New to Flatbedding

Try that a few times with an all alum trailer and a 50K coil in the center. You'll learn not to get into places were you have to turn that sharp.

 

I'll only add that throwing an extra strap or two won't hurt you either. If you are undecided as to whether you have enough straps on the load, then go with your gut and add one or two more. Always stop an hour after you leave and resecure the load. You'll be amazed how much a load of steel will settle, even more so for a load of super sacks.

Never seen a load fall off a truck 'cause there were too many straps on it.

 

This mountain you came across is commonly known as cabbage patch (immigrant pass) and it can be done at 55mph with a heavy hauler (105,500 lbs) by an experienced driver not driving for a mega carrier. It seems most mega carrier drivers usually have a hard time negotiating cabbage without burning up their brakes and/or ending up in the sandbox

 

You need to know the working load limit of your chains or straps. That will tell you approximately how many you will need to properly secure your load based upon the weight. However, there are other rules when it comes to spacing for straps regardless of the weight. It may sound complicated, but is mostly common sense. Reading through the securement regulations should help you to understand how many chains or straps are necessary to safely secure your load.

 

LOL - Spoken from the mouth of a true Van driver! You'd be surprised the steel houses, domes, and shipping docks that flatbedders have to handle sometimes. There is also a reason flatbedders and spread drivers dont park in normal parking spots alot, because van guys like you like to block us in!!

And for the Rook....... Simple, if it looks like it will move, IT WILL!!!! Alot have said it, but just pay attention to other drivers out there, you'll be able to figure out who cares about their loads and who doesn't. NEVER be afraid to ask a dumb question or for help! GL

 

i been pulling a flat for 38 years. and i still don't everthing. when i haul something i have never hauled before. i ask someone else who is in there loading or ask the person on the dock how other drivers load. i have never had any body not willing to give me some advice. after all they have to go down the road also and they don't want you to lose your load next to them.

 

The best advice I can give to a new flatbed driver. Is to drive the truck like there is no securement's at all on the load. If you do that you'll probably be okay.

 

One of the things an old timer taught me when i started flatbedding 19 years ago was to "drive the load, not the truck." Sounds simple enough, I mean when you drive a car you drive it differently than when you drive a truck. When you flatbed, you always drive the load. You corner differently for a high load of lumber than you would for a load of plate steel. You drive each load the way it needs to be driven in the situation you are in, ie corners, winds, etc.
Its such a habit for me now that I don't even really think about it, it just comes naturally...a lot of common sense is used in flatbedding or your career will be a short one.

 

i've had 2 trucks with whom i drive for now. my first truck i had to go slower then the recommended speed becuase the jakes weren't all that hot. brakes don't last long on that truck. the adjusters also didn't work. i've had to do the adjustments myself.

the second truck i drive now i go faster due to the simple fact that the jakes work so good. the brakes never get used. anything slower and i'm constantly using the gas pedal off and on just to get down the hill. the adjusters also work.

but out of 10 looads i've brought in. only one of them was grossed. the rest were less then half weight.

if you know your truck and keep on top of things. there's really no need to stop. specially when you know there's nothing wrong and you havent' found anything wrong in weeks doing your pre and post.

but yes, it's a bad example as we all know how lazy truck drivers can be. and they are usually newbies.

it's the idiots that don't pay attention to there trucks to realize that something is wrong.

 

Just remember, things break!!!