Reefer to flat/step?

what's there to share?

If you don't think it's tied down good enough, tie it down some more.

If you are hauling pipe, belly wrap it and then wrap it again.

Take pride in your tarp jobs and make sure they are tight. The tighter you get them, the less they flap around and cause wear on the tarps too making them last longer as well.

If you haul stuff that is EXTREMELY light and needs securing, better to use lots more tie-down than not enough and crush it.

In today's age, TAKE PICTURES of your loads if you have to and email/text them to the boss and say, "Whatdoya thinks?"

 

That's just it....

Flatbedding doesn't take a lot of training.

Pick up a securement manual and read it. You'd be about as trained as you can get.

Have him take pictures of different loads if they can for you is another option for examples.

Water pipe ALWAYS gets a smoke tarp too. (unless you drive a street sweeper exhaust) The exhaust will melt itself into the pvc with the potential for an install to fail a quality check.

Weight and stuff is the same as any other rig. Might want to ask how board feet of different woods you can carry.

 

Pretty much what MnDriver said. There are plenty of little tricks to make life easier, but the reality is that its all fairly straightforward. Some aspects are uncomfortable (mostly weather related) but nothing that you can't think yourself through before doing it.

 

'Olhand,

I've read enough of your posts to know that if you decide to do it you will do it well. MNDriver is right. Read the book. Ask some questions. It's pretty straightforward. Surely you've met a skateboarder or two over the years who's intelligence you question? Think about it, if they can do it you can as well. All comes down to desire.

 

While it has been many moons since I've had a skateboard behind me, I might be able to shine a penlight's glow on some of this.

How hard is it to tie down? The first week or two will be brutal, as you'll be doing it the hard way, and often redoing it as you realize your first plan was a fail. But you'll quickly find the tricks to minimize the physical aspects, and from what I know of you, your spatial IQ is good enough that it will be a help. Being able to 'see' your securement before the load is on the wagon is a major help.

After the first few weeks, it'll get easier, as you'll be starting to get your routine down pat. And it's important to have one! It'll save you a lot of walking/climbing and help you not forget any steps. It's just like any complex task, doing it the same way every time means it's done right every time! In a month it'll be easy peasy, and even a new type of load will add only a bit to your securement time.

Now the "ol'" part?

 

I'll make it very easy to make your decision if you can do it olhand.

Do you have common sense?

If yes proceed to open deck work.
If no don't proceed to open deck work.

Common sense plus a helpful tip from a friend or fellow open decker is all it takes.

 

I'm positive the man has common sense...

Give it a shot, you'll do fine.