Flatbed to van: backing!

I've only had a handful of flatbed loads that didn't require backing on the pickup/delivery, you must be some sort of lucky.
Today I picked up at Alcoa and literally had to bump 3 docks just for one load. They had each plate staged at a different dock, I couldn't believe it lol

 

I'm surprised you have so little experience backing. I've had to back a deck trailer into tighter spaces, in much less than ideal road conditions (dirt and mud), than what van drivers do on a daily basis (at least with alley docking, there is a consistent pattern to it).

Now don't even get me started on B-trains.

 

You're not crazy, it IS different. A LOT different. I started out in flatbed and moved to van and it was totally intimidating. That you're concerned is a good thing. Just practice, GOAL, and take your time.

I've been doing van a few months now, probably 3 docks a week or more. I get better at it every week. Haven't hit anything, nailed the dock, even if it takes 5 pullups, you're the only one really counting.

And no matter how long you've been doing it, some days, you just suck. I've watched guys with 30 years experience take 4 pullups when I took one. Just relax.

 

I hate when a shipper makes you slide your tandems,at the guard shack.
99 % of my backing,is done at California setting.
Tandems to the rear,always make me look,like a rookie..,I just laugh at myself

 

Remember that a van is a lot higher than a flatbed. When backing up and the trailer is tilted to the side, you might be looking down low in your mirrors but make sure you have the clearance at the top too.

 

Never even thought of that being a problem. Good tip

 

An old tip I can offer is to put a flashlight on the left side of the dock you are aiming a van into you would know in your heart that as long you are wheels on the line towards that light you left back there in the dark, you should hit it square.

Flatbedding to me in my whole trucking life was a joy. Even if I had to assemble and nail down bracing, chains, straps etc etc etc it was not work work, it was something that just worked out well. But it's not all fun, they loaded me once with a 20 foot coil 8 something feet high with 52000 on that coil. Had to burn down the fuel a little to scale out of Illinois with it. (Gross weight 80500 that day when loaded) coming out of Gary mill on a elevated ramp at 3 mph (Signed for 25) was a act that needed some courage to corral the fear and panic I had in my gut with that tippy load. Easy does it.

Ive done alot of reefer backing into places built back in the 30's and there were times Ive pushed on the perimeter fence to squeeze last two feet to get the angle. I hated doing a touch of damage now and then. I also remember you carried a stack of 20's so that if you got between two truckers "Inside" the old west coast mirriors and broke one or both of them off, you could buy them new mirriors, install the spares you carried in the right side clean box for that reason and buy em dinner. That was long before they started making the fold away modern mirriors.

There is one thing though with flatbedding. You can travel from say London Ky with a load of eye to sky aluminum coil and you are a mile from busch in williamsburg after crossing the smokies in the storm all night and someone pulls out in front of you forcing you to toss anchor and hear the pallets fail dumping the coils on to the deck behind you. Ive always added more bracing since that day above and beyond what is necessary.

To this day I think Im still angry at that 4 wheeler. He knew I was coming on but could not wait in his mile long rural drive way. Aggravating. He does not know the damage done to those coils that would eventually be made into the beer sitting in his fridge.

 

I used to slide them at guard shack but not lock them in. Drive carefully to dock slide forward back in the when straight slide them back again.

 

itd probably be easier just to take an extra pull up there boy