New driver here - flatbed question

Did you even read his post? He has a condition that he may further injure by flat bedding

 

He is not familiar with it that’s why he is asking. His decision will come from folks that have done it and know what it could potentially do to his existing injuries. Try not to be so sensitive

 

Have been running open deck for going on 25 years. Never had a trailer with walls or a roof. Yes, it is work, in all kinds of conditions. Any person can do open deck work and not get injured. You just have to work smart.

 

I’ve had two back surgeries. Did flatbed work for almost 4 years then moved into food service for almost three years. Now I haul gas. Flatbed work isn’t that hard. Move deliberately and take your time. You’ll be fine. I know a lot of 60 year old guys doing that work.

 

You have proven fallible with this statement- “any person” includes the lesser half of average people that cannot manage to do anything without ####ing it up, getting hurt, AND blaming someone else. “Anyone” is people that think open deck is hard work.


Was it @TripleSix that said “open deck isn’t hard; but if you’re questioning if it’s hard- it’s too hard for YOU” or something to that effect.

 

Bust my chops, Geez. I blame it on oldtimers. Then it could be the questionable mental health.

 

Some people make it sound like all you will ever do is carry tarps all day long... lol. Not all flatbed loads require tarps. We don’t tarp anything where I work, and I never have to lift anything heavy. I have a forklift for that. Someone mentioned spending hours securing a load... yeah that’s pretty normal but ask any reefer driver how long you might sit in a dock doing nothing.

As for being out in the weather, well yeah that can suck sometimes but that’s why I have a rain suit and warm clothes.

 

At least 95% of flatbed/stepdeck loads are forklift/crane or roll on loads so by asking politely you can have your tarps placed onto the load or onto the trailer after rolling.
I found that a cool bottle of water on a warm day buys a lot of co-operation.

 

Some people just don't want to do flatbed work. I'm one of them. Did it for a year and it was ok, but went back to refrigerated OTR, because that's what I prefer. That's my personal choice.

 

I have never carried a lumber top on to the top of my trailer. Also i think my 4fters are around 100 pounds each. My 8fters are about 150.. Only a fool would carry those anywhere.