Flatbedding Noob Curiosity

The answer to question number one is physics.

 

I've only been doing it 3 years but I can take a shot at your questions. The thing with pipe is you use a lot of straps and you strap on every layer so you have a strong foundation for it. It won't slide if you do it right, needless to say its still a very dangerous load so adequate following distance is very important to maintain. Steel plants are annoying as it seems they all have different rules you must follow and directions can be difficult to get without asking someone who's been there before. Asking other drivers will get you far in flatbedding.

Waiting hardly ever happens for me but when it does it's a really long wait, basically all day but that's rare usually, especially unloading, the only delay is you and how fast you can get your securement off.

Tips I will leave to some more veteran people but a good one I've found is if you're unsure how to secure a load, ask other drivers or even the forklift person.

 

One notable property being important: friction. The tighter your straps/chains, the more friction holding the load to the deck. But remember securement devices are designed to work at a certain tension. 350 lb. Bubba using a cheater bar on a winch will over-tighten the strap.

 

Most of my career has been open-deck freight. For some reason, still unclear to me, I currently drag a reefer these days.

1) Pipe isn't too bad if you take your time and learn to belly-wrap. Basically, as another poster said, have straps on each layer. It won't go anywhere. More often than not, the shipper knows what needs to be done to keep it on the trailer.

2) Just like anything else, it varies, depending on what you're hauling and the company doing the shipping/receiving. Don't count on GPS, it's just a guide and should always be treated as such. Nothing is better than a phone call to the customer to get directions.

3) Waiting does happen, occasionally, but it isn't as frequent as it is with reefer freight.

4) It would take pages to point out the things I've learned from trial and error. Pay attention to the words from that veteran. One thing I will remember always is, when hauling steel stock, particularly oiled steel stock, build a bulkhead against the front of it. That will keep it from sliding forward in the event of a hard braking. Take my word for it. This is experience talking and the sad thing is; it wasn't inexperience that caused it, it was laziness. I knew what should have been done and cut corners and paid the price.

 

Thats still new in my books. However, your questions are wise beyond your experience...congrats for paying attention!

The answer to
1) What keeps anything from coming off your trailer?
You! You control the amount of load security you choose to use, use that knowledge wisely, the life you save may be your own!
For strapping loads basic load security rules are 2 straps in the first four feet, & one for each continuing 8 feet. Adding tiers causes fluctuations in this.
For chaining down equipment or odd freight, use the 80/50/25 rule. 80% of the weight of the loads worth of chain pulling back. 50% of the weight of the loads worth of chain pulling forward & each side direction. 25% of the loads worth of chain pulling down...which if you've coved the 80/50, this is easily covered. The rating for Transport Grade 70 chain is 4700lbs per 5/16" chain, 6600lbs per 3/8" chain, & 11300lbs per 1/2" chain. Check the handle of your binders, they will have their WLL (Working Load Limit) marked on them, use the LOWER rating for your calculations...think weakest link.

The quoted advise is one of the best statements I've ever heard. Once again, congrats for paying attention.

I'd like to thank you for taking the time & asking some good questions, I have a feeling you will be one of the better ones!

I have some pics posted in the Heavy Haul sub forum, if you happen to see me around come introduce yourself...I'd be happy to show you what I know.

Good luck!

 

Most shippers and receivers are decent, just as most drivers are decent. However, you have a holes on both sides.

Some drivers are impatient. In my line of work, patience is essential. Impatient drivers get real irritable really quick. Some shippers and receivers are extremely slow. That doesn't bother me. There is however, one thing that will send me on the warpath instantly.

Got a load of pipe from Sugarland to Laredo paying $2100. I don't normally pull pipe, but for $2100 for 350 miles, I sure will. So, I fork out the money for pipe stakes and dunnage and go to get loaded. There was this yard guy that had my number. He raised so much sin because another driver didn't have steel toes that they made him leave. I asked if I could secure the other drivers load and he stay in the truck and the management said that was okay.

I get my load secured. The other driver comes up behind my truck and the yard guy starts raising sin again. The people in the office decided to make him stand out on the street (I had to drive his truck in). I take my truck out on the street and walk my paperwork to the office so the lady at the window can give me my BOL. Yard guy comes up yelling at me.

Yardguy: HEY, I NEED XXXXXX PAPER!

Six: I gave all the papers I had to the lady at the window.

Yardguy: I SAID I NEED XXXX PAPER. YOU GIVE ME THE PAPER!

(Slightly irritated. Maybe he's really hard of hearing?)

I point to the girl behind the window
Six: I gave her ever paper I had. Get whatever you need from her.

The girl sat there frightened. Don't know why she didn't speak up.

Yardguy: I NEED THE PAPER. I AM GOING TO SEARCH YOUR TRUCK

(Waitaminute...did yard boy just threaten me with a home invasion? My truck? My baby being violated by a yard boy? Unbelievable. I thought that I could be cool in all circumstances, but how do you keep your cool when threatened by home invaders? Honest answers...what would you do?)

 

1. The friction from the straps holding the pipe down and bundled pipe together will keep them from sliding out. If they do slide then your straps are loose! Lol. When I haul loose pipe I usually stop every hour to tighten my straps.

2. From my experiences flatbed customers treat drivers better, we're doing a part in trucking that is unique, we secure their freight and we are responsible for everything on the trailer rather than just closing doors and hitting the road. Steel mills were tricky sometimes, when I hauled coils with roehl transport we would pick up from steel mills and they usually had signs on where to go. Hauling lumber from Georgia pacific there are usually signs but usually a guard house you will see from the road, drive up and they'll tell you what to do and where to go. In flatbed song we go some places that a lot of trucks don't, so there are still quite a few "just figure it out on your own" places.


3. Depends on where you go. Some places you'll have pre loaded trailers, others they have to make your product. I've been to some places where I was loaded and secured and ready to hit the road with my paperwork in less than 30 minutes. Other places I've been there for 15 hours waiting for them to "make" my load.

4. I've learned that, do not rush. I've rushed before and driving down the road I see a strap flapping around or I forgot to close a tool box. It's important to take your time, do it right the first time, and ALWAYS do a walk around of your truck after you secure and get ready to leave, make sure you didn't leave any tools or items loose on the trailer. Also make sure all your cargo boxes are secure


Lastly, you don't have to use all your straps and chains, there is no such thing as "over secure". I myself will put on 100-120% of WLL on some stuff. I have a system of four things

1. Do I meet DOT requirements for securement?
2. Do I meet company policy for securement?
3. Am I happy with the way it's secured?
4. Do I feel safe driving this down the road?

If one of those is a no, then I don't go anywhere. Just personal preference.

 

Remind me not to make you mad. If you can twist that little knob on the end of the winch to 350 lb, without using a bar, I don't want you punching me.

 

No, you don't want him to grab any part of your body.....