Flatbed Variety

Here is a photo of some pipe that we haul.

It has really been a busy couple of days.

Yesterday I delivered a dozer and skidsteer to a job site. Didn't get any pics of them, it was too dark when I got there.

Today I delivered a rock truck about 175 miles and then moved a loader from the site I delivered the truck to about 50 miles away. Long day but it was still pretty cool. I did not take a pic of the loader but this is the truck I moved today. Sometimes you have to use a lower trailer.

Tomorrow I am hauling dirt so you probably do not want photos of that.... LOL

Pat. M.

Nuh-unh. Who said? I wanna' see some dirt. Show us the dirt, Pat M.

-mountain girl

Dirt dirt dirt. Lovely dusty dirty dirt. Show the dirt.

This my current load going to New Jersey and then on to upstate New York. One of these days I may grow up so I can play with the full size stuff.

Tomorrow I am hauling dirt so you probably do not want photos of that.... LOL

Pat. M.

Nuh-unh. Who said? I wanna' see some dirt. Show us the dirt, Pat M.

-mountain girl

There is plenty of dirt in the bridge photos. Just use your imagination.... The dirt that is not there is the stuff I hauled away... LOL

I was about 50 when we changed to skateboard...and I can throw straps with the best of them...but I cheat, and use a dog toy to get'em over the tall loads....its a trick another lady flatbedder showed me...And in the years I did flatbedding, I have never thrown a chain over a load. we used a strap, threw it over, then hooked the chain to it and drug the chain back over. And to get chains in and thru some stuff, we use a "chain weasel"...nifty thing a friend of ours came up with...works perfect. But we also have a husband/wife who flatbed, and they run their own trucks. She weighs in at an amazing 97 pounds, and about 5 foot and a smidgin'. So don't let size, or age, or anything else scare you out. Get some experience OTR pullin' a box trailer. Then if skatebaordin' is still callin' to you...give it a try. If you don't like it....change back. And for the record...I have been to ALOT of load sights with dozens of fellow flatbed drivers. I didn't see ONE knuckle dragger there. I have always been treated with respect as a fellow driver. Sure, they will sneak a peek when they see me throw my straps with a dog toy...but wht the heck, it works !!! And when I made a ladder to crawl up the sides of the truck to hook bungees on high hooks, my hubby boo hooed it...but then he saw other drivers come over and borrow it...Invision a big tough trucker...hooking a HOT PINK 5 foot ladder to his rub rail so he can get up to reach his D rings with bungees.....I think that anyone who wants to work in a particular area of trucking should give it a try. But I also believe that if you can't do the job as well as anyone else, and you are always asking for help, you need to go do something else.....

That's a good story with the pink ladder...Love it. What was the dog toy you used? A doggie-kong? I'm actually interested to know what you used to throw your straps ...

...and I just wanted to see some dirt, like he thought we wouldn't be interested. Not.

Nice big, heavy pipes you got there, Pat M. and cool Tonka Truck too. More pics! Keep bringin' 'em!

-mountain girl

The dog toy is a long ( about 2 feet) piece of plastic cording ( heavy) with a ball attached to each end, I'd take one ball off, slide the cord thru the middle of my coiled strap, re attach the ball, turn my back to the trailer, grab each ball and toss that thing over my head and back. Sailed over the load like It had wings. Since in flatbedding you usually hook your first strap on one side, your next strap on the other side, I never had to go "fetch" the toy...it was already there for me to use again. I used it on loads that were over 12 foot or so. anything under that I could sling over one handed..You get good at that full arm/body strap sling maneuver.... ALSO....a strap winder is a necessity....it hooks on your rub rail, and you just turn the handle and wind up your straps...perfect every time, and ALOT faster. I also used one of those long handled 5th wheel pullers with the hooked end, that also had the straight prong on the end. Great for reaching up to hook a bungee high, or straighten out a tarp flap, etc. Theres tricks for every different trucking trade...and more if you are a lady driver. Lacking upper body strength lets you get creative.

Good to know, Starcar. Flatbed seems intriguing . . . but I tend to bite off more than I can comfortably chew. As you mentioned, it's probably a good plan to drive dry van / reefer for a year, and then consider switching if flatbed still has appeal. From what I've read, there will be plenty of challenges in the first year without the added issues of securing a load!