A flatbedder's worst nightmare

Looks like a nice job of tieing down. Haven't moved any coil for at least 10yrs now but it seemed we always hauled suicide. We were always offloading outside with a spear on a loader which in itself was a bit nerve racking. Not sure about the laws now but rule of thumb in the day was one chain for every 10,000# plus one and the top strap. So if I was hauling one on each end say 22,000 lbs each, set them on coil racks and 3 chains plus the top strap. A 45,000 pounder in the middle I always had 5 chains, 2 forward 3 back min, plus the top strap for suicide anyway. Maybe they have changed the rules , that was old school methods. Never had any trouble with them but there again, no sudden movements, look long way ahead and gentle and smooth on the controls . My book says a successful coil hauler is one of the most skilled drivers out there. Just my opinion. Thanks for the photo nice load.
J-J

 

"So if you see us rolling with a big covered lump in the middle of our trailers or what looks like hay bales all in a row….give us some room…"

yah i'll remember that next time i see one of you with those big covered lumps on your trailer riding somebody's ###.

we're approaching kardashian levels of drama in this thread.

 

Last week...for the first time ever...I actually stopped the truck (it was safe), turned on the hazards, and got out and let a lady know (as calmly as I could) that she almost died AND ruined my life. I have not even spoken of it since....didn't tell my wife....didn't tell truckers friends. It spooked me that bad that I don't even want to talk about it. 2 suicide side by side coils and then this dang lady!!

 

Don't even get me started on tailgaters & ramp racers. But you can add me to the group wondering about what the trailer can actually withstand. My company is adamant about using the j-plates only. No spools ever. I know they were designed by folks smarter than me, but I look at these things, aluminum, & man, there just ain't that much contact area. And I too put lots of good 3/8 chains, but I think, these are one behind the other & wonder too about unzipping that j-track. On suicides in that 45-48k range I try for 1 straight down 2 angle forward, 3 rearward, but on wide coils that must be suicide loads it will often not allow this as the height of the j plate is near the eye & you then must increase the angle more than I like,else the binder hook is above the eye. Another thing to remember, in a collision or hard stop even, you're really only utilizing the chains pulling oposite the way that coil is going to want to go to keep it put. Be safe,respect the load & ignore the c.b.cowboys.