Post flatbed load photos here V2.0

Took me over 3 hours to strap and tarp my first flatbed load... I was struggling to figure out what to do with the excess strap for the longest because the winch wouldn't roll all of it... I was getting real frustrated so I woke another driver up and explained this was my first load and I couldn't figure it out... Of course he wasn't too happy about being woke up but he did show me how to fold the strap and tuck into the rub rail before how tighten all down... Smooth sailing after that...tarping was pretty self-explanatory.

 

Even if it does halve the WLL, we still already double the number of required securements, so any in the pockets would be more than covered over the minimum.

As for the chain-end on a strap and full chain looping back to itself, does anyone have any documents covering the math/physics of this that I could show my company so I don't look like an idiot going to them saying "a bunch of people on a forum said..."? I understand why in my head, but it's been 12 years since high school physics, and I don't think I could explain it thoroughly enough without some solid backup.

 

Would you jump off a bridge if they told you too? Jk jk all I'm saying is sometimes the person isn't always right and isn't worth listening too. That's the problem with trucking now a days. Too much hand holding and people relying on someone else to tell them how to do your job. Not saying your not capable but that's just a general comment. It prob sucks listening to that person but I also understand you wanna keep your job lol your a better man than me because I couldn't do it. Only people I take securement advice from is my fellow drivers on specialty stuff.

 

They do all their stuff by the book and what experience their drivers have taught them. And then go above and beyond that. Chains through or around the pocket, the only issues they've had are with drivers who don't put enough straps on and/or drive like idiots.

Really, what it comes down to is, if I wanted to be more like you (and I'm not saying you are wrong), I'd buy my own truck and run my own business. But I'm happy where I am right now and will cross that bridge if it ever comes to it.

The guy is actually really nice. And hey, the more I do what they want, the less I have to talk to him.

 

Got another ltl load. 3 ft by 5 ft 10k lb. Ah heck just throw her on there. Tulsa to Houston. I bet my dispatcher wanted me to deliver monday morning. I checked the receiving hours and sent my dispatcher a text saying I'd deliver about 3 pm monday and got no response so I'm left to assume he's good with it. That's how you get 2 solid days and 3 nights at home after 3 weeks out.

 

Here is what you can explain to them. When you hook the way that you are instructed to you are twisting the pocket. Pulling in on the bottom and out on the top. This makes it easier for damage to the trailer occur. Things are damaged easier by twisting than they are with bending or squeezing.

 

Couple months ago, E. WA. (not me, not going to be me)
Yep, securement matters.

 

In the last couple years we have had a few sights very similar to that within a few miles of my house...
Very Scary!!!!

 

The shipper I was at yesterday overloaded me by more than your load weighs... Buddy's paperwork says 89,000 lbs. Ok. Then he says 3 high. Ok... Then he brings out a full sized third bundle and is wonder if it will be to high. I say no he's right it will be around 6" overheight. Ok he'll leave that one off, the rest of the third row are small half bundles. Ok. Get's it on there and I tell him judging by my gauges I think it's probably 15,000 lbs overweight, or 105k lbs instead of the 89k on his paperwork. He says well ok I have a variance of a certain amount and can only take off a couple.

I don't think so let me scale it and see how far off what it actually weighs compared to what your people think it weighs. Oh well I need to get back inside he says so he wants to take a couple off before scaling, I say no I'm telling you it's 15k lbs over, let me just scale it so I know for sure... Taking off a couple bundles is only wasting time at this point. Ok yeah sure...

Scale it and yep! 105,000 lbs of product on the deck (15,000 lbs overweight like I said!) of the 4 axle trailer. Yeah... Sales people apparently screwed up and then take forever to fix it. Costed me a few hours.

...they thought they were ALL half bundles. Jeez.