Refused my first load today

As a dry box driver I really appreciate posts like this one. Very educational to see real life examples of what other types of drivers deal with on their loads.

Thanks for the education.

 

What did you say to the little punk?

 

Ding ding ding we have a winner. Tell him what he won Johnny. Well he won a not her day with no load and starting of Tuesday at 0 miles! Yeaaaaa!

Ugh doing the right thing can be expensive. Pretty big broker too. I know it shouldn't but I hope it doesn't get us blacklisted.

 

Been to places like that.Just imagine how others feel that have to work with Mr attitude every day.People like that ruins my entire day and I have no problem telling them off.

 

I didn't say anything to the grumpy old man. Out of all the places I have been to since I started in 2010, this place, Steel Dynamics, Roanoke, VA has the worse attuitde towards truck drivers. I'm sure there are some other drivers on here that can share some story's about the place.

 

My spotter was pretty cool but the supervisor was a dooche. Spotter told me they start at $12 an hour and the crane operators don't make much more. Should explain a lot.

 

Oh the funniest thing about that place is all their safety procedures and posters everywhere but then they don't give a crap about the driver once he drives out the gate. I'm very tempted to walk into the chicken coop in Roanoke and show them the picture. I bet dot setting up outside their gates might change how they load their trailers.

 

Maybe indirectly. It would cause a bunch of drivers a hardship, and they would refuse to go there. It is also legal, although a pain in the butt, to run straps under the outer bundles and over the inner bundles. That satisfies the DOT requirement to prevent bundles from moving toward each other if done properly. And also ensures each bundle is secured. That, in conjunction with front and rear 4 X 4 bulkheads will keep load in place and legal. There is more than one way to skin a cat, as the old saying goes.

 

That would take more straps then I carry.

You figure 2 per bundle. There was 4 bundles up front so that's 8 straps. Then 3 over the top makes 11. The back had 5 bundles. So that's another 10 straps plus 3 over the top makes 24.

That's the minimum with your method that I can figure. For stuff 24 ft long I normally put 4 straps over the top. And the front bulkhead was going to go on but it's for safety. Doesn't count diddly for securement.

I carry 16 4 inch straps on winches, 2 2 inch straps and 1 4 inch ratchet. So the only way I could make it work is if I was able to use chains which I didn't ask.

 

You are right. Its a lot of straps. And is a pain in the butt. I've also used my winch bar and moved bundles together myself after I pull out to secure. Push the middle bundles together tight, and you saved 4 straps total for the load. Those bundles move easier than ya think. Also, while a bulkhead doesn't "count" as securement, it does satisfy any rule about preventing forward movement. I'm seriously considering getting out of flatbed, after close to 23 years of it, and trying something else. Too many of these steel mills are just trying to out do each other in the "stupid rules and policies" dept. And that place there is about one of the worst, followed closely by any Gerdau Ameristeel location. And Alcoa....any of them are out of their minds too. Lol