Hour good for newbie?

Half hour. Just remember the shipper was in a big hurry and had 4 guys helping you.........

 

YOUR HIRED! My crusty old butt works as fast as need be, but an hour is good. I try not to throw rags as much as possible anymore

 

Don't answer this "It's a Trap!"

 

I log it different each time. Some 30 minutes, some 45, 1 hour 1 1/2 just to make it look good to DOT. Logging the same (30 minutes) every time on every load and DOT will see the trend and know your full of s***. All depend's on how long it really took. It makes log's look good and avoid's BS. It tends to work it self out but you can't do it with a babysitter, I mean e-logs. Usually I end end up gaining back some of my loading time for driving toward the end of the week that way. Repetitive log's will get you nailed in an inspection or audit without a doubt.

 

I always wondered that. Since I normally use 5 minutes to 15 minutes at a shipper or receiver(swinging doors). Was wondering if the Dot would be like there's no way you tarped that in 15 minutes. Guess another reason not to do flatbed eating up all your line 4 time, but I know you guys don't tarp every load. Biggest reason beside getting out in the elements. Is having to stop all the time to tighten that stuff down. I'd go crazy

 

It would be up to the DOT to provide proof that I didn't. Like MJ said, I had help.

 

5 minutes? E-log's? The minimum on paper being 15. It's not very often but there are some loads of flat steel or a couple pallets that only takes about 10-15 from start to finish including tarping with a steel tarp. I hauled a load weighing a little over 2K lbs of steel pipe around 5 ft each and 7 pieces. My total time from the second I hit the customers driveway to pulling out with my log current, load strapped and tarped was right at 20 minutes. I showed 15. It can be done but thetarp load really has to "appear" as load that could be tarped that fast.

Flatbed actually doesn't eat up near as much of your time as van freight but if you can take advantage of saving a little time, then why not? Ya know. Plus open deck freight really isn't as bad as it seem's, you just need to use your brain during securement. When you stop to do a load check/tire check simply grab your and keep it in hand when going around the truck. Check straps or chains for tension and adjust if needed but in most cases if done right, you won't have to. Once you walk around the truck, put the bar back and go back to driving. Every load is different. I've had many that I could run the whole trip and never have to tighten anything but I've had some where I've had to stop every hundred miles and re tighten straps, replace a bungee or two and tighten my tarps down better.

There are many benefits to fletbed. Better hours, better pay, more load's, less sitting and unlike van freight warehouse's were they get pissed if your early or late or just treat you like s*** for no good reason, 9 times out of 10 in flatbedding the customer is glad to see you and some may even offer you a cup of coffee. Plus their is a good percentage of drivers who will help you with your tarps if you help them with yours. "Many hands make lite work". Then look at how often another driver in van freight actually gives you a hand at breaking down pallets. Me, I'm skateboardin' for life! You'll be sore for a little while until you get used to it but with common sense and simple knowledge of securement, it'll almost become second nature just like driving the truck itself but never slack off by cutting corners when securing a load.

 

I used to log 30 min or so lol....DOT doesn't know how long it actually took me and I never wanted to waste my 70. Maybe 45 min if it was a tough load.

 

I been driving for a long time been inspected in many states some pulling oversize and never once has dot questioned my 15 min load and unload. They weren't there. I been hearing about repetious logging as long as i have been driving and have never seen a ticket for it. I have boldly told 2 dot cops in two different states to leave me alone you are inspecting me every time I go by and they did.