any tips for pulling flatbed

Boots, shoes and gloves. First get good ones, dont go cheap, spend the money on quality, make sure they fit properly, then take care of them, on the gloves, have a few pairs with you.

 

Water proof as well as dry pair
Plenty of socks (white)


By all means wear pants
Have a safety vest
Hard hat (construction not food grade)
Safety glasses(dark and clear)
Long sleeve shirt

 

I see a lot of drivers get thrown out

10-4 Been a minute since I've trucked on the east coast. TMC memories I meant nightmares lol

 

Take your time. And do it right the first time. It's not a competition or a race. Never get in a hurry!

 

Dont worry about speed when load or unloading, focus on doing the job correctly. Dont worry about the other drivers, they had to start somwhere.

Get a routine and system down that works for you.
then always use that.

Make a check list ( if you can, print it from a computer and laminate it or put it in plastic. One gallon zipper bags are good too.) then use the check list, actually use it, carry it with you when loading and securement.

Having the check list, a system and a routine that you follow every time will do two things.
One; you will be less likely to make a mistake, forget something, miss something, all of that type of stuff.
Two; In no time your speed at the tasks will get faster and you wont even notice it.

 

Whatever you do, make a HABIT of doing a final walk around the entire load before getting underway. Lots of times I find I left a winch bar or pipe stake laying on the deck, or failed to latch the side boxes or secure the dunnage rack.

 

And be courteous of other drivers after getting loaded. Put minimum securement on and pull outside (weather permitting). It irks me whenever I'm sitting outside waiting to get inside and I see someone chaining and tarping inside when it's perfect degree weather outside smh.. I give it so I expect it. It goes a long way.

 

Those aluminum places have some really screwed up homebrew tarping stations, you'll be glad to have a covered wagon when you see that garbage.

 

Gawd, yes they do lol.. Looks safer to just do it the normal way vs using those stations imo lol