chains binders?

4500.00 fine i got for not having one or the other. DOT said in 07 you have to have either a headache rack or bulkhead on a flat bed. and it most meet certain requirments. i had a bulkhead as i pulled covered wagon but when unloading the day before the lift driver push a coil through the side and tore it up badly. i did beat the ticket in court and was given a warnign by the judge. when i went to court i was about to show it had been damaged that i had an appoint that afternoon to put on back on and that i did put it on. hense him dropping it and giving me the warning but the ticket was 4500.00 dollars if i had lost....so if it where me and you wanted that clean trailer look maybe stainless headache rack behind cab with 3 doors chains and everything enclosed 2 boxes between the spread.......plus would suck to have an emergcy stop and have a load of wood on and 4x4s come through the bunk and into your lap....

 

Shameless plug here but I have a 99 flat top pete with a nice headache rack already on it for sale. You can check it out in the classified section.

If you have enough wheelbase you could get a box that goes on the catwalk and drops down between the frame rails.

 

It used to be required, but the law has changed. Some companies, like Landstar, require them as part of a lease, but .gov does not anymore.

 

I,m going to email my friend who is an investigator for NYDOT and ask him about headache racks.


EDIT: He said govt. no longer requires them.

I would guess that's why the securement regs state extra tie downs for forward most piece on flatbed w/out bulkhead.

 

Good choice IMO!
Theres about 75 flatbed only loads for every 20 stepdeck only loads posted. Most steps haul more flatbed loads than step loads every day and most shippers won't load a step even if it has levelers!
A stepdeck only load is rare. Kinda like an RGN only load, and they typically don't pay any better for legal loads than a flatbed load unless they are "specialised" o/d or heavy. My steps were a looser compared to my flats in the longrun.

I carry 14 chains/binders, & 4ea. 4' pipe stakes between the framerails under my flateds deck. Tarps (which I almost never use) ride the trucks framerails behind the cab at the foot of the headacherack which I built outa 3/16" aluminum plate bolted to a 1.75" square steel tube frame. I've had many positive, and flattering comments on how clean my rig looks from guys that had ALOT more money in theirs than I have in mine.
For me it's about making something work for me,,,and making me money. The feds do not require any kinda heaadache rack or headboard anymore. Some shippers and companys do.

Hope this helps!

 

I run mainly flatbed loads on my stepdeck. But there are plenty of SD only loads available. Basically anything over 9" tall.... which I've done a lot of the last few weeks. I have only ran into 1 place that won't load a SD and that's because their dock is made at flatbed height and the loads are 12' wide, so it won't work LOL

A flatbed is a good choice IMHO, and I'm only sticking with my SD right now because I've got some agents that's pull only SD freight. Once those loads disapear, so will my SD trailer.