Am I Cut Out For Flatbed?

A true flatbedder will haul any load if it can be locked down safely and won't come off of the truck. You have to be ready for anything...weather, delays, someone in your way, or a cranky shipper or receiver. You have to have what you need on the truck for any given situation that WILL arise..DO NOT risk injuring yourself or anyone else by taking shortcuts..Do it right the first time..and a few tweaks on the trip are all you will have to deal with..It takes time and lots of practice to know what you need and when you need it for various loads..How I learned quickly was by watching veteran flatbedders work..you'll know who they are..You will develop your own style of how you do things and how to do them quickly while being safe. Take care of your equipment as it is expensive to replace.. A good flatbedder can make his tarps last at least 3 years or more. I've had fellow flatbedders that knew what they were doing get severely injured falling off loads, smashing out their teeth when a winch bar springs back, hurting their backs throwing tarps,etc. You always need to be "in the zone" while working..no matter how tired you are...10-4?

 

Yeah, 10-4 on the "rolling up your swimming pool"...done that several times...but what comes in handy is the plastic from a previous plywood or drywall load...throw that down first ,then wet tarps over that .just check for holes and duct tape 'em... an extra 5 minutes can save your hind end later.. 10-4?

 

Yeah.. seriously.. I've seen so many lazy truck drivers...who are afraid of some actual work...you know who you are...health issues are one thing ..pure laziness is another...I cringe to see what I'd be like if I hadn't done flatbed for the last 8 years....

 

JK Hackl advertises Tarp pay $125, that will make it less of a mental battle haah.

 

Must be slow night to blow dust off 5 y/o thread? good info never the less.