Opportunity that I've been waiting for

I strongly recommend that you follow @TripleSix

Just read and read.

 

Heck, I get dirty just driving a yard truck, not to mention having to deal with all the elements.

 

I've been on a 7 axle setup for about a month. I'm learning as I go like you'll be. My advice( what I did) is:
1) read all the heavy haul threads..there's ALOT of valuable advice and pictures there. Reading how they worked through certain situations and problems has helped a lot already.

2) when you go to load get there first and watch a few people work on their load. Compare what you see in the heavy haul section to what you see in person and the right way to do this and that will jump out at you.

3) be patient and dont get frustrated. Some days you'll be quick and feel like you know exactly what you're doing...other days you feel slow as ####.

4) triple check EVERYTHING.

Good luck. I don't know much yet but you can pm me with questions and I'll try to help you out

 

That's awesome sir. Nice to see that paying it forward.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Long nights.

Before you even pick the load up, the night before you need to do your homework. Especially when your shipper is in the middle of downtown. If possible, call the day before and get directions in. I need to know which driveway to pull in. That night, go over the OSOW regs for the states you will be traveling in.
Start your day by topping off the fuel tanks. You don't want to have to try to get a big load into a place to fuel in the middle of your day. That will kill your driving time.

One problem that lots of the newer guys have is losing that "gotta go, gotta go, gotta go" mentality. If it's after 12 noon when you get to a shipper, plan on leaving out the following morning. If you agreed to tarp, give them a good tarp job. The last thing you want to do is have to keep getting off the road to fight a tarp.

If you need help with routing, or fuel stops or restaurants with a cute waitress and good food, just ask. Pretty good group in this forum. Having problems securing a load, post a pic of the load. I am certain that one of us can walk you through it. In fact, @Big_Red needed a hand, and another member, @haulhand went out to meet him to give him aid.

Anyways, see if your friend can let you ride along once. Since you have flatbed experience, you should be okay. Bring a fresh pair of gloves and bring that A Game every time you play.

Luck in battle.

 

Absolutely right...he helped me via text message the first time I self loaded an excavator too.

These are good people here. Be humble and study what they are teaching. Consider it heavy haul university

 

One thing I'd like to add to this. There is a small minority of folks that "heavy haul" that do some really half assed things. Know the securement regs as if your life depends on it, because it does. Some of the stuff I've seen (and others here as well) is mind blowing.

To be a good heavy hauler takes common sense and a good understanding of physics.

 

Stay out of McDonald's.

 

Not4hire, I darn near spit out my breakfast sandwich
So true...