Physical demands of a flatbed

I realize I'm late on this but...there are MANY overweight flatbed drivers, so it can't be too difficult. I'm 51, 6'1 and 200-220# depending on my level of self-loathing when it's meal time. I don't find flatbedding to be a tough job at all.

 

What!!! You can only do this job if you’re an ex navy seal fighter pilot.

 

;-D

 

The hardest part of doing fletbed work is dealing with the weather. If you have the right gear to work in the elements it's all good.

 

Well dang, Im not ex-navy, not a seal fighter, and not a pilot.

 

Better go back to door swinging then. Unless you’re a swat team sniper tank driver.

 

I get that flatbedding can be a good workout, but I'm curious about one thing; does anyone do any stretching or warm-up before you get out there doing all that physical work? I mean, you're sitting for usually quite a while, whether driving or waiting to load/unload, and then you get into the tarps, straps/chains. Just wondering on the frequency of pulled muscles or sore backs that could(probably) be prevented if your body is better prepared.

I bring this up because I hurt my back at work doing a motion that I had done a hundred times before only this time I pulled/strained a muscle in my back. No big deal. It didn't really hurt and didn't prevent me from finishing the job. 2 days later I had to go the hospital because I couldn't move. Missed a week's pay for that.

 

Flake your tarps just like you flake your fire hoses so they Flow out.

Flake both directions with a fold at the end to contain them.

Some light line on all 4 corners to pull them down and temporarily secure in wind is a Old Sailors Trick