Flatbed Terminology

and here I thought a headache rack was a trophy wife with blond hair an big boobs......

 

what? It's not?

 

Timbers = wooden crossmembers that your load will be sitting on, up off of the deck... aka dunnage, 4x4s, 6x4s, etc.
Bar = the metal pole you tighten your winches with..(and check tires)...
Headerboard = the metal bulkhead or plate that stands vertically on the front of the deck of the trailer that catches the load if it shifts forward..
Portables = 2 or 4 inch portable straps that that attach anywhere you need them for extra "coverage" of a load... especially crisscrossed on front and back of load,, i.e Onions!!

 

It maybe a Headerboard in some parts, but most call it a Headboard.( like on a bed at home.) also some other things I did not see mentioned: Dunnage - the 4"x4" lumber use to lift the load from the deck for the forklifts. Brick boards- keeps pelleted bricks in place during transport. 2'6"x3' in length and a strap protector edge all built as one (metal, wooden and plastic styles) Skip Deck Jack- is a added tail end deck to make a 48' to a 53' for hauling 60' rebar. SlipDeck-Can also be the name of style of trailer or space of a slip deck trailer when pulled open making a 48' to any length up to 60' or more. Belly Loaded- where the load is concentrated to the center of the trailer. Spread load- where the center of the trailer is open and the load is half to the front and half to the rear. Can I educate some of you? When throwing straps across your load, never,ever throw the hooked end. When you hit a passing vehicles windshield, or a walking by person on the other side of your trailer with the hook, enjoy the lawsuit that could follow. Plus, your going to throw your shoulder out in about 5 years. Always roll your straps to where the hook is fastened, behind your strap rail, securely to the bed frame (the same frame your slider ratchets are on the other side) then with both hands over your head,easily pitch it over your load and allow the roll to do the work for you. When I have shown guys in the past how simple it was, they were almost imbarrassed. Never have to worry about hurting someone else or twisted straps. One more thing, When using your load bar- use your knees and body in the final tightening. Not your shoulders. It may save your teeth when the ratchet slips (it will happen someday).i've been flatbed-ing for over 14 years now. Trucking for 26. I'm 51 now and still going.

 

What does OD mean?

 

Over-Dimension. Oversized.

 

Thx, it was one of those things where I knew what it generally meant but didn't know exactly what the acronym meant

 

Today I did something that was over kill, but I knew it was right. One 4' pallet with 2 4' concrete rings and a box of tubing glue inside the rings. I used 3 slider ratchets and 3 4" straps to secure a 400lbs of load. I had to secure the rings to stop slippage front and rear, side to side(2 straps) yet the box of glue tubes was insecure and possibly may blow out, not likely but possible. So a third strap was needed. 16,200 lbs of strap on a 400lbs pallet. Overkill? Maybe. I could have used a couple of 2" straps. That would take more time. The rest of my load 30,000 only needed 6 straps. It's always the little things you got to watch.

 

I may not be very experienced but the one thing I've learned is its amazing how much people can lack common sense. To me, some of the stuff that we have to do, to make a load safe, is common sense, you should know this but watching some of the other drivers out there, just makes me shake my head. Its like they skipped the line, when God was giving out brains.

 

Common sense is the best answer!