Crst malone

CRST Malone still has a satisfactory safety record according to the fmcsa. If you look at the csa data, there are a few things that could use some work.

 

Today I met a flatbed driver who was securing his load. He said he hates it because of all the work and danger involved. From what I'm hearing, you either love it or hate it. So I'm curious about something. Since you pick your loads at Malone, are you able to select loads that are easier to secure and less dangerous and still making a good living?

 

CRST Malone hauls a lot of steel. If you want something that is easy, then you don't want to do flatbed. Regardless of what you haul on a flatbed you will need to secure the load with either chains or straps or both. Then you will need to tarp, in most cases. It is just part of the job. CRST Malone is non forced dispatch so you are free to turn down any load that offered. You will probably not know how difficult the load is to secure until you pick up the load. Some things are basically secured the same. For instance, you secure coils pretty much the same other than the number of chains or straps and that will depend on the weight. Flat steel will also be secured about the same on all loads.

As your level of experience grows, it will become easier to secure and tarp your loads. You will still get dirty from the tarps and load. One thing you may want to keep in mind about the level of difficulty when it comes to loads. It is the more complex loads that often pay the most money. You need to use your brain with open deck trailers much more than when you pull a box around. A critical mistake in securing a load could result in not only damage to the product, but the serious injury or death of people. Always take your time when it comes to securing your load. There are basic rules when it comes to how a load should be properly secured to your trailer. Follow the rules and you can enjoy a long career with no serious injuries. Get careless and someone can get hurt or killed.

 

GMan, how long do you think it would take the average person to become proficient at the job?

 

Everyone learns at a different pace. Much of pulling a flat bed or any open deck trailer has more to do with common sense than anything else. There is always something new to learn in this business. You can learn basic securement in a short time. After a few months you should become more comfortable with how to best secure a load and how to more quickly tarp. You want to be able to secure a load without damaging the freight you are hauling. You should have a pretty good feel of flats and have some diversity in the type of different loads in a couple of years. Once you feel that you have everything down, something will come along that will challenge you. You want to be confident in your abilities, but not overly confident where you make mistakes.

You need to understand the limitations of your equipment. You will need to be able to calculate how many chains or straps are needed to legally secure your load. There are rules which have to do with the distance apart that straps should be from one another. Rules do change from time to time. I just found out that we will need to change how we secure certain types of equipment, at least in some states, beginning the first of the year. That won't likely affect you pulling a flat, but will have an effect on those of us pulling steps and other open deck trailers that pull heavy equipment. When you are leased to a carrier they should be aware of any changes and let drivers know well in advance of implementation.

Once you get comfortable pulling legal flatbed loads then you can begin to try some over size. It could start with something that is just a little wide or extends a few feet off the back. Little by little you will learn your way around.

When we are young there is a tendency to be impatient. We always seem to want everything to happen right now. That isn't usually the way it happens in this industry. We take it one step at a time. I have a friend who pulls a flat. He hauls a lot of over sized loads. He is currently hauling a load to Washington that is 15'6" wide. It is the widest load that he has pulled so far. He is leased to a different carrier. He pulled a flat for several years before pulling his first over sized load. He now pulls over size on a fairly regular basis, some even going into Canada.

 

Thanks GMan for your insight. This is very helpful.

Since Malone hauls mostly steel, I'm thinking securing and tarping should be relatively easier than say a trailer loaded to the hilt with lumber where the driver has to climb high on top of the load to tarp. Am I not seeing something?

Do you know anywhere that I can find further info on flatbed operations?

 

Actually, lumber isn't too bad to tarp, even though you could be a little higher. Lumber could also require you to use larger tarps to cover the load and it takes a little more energy to move those around compared to steel tarps. Working with tarps can be a bit of work, depending on conditions. Many shippers will allow drivers to tarp indoors when it is raining or snowing.

If you want to learn more about how to properly secure a load, you can pick up a securement handbook at most truck stops. Check around where they have their logbooks. I think they run about $5-10. You can also go to the fmcsa website and the rules are published on their site. JJ Keller also offers them and you should be able to order off their website www.jjkeller.com. Some flatbed carriers will give you a copy of the fmcsa handbook when you hire or lease on with them.

 

GMan how many loads can a driver legally run each week with flats? I'm trying to get a guage for the time involved with the operation: deadheading to shipper, waiting to be loaded, securing the load, delivering the load, waiting to be offloaded, then heading to the next load?

With this in mind how many miles would I run each week and is the revenue enough to compensate for the extra time involved?

 

Cargo Securement Handbook :

http://www.ooida.com/Education&BusinessTools/Resources/documents/Driver_Handbook.pdf