Flatbed Variety

Sometimes I get something odd or unusual. Today I'm hauling a small piece of pipe that is bent 90 degrees at one end. I picked it up in East Palestine, Ohio and am delivering it to the Hydro plant in Gainesville, Georgia.

Total weight is 320 pounds!

Total weight is 320 pounds!

Why would anyone who is not drunk or crazy ship this pipe on a flatbed? Or was it part of a bigger load?

Total weight is 320 pounds!

Why would anyone who is not drunk or crazy ship this pipe on a flatbed? Or was it part of a bigger load?

Jeff Bezos needed it for his launch pad?? I wondered the same.

Also, O/S . . . I kinda see the 'overwrap' similar to an abbreviated belly wrap (I don't know flatbed terminology, but am eager to learn!) yet I'm wondering . . . somewhere at the 90'deg bend ... why wouldn't you grab that and secure it to the back of the trailer; kind of in a 'Y' formation, if you get what I mean? So it doesn't slide forward, mindset.

Sorry~ thanks!

~ Anne ~

Why would anyone who is not drunk or crazy ship this pipe on a flatbed? Or was it part of a bigger load?

It's not part of a bigger load. Here's the deal: I was going to Gainesville, GA empty to pick up the load that I dropped there last week. I happened to be near the area where this pipe was waiting for shipment. It was also going to the same location I was. The facility with the pipe only has overhead cranes to load trucks with. Everything coming out of that plant goes on a flatbed because of that. I am also a dedicated driver for this account. They are often moving parts from one plant to another, and this was one of those situations where they asked us to take care of the shipping. I was in the right place at the wrong time. I got the call.

why wouldn't you grab that and secure it to the back of the trailer; kind of in a 'Y' formation, if you get what I mean? So it doesn't slide forward, mindset.

Great question Anne!

Both straps are wrapped around the pipe. It isn't going anywhere. It can't roll side to side and it can't slide forward. I have two 4" straps on it, and it is cinched by the wraps. It will not move. That is like 10,000 pounds of securement on 320 pounds of freight. It is rock solid.

why wouldn't you grab that and secure it to the back of the trailer; kind of in a 'Y' formation, if you get what I mean? So it doesn't slide forward, mindset.

Great question Anne!

Both straps are wrapped around the pipe. It isn't going anywhere. It can't roll side to side and it can't slide forward. I have two 4" straps on it, and it is cinched by the wraps. It will not move. That is like 10,000 pounds of securement on 320 pounds of freight. It is rock solid.

I think it needs four 5/8" chains and binders added, then tarp it for good measure, too!

I was going to Gainesville, GA empty [...]

The mystery builds up! :-) So your company lets you go empty for about 600 miles?! Why don't they just puck up whatever is available on the board since anything is always better than nothing?

I was watching my mirrors more than the road with this one.

OMG man, that looks really dangerous!

So your company lets you go empty for about 600 miles?! Why don't they just puck up whatever is available on the board since anything is always better than nothing?

It's not uncommon to deadhead back to a shipper when you're on a dedicated account. For many carriers, the co-commitment with that shipper is more important than wasting time waiting for a backhaul. That's how many dedicated drivers rack up the miles. Less time waiting for a backhaul equals more time spent driving.

Had to put a 4 inch strap over her mouth to stop her yelling "I'm a Disney Princess, you can't do this to me."