Gotta love Flatbed to do Flatbed

That is very true.

 

I tried to explain that to some lady running a scale at a lumber company.. she wasn't having any of that.

okay

 

As Hurst and the other drivers said. Be mindful of your load. Don't be afraid to ask another flatbedder for advice.(depending on what he says)

Get use to being on dirt roads and not getting an address.


This is not a dock or even a street address. Its a field hockey field and I'm carrying the bleachers.

Take pictures of your loads . post if you want us to give advice. Also it will save your butt. Take during loading and when loaded.

And be safe. And take corners slower than a dry van

 

Can't wait to get back to flatbedding. I just simply refuse to have anything to do with the boxes, not putting the box drivers down or anything, but I just love the idea of SEEING what I'm hauling as opposed to just seeing a "wall" all the time. Also, I always check, check & re-check straps, chains, binders, bungees etc. whenever I stop & before I take off again. As some of the other hands said, "if u think u need that extra securement, use it!!". Never let me down yet!!!

 

I just spent 5 hours yesterday getting unloaded/reloaded yesterday working for free so I could get down the road and make money. I can't wait till I get faster at tarping. I still would rather be flatbedding. I take a lot of pride in securing a load and not having it move an inch.

 

It's not 'working for free', it's making an investment in yourself and your craft. Once you develop your system, you will speed up.

Every driver has a system, or a way of doing things. You organize your gear for you. You fold your tarps a certain way, you throw your straps a certain way. You work your way around the trailer a certain way. You tuck the excess tarp and bungee it down a certain way. It has to be your way. Once you you get your system down to where it's like automatic...you quit second guessing yourself and things take much less time.

 

I work on percentage, and securing the load before moving it and removing and stowing the equipment is all part of running the load. What I'm getting at is I am not working for free, and neither are you. Even if you are "paid by the mile", your "per mile" rate is higher than a door slammer would get because your time on each end is factored into the rate of pay.

Speaking of pay, I don't really have a preference for one type of trailer over another. As long as there is good paying freight loaded in/on the wagon, I'm happy. "Show me the money!" If a dry-box load pays enough, I'll run it. Got a good paying load for a tanker? I'll hook & book. Flats? I'm not opposed to working. Dumps, hoppers, etc...whatever it takes to put money in my pocket is fine by me. That's why I work. Sure, I enjoy driving...but I love a good paycheck.

 

Not really i get paid by the hour and time in a half after 40 to run my pittsburgh,chicago and reload in Wisconsin pulling ltl reefer start sunday night done by Wednesday at lunchtime