Do all flatbed companies have a tough guy chip on their shoulders?

Not trying to change the subject, but this subject of "thinking" when it comes to specialized hauling reminds me of something I saw once. This is NOT a myth. I once seen a tanker driver yanking a tank with no baffles try to stop on a scale in Missouri once. It was not pretty what happened. The truck lurched forward almost 5 feet when the liquid did that first backsplash. I understand it screwed up the scale too. Once you get out of the regular dry van hauling, some basic thinking is required OR you can get killed or kill others. I once saw a flatbed hauling paint take the northbound I-85 scales too fast near the Gaston/Mecklenburg County line in NC. Dumped a lot of cans and came very close to flipping the flatbed over.

 

I saw from the road in - this line of questions would be touchy.
Yes it's dangerous, and you better have a methodical system, or people die.
Gentleman with the cowboy boots has my utmost respect.
Drove longer than you're alive.
Not pops, or gramps, but Sir.

Wow. Today's "Shot beer out my nose" Award winner, there.
Right out of the gate with that, too.
You'll be fine.

 

I think it's a recruiting technique. Everyone wants to feel elevated. Wants to feel like they are the best of the best so to speak.

The guys that do sticks and bricks loads are usually the guys you see tarping a lot. Those are the companies that like to talk tough.

Truly specialized companies don't usually put on the "show". The drivers are usually salty enough to see past it and have the experience.

The true heavy haul companies don't pretend. They don't ask if you're tough enough. They want to know if you're smart enough.

 

Well said... I am reminded by it of riding with one of my daughters down I 65 from Louisville, KY back home to MS. As we would pass flatbeds, I would comment to her on the quality of driver pulling it. Tarp fit the shape, snugly, fastened down nicely spaced intervals. No bulging air pockets or flapping tails.
Why I comment? My flatbedding was years ago, a 34' one piece with 8' flaps. Mostly bale cotton, lumber,
or fertilizers. No such thing as bungees.. Fixed length 1/4" grass rope drops., 1955 ish.

 

You didn't rate the "I want to be in home by five Fridays and I can't leave out before 8 on Mondays".

 

Need that pic of the big, brown, bug eyed, Boxer that is captioned "Shots Fired".
I've got it, but not adept at posting pics on here.
"

 

Us Shotgun tanker haulers get the liquid Dancing before we scale so the scalemaster gets inpatient and waves us through.If you leave the brakes locked it can take minutes to calm down.

Little trick if you suspect you might be a little overweight

Let the truck rock with the liquid and it calms down sooner.

I almost bucked back into the car behind me one time hauling condensed .

 

As someone who has been behind the scenes in my times, and seen the lists of drivers who quit or get fired and for all the various reasons.

Which btw, its only about 1 in 10 that stay in the fleet for more than 3 months. Whether they can't cope with the lifestyle, or with the work, or they just plain arent competent.

As someone who would instantly fire 1/4 of our fleet probably if given the power.

I would not be averse to making it sound as a carrier that we only want people who have thier ducks in a row. And make it perfectly clear that this is work that cannot be half done. And while not the hardest job in the world, still the hardest job most of them will ever do.

Trucking is not for someone always running on autopilot to begin with. Flatbedding and even more so with specialized work, are even worse because someone running on auto pilot, who isn't mentally engaged while doing this job will hurt themselves or someone else; or otherwise just cause expensive problems.

No it doesn't take a bunch of Vikings with PHDs. But if I had first pick.

 

Get on the dollar tree account, flat bedders got nothing on me.