Question of Chains vs. Straps

Hurry up and wait.

 

Not to pile on new guys because everyone's a beginner sometime but it can frustrating sometimes. I load out of Worthington Steel in Delta Ohio quite a bit and apparently TMC considers that their personal training area. It has 3 bays wide two deep. You generally load in the second bay and they generally want a tarp over the load before you pull out. Meaning if someone is putting twice as many chains as needed and a few straps on for good measure you wait, and wait, and wait lol I'll usually help but TMC have so many of their own rules sometimes I can't handle it. One thing that kills me is that they oversecure loads but will pick up coils all day long without bevelled wood and use the cheapest truck stop coil racks they can get. 80% of the time they use carpet or foam or a chunk of rubber instead of corner protectors in the eye of the coil. All teh7y chains in the world won't help if the unbevelled wood gets kicked out or the 99 cent rack collapses. Rant over.

 

I don't miss that place! Matter of fact I don't really miss any Worthington since they let TMC back in to screw things up.

 

That's what they teach all the new kids these days, "use straps" its the "easy" way....

Maybe some of these guys should just take up door swinging if they want "easy"...?

 

Well. This certainly turned into a lively discussion.

I do not run flat, nor do I have any designs on ever doing so. However, the information in this thread and the opinions expressed are valluable to me. I appreciate all the input y'all took the time to contribute.

Thanks to you all.

 

Worthington Steel in Monroe still owes me $1200 in detention from 3 years ago. Screwed me around for 26 hrs. backed in to load 3 times but couldn't find coils. Ain't been back there since.

 

I never thought I'd have to defend a particular type of securement device and explain the differences between it and another type!

Vive la truth!

 

Chains or straps, straps or chains, who cares. I have had old girlfriends that preferred chains and some went for straps others liked rope but the last one wanted to use velcro.

I bet I could I could have my load strapped down before Les can get his chains out.

 

the fact remains that w/fabricated steel components it is always a good idea to have clevises in the plate ends that isolate them from movement ( tie together then down ) all associated components should be affixed in this manner.... that man lost control of his rig on ice , i don't care how macho you are this happens..... and could happen to you. SO BE SAFE BE CAUTIOUS AND CHECK YOUR LOAD FREQUENTLY IT'S YOUR JOB... AND YOUR LIFE

 

Ropes give rope burn, straps leave welts and chains leave bruises. Go for the handcuffs....

But if she gets the ball gag out and its not for her, I'd suggest leaving...

Remember I pull a covered wagon... And if it ain't round with a hole in the middle, I don't want anything to do with it. So my chains are laying on the floor already....