Flatbed Variety

Hauling paper to a Georgia Pacific plant

I had a long, busy week, drove 3600 miles on two loads. After I got the man lift off, I got a load of structural steel that looked a little bit like one of Pat's beams cut into three 42' pieces. I kept meaning to take a picture of it, especially since it was the first time I used risers on a stepdeck , but between waiting four hours to load and then running hard to get to the receiver on time and then the receiver just boom! getting the load off, I didn't get one.

I have a load of mud on that trailer now that I'll deliver Tuesday - but no pic.

But I agree, more pics of other loads, please! I always learn something by looking at how others do it.

I did get a picture of how not to do it. There were two guys on this truck, but either they didn't have enough winches or were just lazy, since they didn't put even one strap over 9 of the 18 pallets they got. I guess the tarps will hold them in. Scary stuff if you ask me.

Also, John Doe will be at Lions Lair on Colfax in Denver next Friday. Pretty excited to go see him if I'm in town. (C'mon, there has to be at least one more fan of late '70s / early '80s LA punk here...)

Pat, I have 2 newbie questions:

1 - Why does your truck look blue in some pics and red in others? 2 - Would that crack in your windshield be an issue for DOT inspections?

His truck probably has a peral layer of paint on it which will make it look different colors when the sun shines on it at different angles. As for the crack in the windshield I would assume that would be concidered a DOT fault, but not sure tbh.

Oh man, it looks like we're at war with the Russians again! I knew Brett has been busy with something lately, I guess he's fighting off those Russian Mafia hackers. Or he could just be working on a new load securement section for the High Road Training Program that will help bring a few more of these flat- bedders into the forum.

You all got a guy right here that wants to drop his 100% VA comp to drive trucks, just gotta get medically cleared to do so. But once I'm cleared I'll be doing everything I can to learn and I hope that you guys may be able to do it. Hoping to seeya out on the road soon I'm hoping fellas!!!!

Anything over 12'6" on 2 lane roads here require a pilot car in front. Made it to the delivery 15 minutes before sundown.

Hey guys....besides the Rand McNally Motor Carriers Atlas which lists the length, height, and weight restrictions by state are there other sources of information you guys use to determine the specific laws by state for flatbed including oversize or overweight loads or any specifics related to cargo securement?

We have those two new sections in the High Road Training Program for Cargo Securement and the New York State Coil Endorsement but I'd love to add more materials if I can get my hands on some. As complicated as the various rules can get I'd like to give people the opportunity to learn as much as possible the easy way. It's a whole lot easier kicking back and learning it online whenever you like than it is learning it out in the field on-demand.

I thought I read somewhere that there is a book that drivers can buy or get from somewhere for this type of info????

This baby was 102 feet long and weighed just shy of 140k.

Wow!!! That's awesome!

Have you every done any flatbedding before Brett, if so give us some of your expiriences plz.

Pick and pass sounds just a little scary, Pat!

Here's our load back to Springfield where my student will test out early next week, onions from California and ultimately on to PA.

I bet that was fun to strap down, lol!!!

Ok well we got to deliver the bridge beams on Wednesday.

Ooops! What happened to the truck?... LOL

Well we were so far to the side of the bridge that the cranes could not reach far enough to pick both ends of the beam at the same time so they picked the beam off the truck and I got out of the way. I was standing on the steps taking the photo. They they used a telehandler forklift to drag the trailer backwards so the other crane could reach that end. Yes we can release all the brakes just for this purpose.

Yesterday I got to move 4 conveyors and a rock crusher. No photos of those.

But today I got to move a 824 loader to Great Falls.

What company are you driving for may I ask cause thats the kinda loads I wanna get into hauling someday soon??

Lol.... I just noticed that those three guys in the clean safety gear and hands in their pockets.... They are all government employees.

Does that really suprise you, they may be union workers for all we know, lmao