talked to them. The tarp test is a one time thing most guys never lift thier tarps again above their waist you can keep them on your deck /catwalk and just put them in your sidebox the rest of the time , I only tarped 1 load this week and it was a single center tarp so not a big deal ( 2 coils ). Also if your ever stiff or have some tendon action acting up you can ask someone to help you pitch it up there if a forklift or crane isnt around. Some places like maybe 1 in 4 wont even let you put your own tarp on and insist you use their tarping machine and we have on place in michigan that puts them on and rolls them down the sides for you( your not allowed on your trailer ). Flatbedding is way more in your attitude than wanything else , you have to get off your rear and go do stuff to make it happen but its not backbreaking just kinda tedious time to time. Most guys don't want to do anything else after flatbedding I know I can't ever go back to sissy trucking.