Rollovers

Can’t speak for everyone, but I’d rather drive in a snow covered highway then deal with wind gusts of 50+ mph...

PJ you in Lake Station IN?

Yes sir, flying J

Spoke with my trainer yesterday. He said speed on off ramps depends on how heavy and how high we are loaded. He has coached me on ramps differently each time.

He did say if we get the tall tolls of paper we have to be extremely careful

Another reason why this forum is great and I'm leaning (pun intended) toward flatbed.

As a flatbedder, the thought of my load bouncing or shifting around behind me is completely foreign to me.

I don't want to find out how poorly my cargo was loaded in a turn or under hard braking. If my load shifts, its my fault.

Rule of thumb my trainer taught me was 5 to 15 mph under the on/off ramp speed. Sometimes even slower depending on how it's loaded. Example, 45k top heavy load, is an even slower! My philosophy, slow is fast. Slow and steady wins!!

Also, be ever vigilant about decreasing radius turns. Like in a goofy clover leaf.

Don't get the false illusion that flatbeds are immune to shifting loads and rollovers. That type of false sense of security can get you in trouble real fast!

Another reason why this forum is great and I'm leaning (pun intended) toward flatbed.

As a flatbedder, the thought of my load bouncing or shifting around behind me is completely foreign to me.

I don't want to find out how poorly my cargo was loaded in a turn or under hard braking. If my load shifts, its my fault.

Grumpy says:

Spoke with my trainer yesterday. He said speed on off ramps depends on how heavy and how high we are loaded. He has coached me on ramps differently each time.

Dave (formerly a Know-It-All) posits:

Rule of thumb my trainer taught me was 5 to 15 mph under the on/off ramp speed.

To add to this collection, Swift recommends HALF the ramp's advisory speed.

Don't get the false illusion that flatbeds are immune to shifting loads and rollovers. That type of false sense of security can get you in trouble real fast!

I didn't mean to imply that it can't happen or I won't drive cautiously. It's just, based on Turtle's comment, you know more of what you're dealing with because you secured the load. As opposed to a dry van that you have no clue how the cargo was loaded.

Rob D wrote:

As opposed to a dry van that you have no clue how the cargo was loaded.

Many times you do “know” how it’s loaded and always know what you are hauling. Most BOLs are very detailed. Most of the time load shifting is not a significant issue with a dry van or reefer.

Driving any load requires judgement on both safety and driving with prudence to protect the cargo.