Tell you what brother, you have FUN using 4, YES 4 tarps, to cover your load that should only take 2. I was behind 2 BOYD BROS trucks at a Weyerhaueser in Natchitoches,LA, we all 3 had the same exact load, they both had to use 4 tarps each to cover the load, while my 2 lumber tarps were perfect. I was completely finished bungee-ing (is that a word?) and ready to go, both drivers had yet to complete the first side. They did get paid $18 for that, while my "tarp pay" is (now WAS) included in my mileage pay. BUT, they worked their ###es off for that $18.
Thinking about flatbed
Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by supersnackbar, Jan 19, 2008.
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Flatbedding is the only thing I know. I've actually had nightmares about pulling a van.
Actually, I've been thinking about pulling a van for my next gig instead of flat because flat freight is so desperately low right now. How different is a flat from a van for backing, driving, etc? I know about the wind hazard, but how often do you have to move the tandems? Seems like that could become a huge PITA if you had to do it regularly. -
If you can back a flat, you can back a van easier. I've seen some flats try to back out of tight Idle Air spots, you know the one's where you have to jack the trailer kinda' tight, with a top heavy flat, the trailer flexes with the 5th wheel. I've seen flats flex over to the point where their touching the tandems. The driver had to dolly down, and pull out bobtail then rehook straighter. We had flats and steps at the chicken plant. Before I got my CDL, I use to fill in as the yard jockey. You really had to watch the lean of the trailers there when you lifted with a spotter truck. I had to stop in the middle of a tight turn once because of some idiot service guy. The trailer actually leaned past 45 degrees, and almost flipped. They had to get 2 forklifts and push it back upright before I could move. Needless to say I was told at that point, "the next time he cuts you off like that, hit him...you have the right of way!!! and he knows it. Flip a trailer, and it's your fault. Hit him, and it's his!" Vans don't lean much when you turn 'em.
As for driving, wind is the biggest problem. Although with a bunch of states now, they are wanting us to clean the snow and ice off the tops of the trailers. Yea, right. Sliding tandems isn't much of a problem as long as the company spec'd the trailers right. Some of Crete's trailers don't have the spring loaded pins. Spring loaded pins means you pull the release, which is hooked to a spring, then if the pins aren't right, you just rock the trailer a little and the springload pulls the pins out of the slide rail, and you can slide away. If they aren't springloaded, then it's like trying to pull your 5th wheel release without backing into the kingpin. We've had several drivers hurt themselves just grabbing the handle and pulling, only to pull their back out of place rather than the pins. Some companies have air release pins, which are great, pull a little knob and a pneumatic cylinder pulls the pins, release the brakes, and the pins lock in place.
As for when you slide, most warehouses (and osha) want the tandems to the rear. Too much overhang and they say the trailers walk away from the dock as the tandems flex. I've never seen it, but... Many of the states (except the communist republic of California) have a 41' bridge (41' from kingpin to center of tandems, max.) California wants 40' from kingpin to center of the rearmost axle. Which on a 53' trailer, is almost to the front of the slider. And it all depends on how much weight and how it's loaded as to where you set them. It doesn't take long to get a handle on it. Hey, if Swift drivers can figure it out, anybody can
lol.
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