Flatbed Tie-Downs: What To Use, And How

Hi,

As I try to understand more about flatbedding, I'm wondering if there's a known difference between various tiedowns. I get that chains and straps are for different loads, but is there a difference in the kind of end fitting on straps? And for both, what kind of anchors do you use, and do most trailers come with anchors on them? I've seen not to use the rub rail (for flat hooks I guess), is that true across the board?

Thanks!

Aside from the training you will get when going to a flatbed company, here is the FMCSA Load Securement Handbook.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Drivers_Handbook_Cargo_Securement.pdf

Rick

Hey Basya, welcome! Flatbed securement is a big topic. You can learn the basic principles of how much securement is needed and so on from the link Rick provided or from other books. The New York coil endorsement training has good information specific to coils as well.

If you decide to get your CDL and pull flats, your company will train you on how to do securement. Most likely you will also have an opportunity to drive with a trainer who will help you learn how to secure different kinds of loads as well.

Now, once you have the basic principles down and some experience with different kinds of loads, you'll most likely encounter new kinds of loads that will present you with a new challenge. That's where the fun really starts because as you get better and better at it, you will be able to figure out how to secure something you've never seen before.

One of the most entertaining things you can do is to ask a few flatbedders at a shipper how to secure your load. If you ask five of them, sometimes you'll get six or seven opinions on the best way to do it. Another form of that is to post pictures of loads and ask the best way to do it. It's pretty fun, actually.

To your specific question of when to use straps and when to use chains, and where to hook them, that all depends on the load and the type of trailer you're pulling. I've pulled trailers with movable winches and open rails that you hook the straps to, and I've pulled trailers with solid rails (except for stake pockets) and fixed winches where you hook triangle rings to specific hooks on the frame of the trailer. The way you attach the chains is different for those types of trailers as well. I'm about to start a job where sometimes I'll be pulling an RGN trailer sometimes, so I'll be learning new ways to do things for that type of trailer as well.

Then there's the question of what size chain you should use, whether to use snap binders or ratchet binders on your chains, etc., but generally you'll be using whatever equipment your company provides especially when you're first starting out.

There are some loads where the choice of straps or chains will be obvious. For example, you'll never use chains on product that is fragile, like drywall or insulation foam. You'll never use straps on crushed cars or heavy equipment. (You might use a strap to secure a bucket or boom on equipment, but the main securement will be chains.) And on some loads you might use a mix of chains and straps, like some loads of fabricated steel.

The good news is that flatbedders are generally happy to help another driver figure out how to get a load secured. Heck, one time I helped a couple re-secure and re-tarp their load in a small trailer they were taking from northern California down to southern California. They were in the store trying unsuccessfully to buy some rope they could use for their tarp. I overheard them and felt compelled to help. They had stopped three times in 20 miles and needed some help. It only took 15 minutes to get them squared away. I didn't do it so they would think I'm nice or so I could tell you this story. I did it because I really like the challenge of figuring out how to keep a load from falling off an open deck.

One way to start before you even go to CDL school is to look at loads on flatbed as they go by on the highway. I do this habitually now, even when driving a car or pulling a tanker. You can learn a lot this way, but be careful because you can also learn how not to do it without necessarily knowing that until you have some experience.

Thanks so much, Rick. I'm in middle of using up all my paper to print out that handbook (2 pages to a sheet) because it looks really awesome - although I've been all over their site, I never got this handbook yet.

And Bud, I appreciate all that guidance. Copied it over to take some notes, and I like that I'm getting more and more the feeling that in flatbedding, once you get trained, there's a lot of room to use your brains. Not just sticking things against a wall with E-track, it's real work and I like that.

I guess I still don't understand some of the tie-downs out there - like why use these straps without hooks at the ends, the ones with loops and rings? Where do they go?

But I don't need to know everything, like you say, if I go ahead with training, they'll give me the details. But if anyone uses those kinds and wants to share, please do!

although I've been all over their site, I never got this handbook yet.

Interestingly enough we have both the cargo securement course and the New York State coil endorsement course built right into our High Road Training Program:

Cargo Securement Course

New York State Coil Endorsement Course

Our High Road Training will make it a lot easier to learn those materials than reading those manuals. We break the courses down into small sections with multiple choice questions at the end of each section. We also mix in questions you've already seen with the new questions as you go to help reinforce the answers.

Try it! It's awesome.

Interestingly enough we have both the cargo securement course and the New York State coil endorsement course built right into our High Road Training Program:

Cargo Securement Course

New York State Coil Endorsement Course

Our High Road Training will make it a lot easier to learn those materials than reading those manuals. We break the courses down into small sections with multiple choice questions at the end of each section. We also mix in questions you've already seen with the new questions as you go to help reinforce the answers.

Okay that's awesome - wow, I really did find the perfect site. It really looks like the perfect course for me to take to help me understand it all better so I can make my decision. Thank you Brett!