Newbie Flatbed Questions

You'll be fine. Every forklift operator will lift your tarps to the top of the load; the hardest thing you'll have to do is climb up there and spread them. From your measurements I'd say you're in fine shape and shouldn't have any problem. The hardest thing about flatbedding is figuring out the right way to secure strange loads and with your background you should be way ahead of most drivers in that regard. The good thing about a flatbed is you can see and supervise the loading so that it's where you want it. The bad thing is folding tarps in the wind, below zero weather, or both....but when things get that bad you just roll them in a ball and strap them down until you can find a better place to do it.

 

kinda jump in here and ask I have been pulling tankers for 10 years now( no baffles ). bought my own truck last month and just found a very god deal on a 6 month old 51ft stepdeck. Does anyone know if anyone makes a book explaining the legal way to tie down stuff. kinda worried with all the new csa stuff. Only flatbed experience i have is pulling my family's farm equipment/dozers from field to field. thanks

 

Most big truckstops sell the cargo securement handbook which details various legal methods.

 

No, you don't need a lot of muscle, but it makes it easier and faster to do work while also providing more support and protection to your joints.

Have you done any exercising at all in the last few years?

If not. I would get some adjustable dumbbells and focus on getting a bit more conditioned. Legs and back are most important. So squats, lunges, bent rows, then pushups, dips, crunches, tricep extensions, shoulder presses. Also, side bends with a dumbbell held on opposite side and twists while holding two dumbbells at stomach are other good core exercises to help improve agility and balance.

Do you like hiking? One of the best total body workouts is walking with a daypack full of 15-20lbs of stuff, or a weight vest. Go hiking for an hour every other day and eat more meat and potatos.

 

Excellent!

My grandfather was a retired cost accountant.

There is a need for affordable bookkeeping and financial planning for owner ops. Too many are blind to unrealized costs and fail to account for it. Maybe you have a viable side business there.

 

thanks for the reply, bought 1 book from jj keller but it was from 02.

 

It is tough to even get all of that straight in your head. I am an in-house trainer for a flatbed company and even when I read the securement guides I don't get what they are talking about, or they say it's ok to do it one way then they rescind that statement later and tell you if this parameter isn't met then this rule applies.

I wish I could meet up with you and help you out for a week!!

 

Triumph, I sent you a PM. But I'm going to copy it here in case anybody else has feedback. Thx


Hi Triumph, I came across this post of yours from 5 months ago:

Newbie Flatbed Questions

I have been driving trucks for 2 years (2nd career). I'm a retired Cost Accountant/Finance Analyst. My truck driving experience is all dry van and reefer (OTR). I now have an opportunity to drive for a flatbed company. My concern is my age, size and lack of ever doing manual labor (as an adult). I'm 49 years old, I'm 5'9" and weigh 150 lbs soaking wet.

1. I'm told strapping and tarps is all technique and that you don't have to be Mr. Muscles to do it. Is this true?

2. I'm told it takes time for your body to get acclimated to the work. What is a reasonable expectation?

3. Given my background, is this an endeavor I should avoid?

4. How is it possible to do this kind of work in sub zero temperatures?

I'm not afraid of work. I like the idea of actually getting some exercise. But, I also want to be realistic and not do something stupid that will get me in over my head.

Thank you for any advice.

_________________


My situation is very similar, except for the driving experience. I am currently in CDL school in South Florida, graduating in December. I am 53, just left cost analyst job I had for the last 11 years, 5'9", 165 lbs. Now I want to drive trucks.

I want to do flatbeds and have the same concerns you had. From all the replies to your post, I think I can handle it, even though my lower back does flare up once in a while. I have always exercised and I'm in good shape.

Researching potential employers, I keep coming back to Melton. They hire CDL school graduates, and hire out of Florida (I'm in Miami). In the above thread and in some of your other posts you seem to like Melton, but you had some trouble with the tarps?

Was wondering if you wouldn't mind telling me what happened with Melton, and maybe share more insight on your current feelings about a guy like me going to Melton since we are similar in some ways and you have experience with different types of trucking and different companies.

One thing that stuck with me is that you said at Melton you got about 2500 miles per week. That does no sound like a lot, but I still don't know very much.

Appreciate any feedback. Thanks for sharing your experiences on the forum.

 

Is there some kind of secret to backing up a spreader axle flatbed trailer. On Mondays the yard is full of trucks and I have had to move one or two to get my straight truck out. I can move and back up the vans but the first time I tried one of the flatbeds I was all over the place, it was similar to my first day in trucking school. One of the old timers said to one watch one side when backing up and I would be OK. Any help would be appreciated..