Another excavator hits bridge

I LIKE it. You could roll the securement test in with the physical. If you aren't dead after the test you pass both.

 

Can I cheat and bring my wife / swamper with me.. that way I might pass the tie down part . lol

 

I've not yet had the opportunity to haul excavators, but after looking at the picture the fact that the booms weren't folded was OBVIOUS. He has a flatbed, not a step deck, so that increases the height. Common sense.

I agree with those that are placing bets this was a broker load. There's been a few loads I've secured that have given me pause, but the RIGHT thing to do is ask another driver or ask the forklift driver how to secure it. This part of trucking has a lot of help available IF YOU ASK.

Regarding shipper responsibility I'm surprised the shipper doesn't take a more proactive approach to making sure the loads going out the gate are secured properly. I work with many shippers that won't sign off the BOL's without inspecting and taking pictures of your securement. Trane out of Lexington is really good about this, with the Landstar rep signing off on every load. I've seen drivers there apparently unable to read the signs WITH PICTURES of how the loads need to be secured and grumbling when they are required to do it again.

 

Thank you six.

 

Okay, Fellas. I'm going to stir up some debate by saying:

I'm totally in favor of making these endorsements difficult to get. In fact, the harder to get qualified the better.
Why?
Because growing up, my dad and all of his friends drilled into me this attitude toward careers:

The harder it is to get a certain job, the more money it will likely pay. The harder it is to get qualified, the better for those who DO get qualified.

Think of it like this. If there is a driver pool of 30,000 drivers who do a certain job, but then the requirements are tougher so now the driver pool is 20,000 drivers then it stands to reason that you want to be in that smaller group because you will be more in demand.

Nothing wrong with being told, "We need to move this load, and you are the only qualified driver in that area."

 

Im all for this but sadly in this day and age of participation trophies givin to everybody it just wont fly.

 

That and with people wanting to always get things done cheaper. Does the broker care if he's trained? Nope. His trucks in the area, and is cheap enough.

I'm not a businessman. But I've learned over the years don't be shy to bid higher, if you don't need the work tomorrow. If you HAVE to work tomorrow to keep cash flow coming in, that's why people haul/work cheap. It is aggravating to be underbid by a fly by nighter.

I'm all for more training. Every trick and advice you can pick up the better. I don't want to be the guy in the news for smacking an overpass, I know that much.

 

@Lastkidpicked Your thoughts are in the right place but I think the same thing would happen in the "oversize" endorsement procedure as it did in the basic CDL exam. The applicant would be taught to "pass the test". We would end up with a bunch of supposedly qualified oversize heavy haul drivers (that passed the test) being morons. We all know how many idiots are out there doing what they are not qualified to do because they "passed the test". I guarantee you I could not pass the CDL walk around test, but I'd love to slap one of those DMV inspectors upside the head that pass someone that couldnt get it past 2nd gear without a struggle. And this is just one mans opinion.

 

+1000. They are doing more than outsourcing the transportation. They are outsourcing the risk also. But they only pay for the transportation.