Flatbed Securement Discussion 2022

I'm confused Old School. When you made your comment I thought you were referring to this pic. That the load was in a bundle so the straps didn't need to touch the load. The load above is where the straps didn't touch the bottom row. On top of those short pipes were longer pipes and on top of the longer pipes were another bundle of 3 long pipes sitting on top of aluminum beams they placed in the middle of the trailer. The beams in the middle made it so I couldn't put belly straps on the bottom row. That's what made me uncomfortable. That load was light but long. I had 13 straps on it. This load I felt like I put too many straps on the middle of the load. I would have preferred 3 belly straps. So it would have been 2 over the top in the front then belly strap, 2 over the top, belly strap, 2 then belly strap then 2 over the top at the end of the load. That still seems like over kill but I will continue to over strap rather than not have enough straps.

I'm not a driver as most everyone here knows but I follow a lot of trucks and have had flatbed and hopper loads come off of my farm. About 25 years ago a trucker explained putting a twist in his traps so the wind wouldn't cause them to flap when going down the road. Ever since, I look for those twists when driving down the road. Sometimes I see none and wonder who important this is. In the top photo on this page I see a strap with a good distance between where it's touching the load and the winch and there is no twist. Is this more of a personal preference or something that has a benefit? No judgement from me, just something I've been curious about for many years.

My son Michael has said that some day he might like to go the flatbed route for a change of pace and I told him it looks like too much work. I'm sure Old School had lots of fun in that avatar photo tarping in the snow, something that it takes loving, I suppose.

Pitting a half twist in the strap keeps it from "buzzing" and vibrating from the wind going down the road at speed.

TwoSides I really like your careful approach to flatbedding. I wish more of my coworkers had your mindset. I see too many of them just hook up to a preloaded trailer and just go without double checking straps and adding bungies or properly post tripping trailers so they aren’t leaving problems for the next guy.

Same here Pianoman. It baffles me how nonchalant these drivers are. I've talked to just about all the flatbedders at this terminal and they do the same as your coworkers. I came across 3 trailers that were past due on inspection. When I casually mention it to my coworkers they say don't worry about it smh. One guy that has been here for 8 months is setting himself up for disaster. He leaves the straps on the pre loaded trailer, which are not rode worthy by the way, they are twisted beyond belief and some are on the outside of the rub rail. He tarps the load then puts the rest of the straps over top of the tarp.

On our trailers all our winches are bolted to the side of the trailer already and we have hooks for the D-rings bolted on the opposite side and they alternate winch to hook to winch etc

So your winches are fixed? You can't slide them to a position you want? Forgive my ignorance but when you say D-rings are you talking about for the tarps? Or your calling the hook/buckle on the strap a D-ring??

Are these the hooks you are talking about that are on your trailers?

You guys haul some pretty complex loads. I look at the pics from Chief and others and I'm like man, that's crazy. I have easy loads compared to others....

Also, even if you don't think your technique will be helpful to me please post. Please share all your knowledge. This isn't just for me, this thread is for current and future skateboarders. Big thanks to Chief for starting this thread.

Turtle, I haven't been able to purchase the pocket winches yet. You have told me about that and I don't like putting the winches over the tire but right now I have no choice on some loads. Luckily nothing bad has happened but I will be buying the pocket winches soon...

Below are the pictures of my X chains across the front of my current load, which is 39000 lb of some sort of metal decking.

You can't see it in the picture but I used my J Hooks in the middle of the trailer to secure the front end of the chains to the deck.

Another driver that was picking up there, who hauls these loads all the time, said that he had not put chains across the front on one load and in a hard break the metal decking came forward and came right through his cab.

Thanks to all of you sharing information. This is a great thread for a new flatbedder like me. Much appreciated.

Bump

Thanks to all of you sharing information. This is a great thread for a new flatbedder like me. Much appreciated.

Yep, I love following this thread, even though I'll never be a flatbedder. Very educational.

As is, this: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of my Truck Driving Career

Bump

~ Anne ~

It is pretty hard. Technical. It appeals to me. Very physically demanding. Hope I can keep up as I like it

Thanks to all of you sharing information. This is a great thread for a new flatbedder like me. Much appreciated.

Yep, I love following this thread, even though I'll never be a flatbedder. Very educational.

As is, this: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of my Truck Driving Career

Bump

~ Anne ~

Definitely have to get used to it thats for sure. Gotta take it slow.

It is pretty hard. Technical. It appeals to me. Very physically demanding. Hope I can keep up as I like it

Thanks to all of you sharing information. This is a great thread for a new flatbedder like me. Much appreciated.

Yep, I love following this thread, even though I'll never be a flatbedder. Very educational.

As is, this: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of my Truck Driving Career

Bump

~ Anne ~