A Clean Deck

I lost a windshield to a empty lowboy going opposite direction .. He hit a bump just as we were meeting and rocks and dirt went airborne .. A golfball sized rock almost went through the windshield... Nice to see someone caring about other travellers and PEDESTRIANS TY

 

Climbed up on top of my load today...14 ft 6 in off the ground to measure height. Found a handful of 3/8" bolts someone left up there.

 

I HATE have extraneous crap on my deck! Everytime I drop, everything gets put away. Lumber in rack, chains and straps in appropriate compartments, tarps in bins, bungees tucked away in compartment.

That way, my deck is ready to go when I get to the next shipper. Only time I have to "work" prior to loading is if I need to set up coil bunks or set dunnage. And simce everything is where it's supposed to be, securing and tarping is a heck of a lot quicker and easier. I never have to tear the truck apart looking for equipment.

Besides, an empty deck looks more professional in my opinion. And appearance is important to me. I'm still a flat rookie flatbedder, so sometimes I think I gotta work twice as hard to try and earn a bit of respect from my fellow flatbedders. Y'all are darned hard to impress!

 

So now you have to worry about where those bolts were suppose to go!! Hope you load doesn't come unbolted going down the road, lol

 

First things first,some drivers need to learn to secure their loads before even trying to clean the deck,passed a milton flatbed driver on i80 today,a full load of railroad ties secured by 8 two inch straps.

 

And? That is enough straps to secure 53328 worth of cargo assuming a regular 2" strap with a wll of 3333 lbs per strap. Length might be another issue but some people need to learn the regulations before they critique others securement.

 

no is not a length issue,the load was in four bundles,each bundle had two straps on it.assuming the load is 44k,each bundle weighs 11k.2 straps eqauls 6666 lbs wll.federal regulations requires 80% forward movement tie downs that equals 8800 lbs so 2 two inch straps are not enough.

 

The 80% forward movement is not an actual regulation but a publised result of a study that the regulations are based on. Only half of the weight of the cargo needs to be secured:
Minimum Working Load Limit for Cargo Securement Devices and Systems

The aggregate working load limit of any securement system used to secure an article or group of articles against movement must be at least one-half the weight of the article or group of articles. The aggregate working load limit is the sum of: One-half the working load limit of each tiedown that goes from an anchor point on the vehicle to an attachment point on an article of cargo; and The working load limit for each tiedown that goes from an anchor point on the vehicle, through, over or around the cargo and then attaches to another anchor point on the vehicle.

Minimum Number of Tiedowns

The cargo securement system used to restrain articles against movement must meet requirements concerning the minimum number of tiedowns. This requirement is in addition to complying with rules concerning the minimum working load limit. When an article of cargo is not blocked or positioned to prevent movement in the forward direction, the number of tiedowns needed depends on the length and weight of the articles. There must be - one tiedown for articles 5 ft or less in length, and 1,100 lbs or less in weight; two tiedowns if the article is -

1. 5 ft or less in length and more than 1,100 lbs in weight; or
2. greater than 5 ft but less than 10 ft, regardless of weight.

- See more at: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/cargo-securement-rules#sthash.bMz8uSVQ.dpuf