This Forum

Fratsit,
I really don't have anything to compare load securement training with. This is my first flatbed job. I know when I went thru orientation, as an expierienced driver, we only got one day securement training and it seemed fine. Most of it I learned from my trainer or learned on the job. I just follow the rules for securement which they will explain to you.

For new drivers, from what I've seen at when I was at Des Moines, and what I've heard, they train you pretty well. But I can't comment on that as I haven't done that myself. I did talk to a Melton driver and they give you the basics and turn you loose. They give you easy loads to secure at first, i.e. lumber loads, and give you harder loads as you go along.

As for pay, I wish I could get a raise, but I do dedicated and have been informed that the percentage I'm at is as high as I can go and really don't have any complaints. I know they pay by mileage but I'm not interested in that as I don't do that many miles in a week.

 

best in the industry. they are hardcore when it comes to a lot of things, load securement probably being #1. 90% of what you learn will be on the road, not in securement training, however.

for example, you rarely, if ever see shingles on other flatbeds with x-straps across the front

 

If you want to over secure the Maverick is the Pinnacle. On shingle loads you not only double strap both front and rear pallets but trip chains on the front and the back. I have personally seen drivers fired from Maverick to skipping out an a securement. I have never driven for TMC but I know from loading next to them they are pretty close. The one thing I used to see weekly was TMC driver throwing straps over angle iron. In Maverick if you through straps over any steel unless the shipper/receiver specifically asks for it (which isn't often) you are fired on the spot. They will send a driver for the truck and load. I fully agree with that and never could understand why a driver would through straps over steel. That stuff slides just a bit and it'll cut right though those straps where as a chain will bite the steel and stop it from sliding.

 

TMC's securement school for newbies is pretty good. The ####### who was "teaching" there before is gone now so I'm sure it's really good now. I throw straps over steel unless I can't, chains damage just about everything they touch. Even straps can damage certain coils.

 

Actually straps secure some steel much better than chains will, providing you use proper protection to keep the edges from being cut.

You will -never- get the torque on a chain that you will on a strap when it comes to flat steel like bars/angle iron etc. It also helps to secure forward/backward movement much better than a chain will because there is less friction between steel/steel than there is between nylon/steel.

As long as you're using proper edge protection it shouldn't be an issue, you just have to use twice as many straps as you would chains.. But overall on some stuff it does hold much better than you would think at a glance.

Sometimes i would use a combination of both, but it depended on the load.

 

Hey guys,

Just want to say thanks for responding to my question. I appreciate it considering how busy you all are.

Do your BOL's tell you what you can and cant use to secure your load, or does the shipper tell you what they want right then. That coupled with your own experience. Sorry if this question seem primative, just curious.

R/

Frat

 

Wow....what happened? Did he get shifted withen the company or was he let go. I know alot of drivers indicated he was abrasive during the training, but I hate to see anyone loose there job.

R/

Frat

 

Sometimes the shipper willl tell u how they want the load secured but more often than not you are on your own as to where and how to tie down a load . Some outfits want everything they ship tarped while u may see a load not tarped of the same cargo from a different shipper. If you are not sure try and ask someone where you are loading how "most drivers do it." Just be sure you are comfortable with how you have it secured b4 u hit the road with it. And just for $$$$ and giggles some overkill never hurts until u learn more. Every load on a flatbed is different and u will drive a long time b4 it becomes second nature, if ever!! The only real piece of advice I have is do a load check after about 10 miles(even less if your on rough pavements) and often thereafter. In most cases it always seemed if something was gonna shift or wiggle it did it sooner rather than later.

 

Really good advice there, particularly the early load check, if something is gonna move or really loosen up more often than not it does it early.

 

Rofl. I remember picking up some angle iron at a place hell it was so long ago i don't remember where, but i'll bet some of you might. You pull into this place in the middle of nowhere, and check in.... You sit and wait until they call you on the radio (Sounds like most places by now, right?) When they call you you drive back(3 Freaking miles on my odometer) ok, no problem.. I go back, i wait, i get loaded.

I get out, and start throwing securement and the lady drives over on her forklift and says "You can't do that here." "Okay.. where should i do that?" "out front where you waited for us to call you" "umm you want me to drive all the way over there unsecured?" "Yeah it's ok they do it all the time".

And that's just what i did, i drove out with another TMC driver and we were both a little upset about it, both of our loads shifted and we had to go back and make them re-adjust before we could secure it properly, SHE WAS PISSED but we were both laughing on the inside. They do it all the time, she says... The road was dirt, by the way, with ruts in it the size of freakin japan.. They do it all the time, rofl. LIES!