any tips for pulling flatbed

Aluminum can tarnish if it gets wet. There is usually plastic sheeting around the tarping stations, might be good to find a scrap to carry around for unloading in the rain.

Mostly to protect the stuff for the next stop.

 

Ah yes, no load claims.

 

I've been on flatbed for a couple of years. Securing my bread and butter loads is well within my comfort zone. Then there will be loads that make you scratch your head.

Never be afraid to ask for help from a fellow driver or the loader, "How do most drivers place this on the deck and secure it?" After asking for help bear in mind you may not be comfortable with how "most drivers" do it. Case in point was a few months ago I had a 4500 horsepower diesel motor on the deck. It was top heavy and weighed about 18,000 lbs. There were no other drivers. The loader said most drivers just sling a single chain over hook points on either side and secure to the same rail. That was dicey in my opinion, with insufficient WLL. I opted to remove the cotter pins from the hooks and get four chains on the four corner hook points. It road very well and I would do it the same in the future.

 

Best advice? Think before you roll.

 

Carry a spare winch bar. Spare gloves, too.
Watch around rail crossings near loading points for stuff that has fallen off flatbeds...winch bars, straps, rubber snubbers, gloves etc. etc.
And a spare flashlite. I've never worn out a flashlite yet. Lost every one of them.

 

Learn your securement make it a regular habit... pay close attention to your placement!! Especially when loading multiple coils you'd be surprised how easy it is to throw your weight off a little towards the cab or towards the spread goes a long way.. and drive like a steel truck not a dry van!! A coil will bite you in the rear if you don't respect it!! I don't care what anybody says loading steel is an art form I'm my opinion spent many years in Michigan running iron with the big boys it's my passion but comes with a price!! Good luck and don't ever get to comfortable!!!

 

Oh and learn your equipment also binder chain tie down point weigh ratings strap weight ratings.. if your hauling standard coils keep the chains close and pulling down not like some of these boys you see with there chains stretched back 8 feet from the coil.

 

I see some guys doing that type of chaining down on this big coils every single day and all I can do is smh...

 

Make sure you use the right amount of steel coil racks for the weight of the coil also. I see guys with only two steel racks rated for 10k a piece on a 40k plus coil. Scary

 

It's amazing to see what's running around out there lol my great grandfather used to tell me it's not how you secure it it's how you drive it lol old school mentality!!!