E.L.D.E.R. - Experienced Lowbed Drivers Essential Rules

What you mean no ear buds?

 

#24 - when measuring with a height stick make sure it is vertical. Those couple of missed inches could cause a severe headache.

 

This should go with #8 - when jumping equipment, make sure you know if you are jumping 24 volt, or 12. You can jump 24 volt with 12, but only one battery at a time, and make sure the vehicles aren't touching each other. Also, loaders can be tricky with one battery on each side, and having to trace which is the first in series. Try to make the last connection on a ground away from the battery on the host vehicle, to avoid blowing up a battery if a mistake has been made.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot that that part. Can definitely ruin your day done wrong.
Good catch.

 

#25...
Make extra copies of your permits and give them to your escorts,especially your high pole.
This way everybody is on the same page

 

#26...

Don't always trust your permitting or your routing, especially on overheight loads.

#27...

Regardless of bridge height signs, when overheight, always get yourself in the lane with the highest clearance for a given bridge or overhead structure. If the right lane says 14-8, and the middle lane 15-2, and you're 14-6, it's better to be in the center lane than the right lane.

#28...

Chain to the main-rails of a lowboy whenever possible, the main-rail is generally twice as stout as the outer-rails.

#29...

Be confident, but don't be ####y.

 

#30...
If you have flip style ramps to load over the tail, make sure to strap or chain them down securely.......

 

Figgerd I better insert #31 here before someone gets 86ed for using it twice.............

 

#32

Check the fuel level of the machine you are about to load. Running out of fuel in this position is not good.

 

I know a guy that is so adamant about this rule that he will throw rocks, bolts, anything heavy through the window if he catches one of his guys backing without the window open. Apparently he had a friend get backed over one day and the driver didn't realize it because the window was up and the stereo was on.