Getting started no experience questions

I appreciate your emphasis on the safety of proper load/weight distibution. Having been stationed aboard an Aircraft carrier (CARL VINSON), and part of my job being monitoring stability to keep the ship on an even keel, I certainly understand the necessity and importance of proper weight distibution and securement.

Thanks for the feedback.

R/

Frat

 

Thank you and thanks for serving. I don't mind helping people, but when they come off with I don't give a flip about someone's safety and it looks easy anyone can do it without being trained... then I am done helping that person. I have seen people killed out here and stupid people should not be able to pull freight, lone enough drive a 4 wheeler.

 

All that shipboard securement crap will actually make flat bedding easier man. I took to the "proper" way to do it like a duck to water when I was in securement training. It was the same thing I was always taught while I was in the mens department of the navy (yes, that was a dig lol) getting ready to do gator squares. It just makes sense to you when you think about it.


Now granted, I am the flatbedding champion of over securement I believe lol, if my truck were to flip upside down and backwards I don't think a #### thing would come off but hey, I secure everything like I am about to cross the Atlantic around Christmas time and so I should never have to worry about losing a load and hurting someone.

 

I'm glad that guy got banned. I drove dry van a few years ago until shoulder problems made shifting agony. I would never have thought of driving otr without spending time on the road with a trainer! As for running o/o without any experience, forget it! Being a rather short, tiny female, I would never have even considered flatbed - I think those tarps weigh more than I do. It would be like giving a new investment broker a million dollars to invest when he has spent no time under someone else's wing learning the ropes.

 

I drive flatbed now and if this guys thinks it's easy wait till the first time he pulls into a weigh station and does not have his load properly secured.... a $1500 ticket for a improperly secured load will wake him up!

 

You might be better off being the Boss, Most of them think they know everything too. buy a truck or two and find a couple of drivers to make money for you. the boss always knows everything, us drivers just know how to get loads to there destinations safely.

 

I';ve got to agree with the majority here. Although I'm a newbie myself and don't pretend to know a lot about this industry, I've been in the workforce for many years, and have seen this as a common thing in almost ANY industry.

There are a LOT of mistakes that the newbies make, that only good training and lots of practice can prevent. School itself is only part of it; thats why so many (reputable) companies insist that you go through their own fleet-specific training as a part of their condition of employment.

My recommendation to you is to take the time to work with/for a good company, running flatbeds, for a year or so....learn it just like you would any other new job, and THEN strike out on your own (and the best of luck to you).

 

You say that you just received your cdl and have no driving experience. You want to drive a vehicle that could weigh up to 80,000 lbs, yet no driving experience. All these people are suggesting, is that you get some type training. We all went through some type of training one way or another. Please just remember one thing, driving a car is one thing, but operating an 80,000 lb combination vehicle is a whole different ballgame.

 

This is funny! He's been over on CAD doing the same thing, although there he keeps talking about finding good paying loads for his dad. Doesn't seem to get the point that you have to do your own legwork to find the good paying loads. Seems to be pretty good at getting you guys all riled up too!

Kevo

 

Wow, I just read the entire thread. i'm glad we have experanced drivers here
I wouldn't want a beam comming threw the cab cuz i got cut off and tapped the breaks a bit to hard, and I agree with at least a bit of training on strabbing/chaining down loads, maybe he should work with his buddy a few months and make sure this is what he really wants to do. Seems to me he was trying to gain experance just by typing on the forums I'll be happy doing my time with my trainer and probley will pay out of pocket for even more training for stuff that i may need practice on.