For you Swift skateboarders... Is securement training for flatbed done right after orientation? Or is it just done by the mentor? Thanks
I am not sure, but I am worried about some of the securements I have seen from them. I was chaining up with the same load as a swifty going to the same place. He was tossing straps on coils eye to the sky. I had chains front and back of the coils with coil pads under the front and rear chains that was on the front and back of coil to protect coil. Had chains over the top with edge protectors to protect coil. He had criss crossed a couple straps over the top and used edge protectors.. We were both tarping when another swift pulled up a few trucks away and criss crossed straps with no protectors. Swifty number one told me I can't believe he did not use edge protectors. I was thinking I can not believe either of you did not use chains and have to run mountains with these. These were not aluminum coils. Nor were they painted. No trip chains. No bulkhead....
Notarps, I'm not too worried about the actual securement. I still have all my notes I took at Maverick, and that training confirmed what I had been taught when I 1st did flatbed long ago. So I'll do it the right way, no matter what I'm shown by Swift. I was just wondering more as to when they do it. I think general orientation is either 2 or 3 days long, but not sure when flatbed training takes place.
Not a skateboarder but did do the securement classes. I did them in Greer SC right after orientation. Orientation was Mon thru Wed and book class for cargo was Thurs and Fri. After that you go out with mentor (even if you are not a rookie) for 2 weeks (if a rookie the full 6 weeks). After coming off the mentors truck there are two days of testing (think they are Mon and Tues). Testing consists of written test and actual hands on tests tying down loads on the yard according to Swifts securement policies. No, I did not flunk out, I just finally found out what they actually paid for tying down etc and having driven flatbeds years ago I simply refuse to tie down for the pennies on the dollar they pay for it. I ain't throwing 12-20 chains for $8.
Yeah, they are kind of goofy on their tie-downs. According to their manual on single eye to the sky they say chains not straps. Should be crosstie (x over the coil) and one transverse (crosswise). With a wood block nailed to the deck in front of the coil. When you jump to more than one roll thats when they "recommend" u-chain (horseshoe) on front and back of coils. But, you know how it is, most wheelholders try to find the quickest way to do things, NOT the safest.
Thanks, Lugnut. If it's what I gotta do to get back into it, without going through a school again (can't afford that), then that's what I'll do.
