starting at BTC

Hey JOHN can't give you any info in regards to your questions about memphis, but I've heard they are a good company. You must have a good idea that flatbedding is going to be more work than the refer! Keep us posted cause there's not alot on TTR about Builders. Good luck!

 

Not trying to be a jerk here, but those are things you really should find out BEFORE you decide to go with a company. Good luck with your new job though.

 

Best of luck to you.

 

From what I have read they pay pretty well to start out. Although I have never PERSONALLY seen a BTC truck. But I can give you some info on flat bedding. Its hard work, you will get hurt I'm sure you have read threads over in the flatbed section about tarping and what not. Can be a pain don't know how much of BTC's freight is tarp it would've been a question I would've asked personally. I personally don't care to tarp but will do it as its part of my job as a flatbedder it comes with the territory and gets easier with experience.

A couple things I would suggest if BTC doesn't supply you with them which they should. A securment calculator, and a load securement regulations book. These are life savers at times! I personally always ask the customer when it comes to steel if I can chain it or weather it needs to be strapped. DOT prefers chains most customers prefer straps on square tubing, I have always chained round stock personally and I will NEVER strap an I beam. Always ask about corner protection and when in doubt put it on. As don't be afraid to tell a loader how to load your trailer, if something isn't fitting tight and snug or if you don't like how its loaded say something and get it rearranged. You don't have to be a jerk about it, politely ask if they won't rearrange it for you go to a supervisor. If you run across a load you don't know how to secure (one day you will guaranteed!) Ask somebody who does know how to secure it. Be polite a lot of us will help.

Flat bedding you will have a lot of the 400-500 mile runs maybe 600 that's about the norm. Get used to rolling up straps and carrying chains. Buy a strap winder, I know a guy who uses a cordless drill I need one myself lol but if you can't afford to go that route a strap winder is about $20 and saves you a lot of time. Store your straps in your side box not on your winches. Keeps them from icing up and freezing to the winch in the winter and keeps them out of the weather and from getting stolen. When you put your chains back on the rack, start on the outside, and work your way in and pull them off in reverse order works great for me and I don't fight with getting my chains off or out of the chain tray. I carry 4 at a time off the rack and 4 binders at a time off the rack to make less trips.

Watch snap binders closely you WILL need a winch bar to get them tight, and always wrap the chain around or a tarp strap around a snap binder, when you release it there's 2 ways open hand and stand back push out and watch it snap or use your winch bar. There is a lot of force in that binder I have had a winch bar ripped out of my hand, and I have had a binder snap back on me they hurt like hell and they WILL kill you if you catch a handle to the head that was under tension. Hard hats are a good thing to have along with GOOD work gloves. Steel toes weather you drive in them or not keep them in your truck and a class 2 vest.

Never throw the hook end of a strap I learned my less on with the hard way catch a flat hook to the head that you didn't get over and had to pull back and you will cuss up a strom and get a good goose egg from it. Hit another person with that hook end and you become a liability and its liable to start a fight. Call out when throwing straps over a load never know when somebody's going to walk by on the other side of your trailer and not know you're throwing a strap. Remember tapering is an art and a learned skill. Your first few tarp jobs are probably going to not look to great and probably my puff and you will probably have to put more tarp straps on them. Hey it happens you will get better with time. Flat bedding has a learning curve to it. When in doubt over secure, if you have a load that was tricky to secure stop more often than normal and check it. Always watch your mirrors and watch your straps and your load. If by some chance you have to stop on the highway to resecure your load pull off as far as possible. Been there done that not fun and WEAR THAT VEST I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER!!!! Your family needs you at home and wants to see you again its just added safety. When hauling pipe strap high and low and tight. Every time I have EVER hauled plastic irrigation pipe cradled or not them pipes were dented when I finally quit tightening. They did not have a permanent dent but I like pipe to be darn tight. Strap high and low as well not just all over to top DOT don't like seeing 3 stacks of pipe and all the straps over the top. Speaking of straps please I beg of you for the love of go do not put 6" through that winch and then star ratcheting down and have 10ft of strap on the winch and wonder why your straps get loose. Pull as much excess as you can through, fold the excess up stick it between the strap and the trailer frame and then ratchet it down. The excess strap protects the strap from being cut on the side of the trailer, and you can get things a lot fighter and they don't loosen as much. You will have straps and chains loosen up over time it happens just crank them down. And no matter the product I get thing tight. I'd rather dent something than have it come off and kill somebody. You cannot put a price on somebody's life you can put a price on what's on your trailer.

I can think of some more things tomorrow but its 5a.m. and I'm hitting the hay. Have a good one and I hope this helps you out a little. Be safe driver.

 

Keep us up dated. Good luck to you.