Understanding cargo securement

HELP PLEASE! I just wanted to know if it is you learn flatbed mainly on the job or what? I printed out this document online and it confuses the hell out of me. With all the different straps, chains, and all the stuff to secure your load. It is different for the type of cargo you happen to be hauling, the weight, length, etc etc. WLL and so on. My head is spinning trying to understand it!!

 

I definitely learned it on the job and that’s the best way to do it. I rolled with a trainer for a couple weeks to learn the basics and then pretty much taught myself the rest through experience. And of course, I’m still learning! You can sit there and print out your documents all day long but all you will do is give yourself a headache. Just have to get out there and do it!

There are guys on here with way more experience than me who can probably cite all the regulations in the book. I don’t think I’ve ever even read the book... lol.

 

It's really not as complicated as it may seem.

Most flatbedders carry either 5/16 or 3/8 G70 chains and 4" straps.

You can get both of these for like $15 online and they should definitely help you have a much better understanding. Youtube has tons and tons of videos on securing pretty much everything.

 

What’s the issue?
Everyone ties down a load different.
Figure to secure 4K per strap 6k per chain.
Yes they’re rated higher, but strap/chains do no good in the box/headache rack.

If you don’t think it’ll ride, it probably won’t.

 

YouTube for me, seriously. I've hauled my tractors and equipment around, but I had never hauled any freight or had any training.

YouTube got me started.

 

These look great. Thank you!

 

well tell us what your biggest questions are ? what is confusing you? there is alot of very smart flatbedders on here that can help you understand things better . if you are a visual person like me then head to the picture forum and look at how guys secure stuff and compare it to the legal securement requirement. ask yourself is it over secured or undersecured? dont be afraid to ask question you may think are dumb. because they arent. in flatbed you always have to be learning. Post flatbed load photos here V2.0 | TruckersReport.com Trucking Forum | #1 CDL Truck Driver Message Board (thetruckersreport.com)

 

Well just like Kyle G. said....I gave myself a headache by printing out a paper online that just threw me through the loops as for trying to understand it!

 

That's actually a good idea! Thank you!! When I was getting my CDL I was so frustrated with the mechanical/Pre-Trip part of the class. That was when we were reading the text book for the first several weeks. I didn't comprehend anything until I was able to see the truck and actually touch things and point things out, but the pictures in the book were diagrams not actual pictures.

 

im the same way. its hard for me to learn by reading . but if i have pictures or someone showing me it makes alot more sense.