2 offers came in......TMC and Roehl

Step deck or normal flatbed? Jump up to a sitting position on the bed, or from feet on the ground to feet on the trailer? Doing the latter on a full-height deck would seem to be quite a feat.

 

The picture in my head is: Grabbing the rub rail with both hands, jump up to lever your torso over the bed, swing a leg up, and proceed to kneel, then stand from there. Anyone who can jump feet on ground, to feet on trailer could be making a helluva lot more money in the NBA!

Roehl's only agility testing happens at the medical place. Lift a tarp, carry a milk crate of weights down and back. walk a low balance beam. climb a ladder. push and pull a force measuring instrument. Crouch under a trailer-height-table. Use 3pt contact to climb same table with the icc bumper.... Sorry I don't remember specifics; it was a year ago. And Roehl doesn't like you 'jumping' anywhere. That's how you get hurt.

 

A driver told me last week to slow down, I didn't understand. When I mentioned slowing down at a yellow light, he responded that he isn't a granny driver.

I didn't understand and he said, you will get it in time.

I was thinking about scenarios and I honestly didn't understand. But reading some of the advice in this thread, made me understand.

It wasn't my speed. It was about slowing down.

I drive heavy haul and I've had about umpteen near misses. Every near miss I had was because I was rushing to try load or try be efficent or try be quick so I can get to my next load. Thank heavens, I've never had an accident but every single close call I have ever had was because I worked till 3 oclock in the afternoon in the Texas sun and was too hot. I pride myself on safety and never having an accident but I've had some close calls and every single one was becuase I was outside my comfort zone and working too long in the sun when I shouldn't have and was over tired.

That's when you make tiny mistakes. But in this business, one day a tiny mistake will be a big one. That is the moral of the story.

If it wasn't for these communities, I wouldn't know, so for that I"m thankful.

 

I use to jump off the back of a box truck with a tommy lift everyday for 5 years, instead of letting the lift gate take me down low enough to step off. Now ! my heels feel like somebody has been beating on them with a bat ! If i only knew then what i know now ? Yea dont jump down on a regular basis or you'll end up like me. my God does it hurt to walk some days. Truck ON !!

 

Back when I started an old timer told me to never jump off the trailer. Climb down. He said you see all these old guys walking half bent over with bad backs- every time you jump you jar the spine. Was good advice and I'll admit to not always following it but for the most part, I always thought about it and climbed down. Now in my 60's and no back problems at all. You can minimize your problems if you work smart

 

I agree. We had a younger guy (mid 20's) who always jumped off his trailer and made fun of us "old" guys for using 3 points of contact to climb down. Until he jumped off into a puddle, which was actually a hole, and shattered his ankle.

 

About 15 years ago I was unloading sandbags from a pickup truck (f-350) and jumped from the bed to the ground carrying a 70# bag. I didn't see the 2x4 in my landing zone, caught it with the side of my foot and it rolled. I heard that distinct snap much like the sound a drum stick makes when being ripped fromt the turkey. I remember being nearly in tears crawling back to the house. It took about 2 months before I could walk on it, and almost a year for a complete recovery. To this day it still hurts on occasion.

Like has been said it may not hurt now but down the road it does. I'm only in my 30's and many of my little aches and pains bring back the memories of all the crazy #### I did when I was young.

 

I chose TMC out of CDL school because they offer the absolute best flatbed securement training out there. They also spend a great deal of time teaching you how to back and drive a spread axle trailer. My only advice... follow their instructions during orientation and don't be a smart #####,they are not going to give you the keys to a $120,000 truck if you can't follow a simple rule like "Stay off the Grass" Or more importantly they are not going to let you drive 80,000 pounds of steel down the road a 62.5 MPH behind a minivan full of kids if you can't listen to what your instructors have to say.
At 43 I made it through their orientation without any problems.
Be smart, be respectful and you'll do fine.

 

I'm still confused about the "jump on the trailer without any help" part.... I can't even jump up on my stepdeck and I'm 33yrs old and 6'1" tall !!!!

 

Hey.. guys, I had a chance to pull flatbed a few years ago and loved it.. absolutely loved it.. so, now that I am in the process of re-entering the industry and hitting throad.. my heart is reaning towards flatbedding...

Some think I don't stand a chance.. since I am.a woman.. middle aged at that.. and only 5'2" and 130 to 140 lbs... How ER, I k.ow I can do the job.. I am not whimp.. I have done construction year round..

I know that I am not necessarily as physically strong as most men... But, I also know how to use my brains and get done what needs to be done..

Example.. a few weeks back I was on my home.. at a stop light I saw a car up ahead with two strapping and strong young men struggling to loosen the lug nuts on their car.. I sat at the light at watched them try to Mus le it.. when the light turned I pulled behind them got out and asked if they needed help.. clearly they assumed I meant call someone for them or give them a ride somewhere.. cause it never crossed their minds that this 5'2' middle aged woman could get the lug nuts loose... They struggled a bit more.. trying to jump on the bar and all..

I told if you want I can loosen them for you.. with a snicker they told me I could give It a try... So, I walk to my trunk and I pull out my extention poll I keep in there for tough to loosen lug nuts... And using more leverage than brawn I loosen the lugs fairly easy...

I learned that trick from an old flatbedder...