Thinking about Flatbed

You certainly have my respect/sympathy. Don't know how ya'll do it.

 

I didn't have any of my billowing tarp pics from williston,ND. It had 40+ mph winds and it was -23° that was an interesting day

 

I hea ya. I go to Southern Cal for 6 to 7 months a year these days. My son goes to college there so I go visit him and then visit my folks who also live in SO CAL. every time I go back to chicago any day that is below 70 always seems cold to me..lol

 

Flat you need to be versatile and able to work out your own problems to get the job done.

For me at least.. no 2 loads have ever been the same.

This....

To this...


To this...


To this...


To this...


To this...


I have thousands of pics....

Flat bedding is the most rewarding part of trucking to me. The harder you work.. the more you are rewarded. And there are days where I am flat out exhausted.

Good to get into.. can use flatbed as a stepping stone to get into heavy haul. It all depends are what you want.

Never catch a flatbed driver inside his truck while being loaded or unloaded. You are in control and responsible for every aspect of each load.

Hurst

 

My carrier is based in Chicagoland... he seems to think I enjoy visiting in Jan so we can have pizza and grab a beer while watching a hockey game.

While the pizza and manley ritual of drinking beer and watching grown men bash each other on an ice rink is always fun... there is the standing in line in freezing weather that always has me saying I'll never do this agai ... yet each year he invites me and each year I agree.

Sigh

Hurst

 

Been there...

Done that....

More time than I care to remember...

Probably visit at least once this winter again...

I'll tell myself I wont do it...

There will be that load paying more than anything else.. and I'll do it....

Then cry as I'm hugging the truck heat for 20 mins so I can go back out for 5 more mins and break loose another frozen strap... just to run back in the truck for 20 mins and hug the heat vents again.

Hurst

 

Other things you need to learn is when the shipper shows you the load. You load and tarp. Then are told its the wrong load, that one goes on the truck behind you. Don't blow up and dump the load on the ground.

 

It may at some companies. But it certainly isn't an issue where I work. I am the flatbed trainer here. We have a small flatbed fleet. I have had 4 new guys so far. 3 of them where in their 40's and one guy was 62. All new to flatbedding. The 62 yo did change over to our van/reefer side after a few months. But the company gave him the chance.

 

I'm 47 and manage ok. I feel it the next day sometimes. But its only as hard as you make it.

As you gain experience, you learn the easier ways to do things and find and learn many short cuts. Other than other flatbedders,.. I never had anyone show me anything. Mostly trial and error... then I see someone else and a light bulb pops up,.. Oohh,.. well that makes sense. I will do it that way from now on.

Hurst

 

I wish I had taken pics of more of the different stuff I've hauled over the years like you have Hurst. It's fun looking at pics of loads, mine or someone elses. Thank you for posting them.