Guess im a flatbedder now!

How's your dental plan?

 

Here I thought this was another low bridge post lol

 

My first flatbed job was for a local hole in the wall outfit. The owner wasn’t a big spender so needless to say almost all of my equipment was crap I scavenged. I would pick up edge protectors, bungees, chunks of 2x4s, etc. off the ground. If we were lucky enough to come across a 2 inch strap with working ratchet, we would have to hide the #### thing in the cab so it wouldn’t disappear lol. Our chains were so rusty you pretty much had to wear gloves to touch them unless you wanted a tetanus shot.

One time, another driver preloaded a load of landscaping blocks for me and dropped it at the yard. I was shocked to discover 20-something big shiny new edge protectors on it and thought I hit the jackpot. Then I noticed they were all stamped “property of Gypsum Express.” I used the hell out of them.

By the way, I like that racking you put under the trailer. If I get time one of these days I might just try something like that. I’m sure I could find a few things to stash up there lol.

 

Now that was funny!

 

for a second i thought we might have been coworkers at my first CDL job too.. But that was kyle E. not @Kyle G. LoL.

Where im at now boss owns straps, firehose edge protectors and a set of 4s. The rest is mine and its nearly 3000lbs. Filled my entire pickup bed the time i quit for a few days. I can still scale 48 by the skin of my teeth but rarely find heavy loads being the ones that pay. The gear keeps me moving when my coworkers are stuck waiting on a load.

 

Youre gonna need a headache rack i guess. One of the 379s in our fleet has a gullwing pickup toolbox on the catwalk where a rack would go. Cheap option if you can fit it. I just reread your first post and realize they might be your straps so no leaving them on the winches. Stinks.

Post some pics of your truck. And ask if you can get your own DAT account on their numbers and if theyll let you book your own loads.. 33 guys in front of you is nuts. Screw traffic jam trucking. Grab something and go out a few days, get away from the crowd. Much more peaceful life.

 

If you’re just pulling company flats locally using only straps I don’t see why you need a Big enclosed headache rack. I would start with the biggest step box you can find. I can fit 19 30’ 4” straps and a 4” hand ratchet in a 12” wide step box, the smallest one made.
If you still need more storage I would put a logger box behind the sleeper.

 

I don’t do flatbed, but do occasionally have to work on the truck on the road. I use oversized pants and shirts with a belt. If you buy from goodwill or Salvation Army for cheap enough, then just toss them when too dirty.