Professionalism in our end of the business

TripleSix · Jun 24, 2013

This post isn't for the experienced hauler, it's for the guys that are looking to come this way. I'd wager that every experienced hauler here has one time or another had to deal with the pocket protector crowd, your VPs, engineers, state cops, inspectors, crane and rigging crews, and government officials. Some of the loads we pull have years of research and took years to build.

Got a load this past week where the inspectors were ogling over everything. They stand back as the load is placed on the trailer. They point and whisper among themselves. I start securing the load. One of them musters up courage to come talk to me and the others follow behind him looking over his shoulder at me. He asks, "how do you determine how you secure this load?" I give him the dims on the load, the size and the weight and I tell him about what federal regulations require to secure that object. They were stunned. Everyone broke out their pens and asked me to repeat the regs. One inspector said that he had always thought that we just went with our gut and could secure things any way we pleased. I don't know if they were stunned that there were federal regs for the load or a trucker quoting the law.

Anyways, you new guys, if you've been flatbedding for a year or so, you should know the regs like the back of your hand by now. Patience is essential to be successful with the big loads. Be prompt. If you tell someon that you are going to be there at 0800, be there on time. Have your PPE on before showing up. Be clean. Someone is handing you their $60 million baby, and you can at least shower and put on fresh clothes before holding the baby.

joseph1135 · Jun 24, 2013

And you just made a few more respect what you do. Good job. By taking time to explain and being courteous, you probably changed a few minds about truck driver

passingthru69 · Jun 24, 2013

Years ago I was at Linkbelt in Lexington, Ky.
Had a 3 axle flatbed to load a brand new crane model. 1st one out the drive so to speak.
They had done all the test and tearing down and figuring how many trks. to move this crawler crane.
So we ld. it on a flat bedtrl. I'm looking and I know this will be one top heavy ride.
I can't find any good tie down points. There were no lifting lugs to tie off of either.
So I get they loading guys.
I ask them where do I tie off on this thing?
To many hoses here and here, different things in the way etc.
He looks and says I'll be back in a minute.
Ok, next I know here comes the golf carts and the white shirt guys.
Guess what? They were all busy building this new crane model, they forgot the hauling and securing part.
Spent 6 hours going over different ways to tie it down and where to put securement points at

speedracer 1963 · Jun 24, 2013

TripleSix said: ↑

This post isn't for the experienced hauler, it's for the guys that are looking to come this way. I'd wager that every experienced hauler here has one time or another had to deal with the pocket protector crowd, your VPs, engineers, state cops, inspectors, crane and rigging crews, and government officials. Some of the loads we pull have years of research and took years to build.

Got a load this past week where the inspectors were ogling over everything. They stand back as the load is placed on the trailer. They point and whisper among themselves. I start securing the load. One of them musters up courage to come talk to me and the others follow behind him looking over his shoulder at me. He asks, "how do you determine how you secure this load?" I give him the dims on the load, the size and the weight and I tell him about what federal regulations require to secure that object. They were stunned. Everyone broke out their pens and asked me to repeat the regs. One inspector said that he had always thought that we just went with our gut and could secure things any way we pleased. I don't know if they were stunned that there were federal regs for the load or a trucker quoting the law.

Anyways, you new guys, if you've been flatbedding for a year or so, you should know the regs like the back of your hand by now. Patience is essential to be successful with the big loads. Be prompt. If you tell someon that you are going to be there at 0800, be there on time. Have your PPE on before showing up. Be clean. Someone is handing you their $60 million baby, and you can at least shower and put on fresh clothes before holding the baby.
Click to expand...

just had a phone conversation with a flatbed company in my state that said you can learn the job in a few days ....do you want his ph # ?

TripleSix · Jun 25, 2013

speedracer 1963 said: ↑

just had a phone conversation with a flatbed company in my state that said you can learn the job in a few days ....do you want his ph # ?
Click to expand...

I saw a flatbed driver throw straps across the top of a Rolls Royce jet engine. Perhaps that flatbed company will have an opening for him.

black_dog106 · Jun 25, 2013

TripleSix said: ↑

This post isn't for the experienced hauler, it's for the guys that are looking to come this way. I'd wager that every experienced hauler here has one time or another had to deal with the pocket protector crowd, your VPs, engineers, state cops, inspectors, crane and rigging crews, and government officials. Some of the loads we pull have years of research and took years to build.

Got a load this past week where the inspectors were ogling over everything. They stand back as the load is placed on the trailer. They point and whisper among themselves. I start securing the load. One of them musters up courage to come talk to me and the others follow behind him looking over his shoulder at me. He asks, "how do you determine how you secure this load?" I give him the dims on the load, the size and the weight and I tell him about what federal regulations require to secure that object. They were stunned. Everyone broke out their pens and asked me to repeat the regs. One inspector said that he had always thought that we just went with our gut and could secure things any way we pleased. I don't know if they were stunned that there were federal regs for the load or a trucker quoting the law.

Anyways, you new guys, if you've been flatbedding for a year or so, you should know the regs like the back of your hand by now. Patience is essential to be successful with the big loads. Be prompt. If you tell someon that you are going to be there at 0800, be there on time. Have your PPE on before showing up. Be clean. Someone is handing you their $60 million baby, and you can at least shower and put on fresh clothes before holding the baby.
Click to expand...

Excellent post Triple Six. To bad there isnt more of your thinking in the trucking industry.

old time · Jun 25, 2013

TripleSix said: ↑

This post isn't for the experienced hauler, it's for the guys that are looking to come this way. I'd wager that every experienced hauler here has one time or another had to deal with the pocket protector crowd, your VPs, engineers, state cops, inspectors, crane and rigging crews, and government officials. Some of the loads we pull have years of research and took years to build.

Got a load this past week where the inspectors were ogling over everything. They stand back as the load is placed on the trailer. They point and whisper among themselves. I start securing the load. One of them musters up courage to come talk to me and the others follow behind him looking over his shoulder at me. He asks, "how do you determine how you secure this load?" I give him the dims on the load, the size and the weight and I tell him about what federal regulations require to secure that object. They were stunned. Everyone broke out their pens and asked me to repeat the regs. One inspector said that he had always thought that we just went with our gut and could secure things any way we pleased. I don't know if they were stunned that there were federal regs for the load or a trucker quoting the law.

Anyways, you new guys, if you've been flatbedding for a year or so, you should know the regs like the back of your hand by now. Patience is essential to be successful with the big loads. Be prompt. If you tell someon that you are going to be there at 0800, be there on time. Have your PPE on before showing up. Be clean. Someone is handing you their $60 million baby, and you can at least shower and put on fresh clothes before holding the baby.
Click to expand...

Very good post. Sometimes drivers are their own worst enemy. I've written before about the lack of respect in this industry, whether it's shippers disrespecting the drivers or drivers acting in a manner to deserve no repsect. This is a profession and great to see someone treat it as such

ost1 · Jun 25, 2013

well played

speedracer 1963 · Jun 25, 2013

TripleSix said: ↑

I saw a flatbed driver throw straps across the top of a Rolls Royce jet engine. Perhaps that flatbed company will have an opening for him.
Click to expand...

i guess this might mean neither the driver or the company can define professionalism.

hagarcobra · Jun 27, 2013

this is so true . it is amazing the manufacturers have no idea about the regs to get their equipment down the road safely. for example,one manufacturer puts "eyes"?(don't know the official name for them) for your chains on one of their wheel loaders on the frame inside the rear wheels,where they are unusable by being blocked by the tires and fenders. and why cant they put chain points on those big excavator booms and arms?sorry about the rant

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