Step By Step Observations Of A Flatbed Load

As you get unloaded, do you ever have to re-arrange the remaining materials?

Occasionally that need arises. It's not common, but usually when it comes up the forklift operator will realize it and offer to move it for me. Just a few weeks ago I was unloading at an Eastern Metals location and once their material came off, I was left with a stack of four bundles completely to one side of the trailer. There's no way that will ride without falling over.

I've been on this account so long that most of the customers know me. That helps a lot. It could also hurt you if you don't treat them right. Fortunately I have great relationships with the forklift operators. Kindness is a virtue that every truck driver can benefit from.

I really do get to know a lot of my customers. I was surprised early on here when the guy in charge of shipping told me he had customers calling and requesting me as the driver for their deliveries.

I asked him why it made a difference to them. His response was, "They say you always do what you say you will." So, I've always remembered that my customers appreciate it when a driver is dependable. It turns out that trucking companies and dispatchers share that same sentiment.

That destroyed tire says, "new driver was here" to me. Even I know not to have the winch in that proximity after following you guys on here for years.

That is why I really hate preloaded trailers. Many times the people that load it will be helpful and either not know or were not paying attention and end up with a winch over a trailer tire or worse, over a tractor tire. It is hard to gauge the last one on a dropped trailer.

I have a couple customers where I drop a trailer and they load it. I know the folks pretty good and have asked them to please let me secure the load myself. Those are all single stack low stuff that doesn’t need any belly straps.

OS, on the dedicated account is it a mix of regular flatbed and Conestoga or is it entirely Conestoga?

The reason I ask is that I spoke with a young driver who said he was on that account and he said all he pulled was Conestoga.

Davy, I pull both type trailers. It is possible that some of the drivers only pull Conestogas, but I just don't know. When I go to the Hydro plant in Yankton, SD I only see Conestoga trailers there, but having dropped off regular flatbeds there, I know they get them occasionally. Each Hydro plant is set up differently, and it may be that they don't load those flatbeds until a driver from another plant (like me) comes to pick up a load. I honestly don't know the answer to your question, but I feel like it depends on which plant you are dedicated to.

I am dedicated to the Delhi, LA plant, but I pick up backhaul loads from the other plants when my consignee is in that region.

After unloading in Mankato, MN I needed to get to Tulsa, OK for my final stop. I had an appointment for 0900 this morning in Tulsa. I could have run hard all day yesterday and gotten myself close to my consignee , and I considered that option. I finally decided I wanted to stop in Kansa City and take my daughter, her husband, and my cute little granddaughters out for a meal and some time together. We had a great time and I really enjoyed getting out of the truck while seeing them.

I'm pointing this out so people will realize we aren't slaves to our trucks or our dispatchers. There is a freedom to this career that is rewarding. You don't have to believe all the whining and complaining that truckers post online. I run my loads the way I think best. I am granted that privilege because I have developed a relationship of confidence and trust with my dispatcher. He never bothers me or questions my decisions. He knows I'll take care of my business.

I made it to Tulsa this morning an hour before my appointment. I got up at 0330 this morning and got myself on the road as soon as I could. Here's what was left on my trailer at this point.

My last stop (consignee) had 13 bundles of aluminum tubing. See how those are so nice and square? That's why they loaded them on bottom. Other material was loaded on top of them because they were nice and stable. That added a good 600 miles onto this load.

Normally we unload outside at Richardson Trident in Tulsa, but it was raining this morning which required a blindside back into a door near the rear of their warehouse. It went smoothly and I got inside so the forklift operator could unload and keep his precious metal nice and dry.

That finished this load, but I may try to go through my next load too. Hopefully some of you are enjoying this, and maybe it will be fun for you to see how my "weekend" load goes this week. I never know what I'll be doing for the weekend until Friday afternoon. As soon as I can I'll tell you all about it.

I'm stopped tonight in Ozark, AR at the Workman's truck stop. I'll leave early in the morning so I can get my empty trailer back to the plant by 0800 tomorrow. They will probably be needing empty trailers for the stuff going out this weekend.

Well, they are more than cute. Beautiful granddaughters. My grandson is in Wisconsin and I adjust my schedule to see him whenever I’m near him.

Great story. Keep it coming!

I had a fun day with my flatbed. My left chain binder for my Princeton lift broke on the way to my last stop.

Had to get creative strapping it down to get it back to the terminal. Luckily I wasn’t too far out and was able to take back roads and sort of crawl home rather then run the highway.

Wow Delco Dave - that looks tricky! I'm glad you realized you had a problem.

I tilt my mirrors in slightly to keep an eye on my bed and straps. Unfortunately, I can’t see the binders behind the lift tires but I did see it move a little bit coming to a stop and knew I had a problem. I double check every tie down at every stop so I knew it wasn’t me.

Luckily only the one broke free. I still had the right side, which by rating should hold it, plus the forks lock into the cradle which will prevent it from falling off. I still wasn’t taking any chances though, the 3 extra straps I threw on it would hold 13k