flatbed

Not sure how many Im getting, or how they will be loaded lol We shall see tonight when I pick um up. Im assuming they will be suicide, but dont know for sure. I havent picked up a load that didnt need chains on it since I went solo... Getting good at chaining though lol

 

I know Ill never hear the end of it... but.... I work for Prime (thats my truck in the avatar). They may not be the highest paid company, but the training is all hands on, so you learn WHILE you do the job and learn the lifestyle. I have a 2010 Cascadia, fullsize sleeper, thats in very good shape. I went through the entire program. Before I came to Prime I had never been in a rig before, now I have my own assigned truck and am solo. I also have atleast three people to call if I need help on something. Atleast one is available 24/7 if I cant figure something out. A lot of people bash Prime who have no experience with them. The training is topnotch. Is the company perfect, absolutely not, but no company is. Other drivers will help you out and answer questions, without degrading you in the process. Most seem to remember they were new at one time too.

 

Yep. All tests are done right there at Prime. DOT audits the tests, but their not the ones givin the tests. Any questions just let me know

 

Company pays by the mile. On the flatbed side it starts at 36cpm, including per diem. Plus I get extra pay for multiple drops, dropping in NYC, tarp pay...

 

I'm a former Swifty, going back to them next month. The flatbed division is very different than the van counterpart, so you might look at them. Maverick is a good company too -learn tarping from them and you'll be top notch. I started my flatbed career with Arrow, which went under a few years ago.

 

Ive seen many Maveric trucks on the road. Someday I hope to get into heavy haul, after I gain enough knowledge and experience.

 

Most place that you load at will help you, to a point, tie the tarp down in the wind. If they wont just dont load it.

Baby coils. With a steel tarp, strapped down, tarped in less than 30 mins.

3 hours??? ##### did ya have 20 coils? I hope you went outside the loading bay to chain down.

For one I'm not impressed with the big box companys flatbed operations.
For the ones that haul coils you best chain them right the first time because you may not get a second chance.
If you dont know or aint sure ASK!!! Most any driver is willing to help or show a driver how to chain a coil down.
Also if a driver tells you, you are doing it wrong listen, I cant tell you how many times I've seen drivers either placed a coil in the wrong spot on the trailer or was chaining it down wrong. Some listen and changed it others were like go mind your own ####### business.

Also if your a slow at chaining and tarping, put 2 chains on and pull out of the loading bay, other drivers maybe waiting to get in and load and your now holding them up.
Below is a pic of a 51500lbs coil. Put that sucker on suicide and your butt will pucker when the car in front of you decides to do a little brake dance.
Never forget that the coil your hauling just might be 1.5 times heaver than the truck and trailer your hauling it on and the load is only in a 4 foot square. Its gonna feel and do funny things while going down the road.