Maverick. Notarps4me u out there?

Let me say, I like all you steel/coil haulers too, as you've given me many helpful pointers over the last 1 1/2 years, but I WILL BE over-securing, over-tarping, and plain ### taking my time at making sure my load is safe to run down the road. I never realized till a time in Burns Harbor IN that, WTF,,,,,being the fastest, quickest, load & burn driver was to be my goal! I saw truck after truck, park, secure, leave, and I was still securing. WELL, it finally dawned on me---how fast would these guys be at a glass facility? I load steel/ lumber on an irregular basis, thus my staps/chains/tarps...are not always readily accessible, so I look like a #######....We learn as we go, and as I've heard before--if you are in such a hurry, you should have left out sooner, and pull your frisky ### out around & away from me & carry on! I'm just saying.

 

I'll put my tarping skills up against yours anyday.

 

Takes me 45 minutes to load, tie down and tarp at metal coaters in Jackson, MS

 

What do you pull? A flat or step? 45 minutes to load at a customer is give or take--you never know--1 hour on Tuesday # Huger SC, then scale- in line for 1/2 hr, find out you're over weight on the spreads, then get reloaded, scale again (in line for 40 min,), find out weight is ok, THEN secure....all you braggers/cussers about us slow azzes, you guys run these coil/beams everyday....give us part-timers a break, and show some compassion for how you were when you were green. Like you are a super trucker with 45 minutes to load, tie down, & tarp! Good for you, and I hope you are careful with securement & don't pass my granddaughter on the road.....It's not about who's the quickest & fastest, it's who's the safest. We don't pull vans for a reason...

 

Utmost respect to you with 35 years, my previous rant was not aimed at you, I truly respect my mentors, but, at the same time, some compassion is asked, we are all not professionals yet, nor will ever be. Appreciated is the helpful hints-well, this is what I would do-, I have gained enormous knowledge from you experienced drivers as yourself. Thank you.

 

Okie Dokie 1 year and wanna be, save us all

 

good words,

 

I am a experienced flatbedder. I can secure and tarp at a pretty good pace when I take a notion too. Speed comes with time. By having a system down to make every move count. I would much rather have someone new or someone who does not haul a lot of steel make sure they do it right than complain about how long it takes. I would rather have the guy in front of me cost me 30 minutes longer waiting for them to secure and tarp than cost me 6 or 7 hours waiting for the road to reopen when they lose their load on the big road.

When weather permits I toss a couple chains and move outside to finish and tarp. If the weather is bad and there are a lot of trucks and I am in the way I will secure and throw my tarps and pin the ends and go out and finish. I get more upset at seeing unprofessional drivers cut corners on securing and tarping than I do a a new person taking a little longer than normal to do the job. Look around you going down the road. I see more balloon looking tarp jobs than I see drivers that take the time to make it look right.

I have loaded at logan in russelville ky many times. I have been there up to 18 hours before. It is not because of slow drivers. It is because they don't have the load ready. New flat bedders this is for you. Take your time, don't drag your feet, but do it right. You will find a lot of other drivers alongside the road that didn't.

 

thanks for the info. the whole 'big' company thing is sort of a turn off. im sure i could learn just as much from a much smaller outfit. thanks though.

 

as far as tarping and securing;
they are a good place to learn securing and tarping.
they will make you do it right or leave.

that said ive had to tarp some stupid crap. but you signed up for it.
company wants it tarped, you tarp it.

rarely i needed to call to ask for advice on securing, their training and my common sense were enough. the few times i did they were right there to help, every time.