Step By Step Observations Of A Flatbed Load

I found out my next assignment. It's going to be a two stop load from Delhi, LA with the first stop being Sidney, OH, and the final in Muscatine, IA. The customer in Iowa wants us to be there @ 0400 on Tuesday.

I'll get started on this run tomorrow and do my best to update this by tomorrow night.

I picked up my pre-loaded trailer early this morning. Everything was in order. They had my trailer in bay 4 and they had the right trailer number on my paperwork.

I spent some time helping an ATS driver who was there for the first time. We were early enough that there was no one in the shipping department. He had lots of questions and I just happened to be the only person there with answers.

Earlier in this conversation we discussed some possible issues when removing freight from these multi-stop flatbed loads. This one just has two stops. Typically they will load two stops as front/back. This one wouldn't work that way because of a few long bundles.

Their solution was to load most of the second stop in the front of the trailer. Then the rest of it in a line down the center of the trailer. The first stop is loaded on top of that material in the center and on both sides also. That works well because the trailer will not have off-centered weight distribution after we finish at the first stop.

The only potential problem I saw was at the rear of the load. These bundles of aluminum extrusions have a habit of compressing as the road vibrations jiggle them around. Some shapes will really move around as they settle. The individual shapes vary in how much trouble they may cause. Of course, that's a powerful reason to make sure you are checking your load regularly.

I stopped in Eudora, AR and in Olive Branch, MS to check my load. Each time I found straps that had lost tension. The bundle at the back was one of the bad actors.

I've got a photo to share with you, but I'm having trouble getting it loaded. I may have to try that again tomorrow.

Tonight I'm parked at the Pilot @ exit 143 on I-40 in Tennessee. I'll leave early tomorrow to avoid Nashville traffic and get myself on up to Sidney, OH.

My first stop is the Hydro plant there. I do a lot of that type of shuttling materials from one plant to the other.

That's the photo of that rebellious bundle. That's how it looked before I even tightened my straps on it. We will see how it holds up.

So far it has ridden fairly well. I'll keep an eye on it, of course. Fortunately the bottom one is leaning into another bundle. That will help to keep it stable.

This is an excellent read and very detailed. Thank you for doing this it helps to see different challenges us door swingers don't deal with.

When you're pulling the Conestoga trailer how do you tighten your straps? Do you need to slide the entire curtain forward to do it like a normal flatbed?

When you're pulling the Conestoga trailer how do you tighten your straps? Do you need to slide the entire curtain forward to do it like a normal flatbed?

Great question Rob!

There's no reason for opening the curtain. The winches are below the trailer deck. That gives you easy access no matter how the curtain is positioned.

Definitely interesting, thank you as well for taking the time out to do this. The upper left hand bundle, will that rock off to the left or collapse if you tighten the straps too tight? Or if they arent tight enough?

I also have a question about those 4 bundles pictured. In a situation like that, do you ever run straps around the entire group, essentially making the 4 bundles into one larger unit? Could you even get a strap underneath the bottom two bundles?

Also, how often do you stop along the way to check on your strap tightness?

The upper left hand bundle, will that rock off to the left or collapse if you tighten the straps too tight? Or if they arent tight enough?

Davy, I can only say, "Anything can happen." It's more likely the lower bundle will collapse. I say that because they've had trouble with that particular shape doing that. They sometimes repeat things I wish they wouldn't, but I'm the driver, and they are the loaders. Overall, they do a really decent job.

It was fun showing this load because that shape has given me plenty of grief in the past. I don't like to see them going very high when that shape is on the bottom. For the most part they have honored my request to not stack more than one bundle on top of that particular shape.

Your question about tightening the straps too tight reminds me of something. When I first started working this account I was concerned because sometimes while getting my straps tight enough so I felt they were safe, I realized I was bending some of the top pieces in the top bundle. After expressing my concerns with the shipping supervisor he said this to me, "I'd much rather you bend the **** out of that metal than having you call me and tell me your load is laying in the highway. Don't worry about that metal. You do what it takes to make sure the customer gets it. I'll replace anything the customer thinks is damaged."

In a situation like that, do you ever run straps around the entire group, essentially making the 4 bundles into one larger unit?

Great question Bruce!

I do that sometimes. I'll sort of cinch them all together and count on the more rigid bundles to support the weaker ones.

I took another picture today after arriving at the Love's truck stop in Sidney, OH. I drove 425 miles today and never needed to tighten anything up. Look at the bundles now. They actually look better after settling in from the road vibrations.

how often do you stop along the way to check on your strap tightness?

I always make my first stop fairly quickly. In my opinion that first load check needs to be done within 30 to 50 miles. If there is any sort of weakness in your securement strategy, it will show up quickly. I always find adjustments that need to be made during that first load check. From there I will generally stop somewhere between two and three hours of driving. That gives you something like 120 to 200 miles.

Yesterday I found straps that had gone slack with each check I made. Today I never needed to tighten anything. It's common for your flatbed load to "settle in" to where it likes to ride. This load settled in and rode great today.

The Hydro plant is just a few blocks from this truck stop. Tomorrow morning I'll roll over to the gate and try to arrive at approximately 0545. When unloading a flatbed at this location your blocking about 3 loading docks for dry-vans. I like to try and get in and out early before the door swingers start showing up and swearing at me.

Also tomorrow I'll drive to Muscatine, IA and get parked at a truck stop very near my consignee. They don't receive flatbed loads on Monday. I have an appointment there for Tuesday @ 0400.