Load securement efficiency

I'm the same way. I've watched some trainees and greenhorns lately and am just amazed at how long it takes them to secure a load of lumber with 10 straps. I've done B-train loads with 24-26 straps in less time.

Since I started, I've looked at how everyone else does things and picked and chosen the fastest, safest and most efficient methods at doing everything.

Sometimes it almost makes me want to get back into training... almost. Then I forget how much I hated it.

 

I’m on both sides of this one. I have definitely been the slow guy and I’ve also been the guy being held up by slow guys.

I normally jump out and assess what they have going on. Ask how long they’ve been hauling open decks... if they just started, they don’t know any better and I help secure the load while I explain that they could have thrown x number of straps and chains or whatever to make the load safe to creep to a spot out of the way. If they have been doing this for a long time, I tell them to move the #### out of my way.

On my end, I have also been oblivious to others around me, or unsure of myself when moving an unsecured load. Sometimes I still refuse to move a load until it is fully secured. I had a 48k block of marble that was teetering on 2 4x4 that were about 2 feet long. They wanted me to drive it down a 12% grade for 3 miles in Vermont and secure it on the side of the highway so that another truck could get in. #### you. Either I secure it now or take it off of my trailer.

A pipe load though, I’ll throw some straps to hold it down on the trailer and drive 10 miles to a truck stop with that. Just kinda depends on the load and the loading situation. I picked up at a James Hardie today and there was a line for about a half mile. Took forever to get set up to load. Once loaded, I pulled to the side and smoke tarped the load and threw straps over it, so I could get the hell out of there and out of the way, more quickly.

I just finished retarping the load a few hours later when I parked for the night.

No way I could have tarped the load and secured it as quickly as I did if I had no particular order to where I keep my straps, winch bar etc... when I climb out of my cab, I open the side box under the bunk, grab my winch bar and toss it on top of the tarps on my deck. Same box has 12 straps. I grab them 4 at a time and set them where I need them on the rub rail. Unstrap and unchain tarps. Throw strap, walk 4 feet, throw strap... and so on. Get to end of trailer. Open side box. 12 more straps. Set them on the other side of the trailer same thing to the other side. Then I take one lap around the trailer cranking straps.

If I’m in a hurry, I throw enough straps to keep the load from moving between loading and where I’m securing it. Then I’ll take my time. If I’m really really in a hurry, I roll tarps and hold the tarp down with straps and haul ### to deliver my load.

At any rate, the only thing I’m going to say screw everyone else is like suicide coils, random top heavy ####, things that spin, things that have to be secured before they can disconnect it from the crane etc... that stuff, y’all can wait.

 

One thing I did to have actual data on how efficient or inefficient I was being, is I used a step counter when I’d secure loads. Still do. I am constantly trying to get the minimum number of steps to secure that load. Our company requires we pull from both sides on loads unless a customer requires that we only throw straps from one side or the other. Otherwise, they’d all be coming from that one side and I’d be out even faster. The only thing that really gets me anymore is ####ing slinky coils. No matter how many of those cheap pieces of #### I haul, every time I load them, I pull the straps the wrong way and end up strapping down my strap so it’s really tense on one side and the hook is basically falling out on the other side. Every time. And then I have to resecure the load lol.

 

Back when I ran a lot of palatalized freight, I'd just grab my edge protectors and walk down each side of the trailer, put the protectors where I planned on throwing straps and then I'd throw said straps. Not sure on your height, but I'm 6'4 and could just reach up and throw the protectors on without having to mount the trailer.

Regarding your straps twisting when you throw them, requiring you to hop on the trailer, try this: Next time give yourself some slack, grab right below the hook, step back and throw your strap and let the slack go out while keeping your non throwing hand loosely grasping the strap to eliminate twisting. If you end up twisting them anyway, walk around your trailer after you've thrown them all and grab each hook, walk backwards till the slack is out, "whip" the strap and pull tight simultaneously. It should get any twisting out.

Also, once I stopped leaving my straps in the winches after unloading and started rolling them up and throwing them in the box I eliminated a lot of this twisting, due to being able to grab the whole roll of strap by holding the hook, and throwing the whole roll over allowing the strap to "unroll" over the load, hook strap where I want it, walk to drivers side, winch it tight, final walk around and roll. Which is what it seems @Lepton1 does. Saved me a lot of time. Instead of getting out, going to each winch, unwinding slack on the drivers side, throwing straps, then walking to passenger side, attaching straps, then walking BACK to the drivers side to winch it, then doing a final walk around, you just hop out, walk to passenger side (where my box is) throw straps, attach hooks, walk to drivers side, winch em tight, one final walk around and roll.

 

You should see the granite blocks on tiny wood down home.Throw down a bit of 2x4 something crane shows up, block goes crunch and that's that. Now. How do I get out of this hole? That? (Vertical wall...)

There is one mill in my life time I cannot find ever, but it actually happened. To get out of this one after unloading with flatbed, you had to follow a thin land bridge between two quarries they have been digging on since before there was a America. There is this large yellow line on the left edge you kept your steers on, even if some of your outside tires hung over the thousand foot of open space.

It's also where you signed a short waiver and a last will and testament form designating where to send the body if you don't make it.

Once they hollar get going, you are on your own. The whole mill stops until you either drop to your death or you get out onto the main road.

 

My experience was just the opposite; the most money I ever made in trucking was hauling pipe.

 

This is how I store my bungie. I secure them with a 14" zip ties. You can buy a bag of 500 zip ties at home depot for $30.