I am new here

securing your load, its a lot of common sense. now tarping, its not that hard to learn but remember its still winter time. frozen tarps are very hard to roll up ( especially ) with no help.
When tarping a tall load on a flatbed trailer and its very windy outside, you have to be extra careful the wind does not get into your tarps and cause you to fall off the trailer.. the fall is not bad, its just that sudden stop..lol

 

Have you given any other flatbed company a look at, a call, or anything? I bet if you spend a little more time on here and doing research, you find a better company for both yourself, and your family.

Best of luck to you!

 

This is gonna sound like crazy common sense but you actually have to make it a conscious thought when a stiff wind catches the tarp: LET GO!! Letting go goes against your instinct to grab tighter and pull harder but trust me - you ain't gonna beat the wind and sail effect. Saw a guy get thrown about 15' up in Cheyenne one time. Busted his shoulder up real bad. Everyone ran over and one guy asked why he didn't just let go. He couldn't answer. "I don't know. I just couldn't." Because it's instinct that when something is trying to pull something away from you that you want pulled toward you to hold on tighter and pull harder. So keep LET GO in the front of your brain when windy tarping.

 

I think harold196 meant, that the wind blows the tarp off from under your feet when on top unrolling it. And knocks you off the trailer.:smt051

 

With a wife and 3 young children, consider getting your tanker/hazmat endorsements plus TWIC. If you feel you need a change in 3 - 6 months, then move into a tanker/hazmat job. I really enjoyed flatbedding but made thousands more per year with tanker/hazmat. Schneider Bulk has refresher and those drivers do real well financially. There's others that will hire you in 3 - 6 months.

 

Oh, I'm sure he did and it's a VERY valid point. I was merely expanding on his windy tarping caution. I'tll get ya from the ground too. He was absolutely spot on. Sorry if It seemed otherwise.

 

I told u you'd get better results.Women are always right,lol.

 

Any map App will do about the same, unless you look into a GPS for trucks, but they tend to be high for a beginner. It's mostly stay on the big roads till you are real close. I will always call ahead and ask for a truck route from the customer. Most are aware of the area, and will understand why your asking. I hate it when they say "just GPS it", it's not that simple most times, and I'll tell them I don't have one.

One thought, if you look around your area, I'll bet there are more choices of companies that will take you on. The closer a terminal is to your home, the easier it is for them get you by the house. A lot will say they can, but if a few accounts get slow you may be left hanging out more than you like.