Loading small items?

Alright, here’s how you handle loading those steel pieces onto a small flatbed safely and right:

1. Put the heavy flat steel plates down first. Stack them flat and tight near the truck’s center, close to the axle. This keeps the load balanced.
2. Group the tubes and smaller steel by size and shape. Lay them on wooden planks or blocks so they don’t roll.
3. If you stack more than one layer, put wooden blocks (dunnage) between layers to keep things steady and stop metal from scratching.
4. Stop tubes from rolling by blocking them with wedge-shaped wood or tight straps.
5. Use ratchet straps to hold everything down: cross straps over the plates and strap the tubes tight, but don’t crush the steel.
6. Spread the weight evenly across the flatbed. Don’t put all the heavy stuff on one side.
7. Make sure your load stays within legal height and width limits for your route.
8. Before you hit the road, walk around and shake the load a little to check it’s secure. Once you’re driving, double-check the straps and tighten if needed.