Pyramid versus stripped

Question. I have been running flatbed for a minute now, and wanted some input from other drivers. I picked up some 5 1/2" casing. 96 wide 48 foot trailer. The bedded layer was 16 joints bolster to bolster. Next layer 15, the next 14. The remainder was 8 joints. The loader operator insisted the top stripped. He said pyramidding it wouldn't make it a true pyramid, something about straps not touching all the pipe. Now I looked at it and the 8 on top would center perfectly on the 14 joints. But not to start an argument, I threw boards on top and secured load. Every strap I threw (11 plus belly straps) did touch all the pipe, but in the past when I took a fully pyramidded load, no boards other than those on the deck, all straps were touching pipe. I have never had an issue with DOT at scale houses either. So, opinions, suggestions, answers are greatly appreciated.

 

I got unloaded already, but I just wanted to make sure I haven't been doing anything wrong. Like I said though, never had DOT issues with the way I secure the load.

 

The 45 joints on bottom were pyramidded-16,15,14. The remaining 8 were placed on the dunnage they wanted me to put on top of the 45. I should have taken a picture but didn't think to. So you have a pyramid inn bottom with 8 joints stripped on top if that makes sense.

 

Actually no scale. We loaded at a small pipe yard about 40 miles from our yard. When we delivered, it was about 35 miles to the rig no stations on route.

 

Every one of the loads out of our yard are stripped(the exception being the line pipe, easier to string it on the right of way) I have heard debate over which is safer to haul, my personal take is if you have adequate securement and do your load checks, you won't have load issues. Then is just a matter of getting it from A to B safely.