Starting out flat bedding?

As a flat bedder, if you can't look at a preload and tell if its tarped right or wrong..........heh, little iffy statement in my opinion. If you ever get a preload fb, then you need to peek under the tarps and double check EVERYTHING.
The physical part of tarping can be a def pita as times, but again......90% of that is common sense. If it looks like it can move in transit, or the wind could blow/shift it, then mostly likely...IT WILL!!!

 

Interesting.....

I started flatbedding..... And over a decade later, I'm still flatbedding!

 

I started out on flatbeds in 1973....I'm still running a flatbed all these years later.

 

I started in flatbeds in late 1979 at the same time I got my "Class 1". (excuse me.... CDL for you newbies)

 

McElroy is mostly hauling preload flatbed from Lowe's DC or sheetrock out of some GP plants.

I've been flatbedding for 3 years now and I can tell I prefer to be there when they load my skateboard. Nothing beat to know how things get stacked up before strapping. I just don't like how some loads are preloaded without any knowledge of how this load is going to be secured.

During my 10 week CDL school a McElroy recruiter came over and talked about those loads. He even called them no-touch freight !

I choose Flatbed because I LIKE TO WORK. I get bored driving just 2 days without loading or unloading.

Like Someone said earlier, Flatbed is another different lifestyle but there is nothing wrong to start with flatbed. Just give it 6 month and after 6 month give it another 6 month

Once you past 2 winters out on the road, you'll know if this is for you or not.

 

Each starting point has its pros and cons.. for instance

Flatbed= better behind sight and sometimes lighter loads
But you have to make sure your cargo is secure and safe. Remember if it rolls off the truck its your responsibility what happens

Reafer= Sometimes lighter loads But if you have hanging meat you get the side to side swingin motion that comes with it. high center of gravity depdning on your load.. Also you will have no friends at truck stops at night

Van= stable heavy and most common (usually what your trained on)
But crappy behind view and heavy loads

Tanker= better behind view but still sucks easy cargo for loading and unloading if your job requires it
But very bad front to back and side to side motion when driving. baffeled tanks will take away come of the front to back but you still have the side to side motion. Also has a high center of gravity.

All depends on what you want. and what you will sacrifice I want to try flat bedding someday once I get more experience but i think they have it the worst when it comes to liability responsibility.

 

Wow. Talk about blind leading the blind.

 

Better behind sight?, Lighter loads?

How about....No clue!

Lighter loads? Seriously? Hangin' meat? No friends at the truck stop?

Depending on the truckstop and how your meat is hangin'....You might have lots of friends!! Certainly that will be the case at the "pickle park"

I'm really startin' to wonder if this guy has ever even seen a truck....

Do the world a favor....Work at a car wash!

 

I can tell from previous flatbedding experience that it's a great career to begin with. Honestly the only time you'll hate it is in the winter when the tarps will freeze or when the straps get wet and then freeze. The pluses are better starting pay, almost never have to dock park, usually get through weigh stations faster because the load is visible and hard work builds character. If you need the name of some companies let me know. Good luck going forward!

 

An exception not a rule
Far to much of it going on to be convincing others
Pre-Load and tarped doesnt happen correctly