Flatbed Variety

Just a little wall to deliver in the morning.

Well I want to get in on this thread. Although I don't do that specialty hauling, Melton has 48' and 53' flatbeds. I always take a picture of my loads; just something I do. I usually share the pics with my family so they can see all the stuff we haul. No, I won't post them all today, but I will be contributing to the thread for what my input is worth.

It doesn't look like much, but that is a 315' cell tower for Verizon. The delivery location?

Out in a field where I had to do some slalom backing down a narrow path.

The next day after that delivery, I woke up to this:

When I got to the shipper , they weren't able to load my until I did my part......

First I had to shovel all the snow off the trailer.

Then I had to remove all the ice. You can't put the load on top of the ice for obvious reasons.

Once the ice was removed, they put this load on (that was outside when the storm hit) the trailer. Did I mention that the parking lot was just like the back of my trailer?

Boy did I have fun strapping that one down!

Here are some structural supports for the new Boeing plant being built in WA.

I will be contributing to the thread for what my input is worth.

Your input is worth a lot! Great photos! The photos and descriptions of your day to day life out there is a massive help to everyone trying to figure out what life is like on the road and what type of job they'd like to have.

This is one of my favorite all-time threads in this forum because even after all those years on the road I still love the pictures and the stories.

Here I was hauling a load of parts/hardware for a wind turbine. This would have been an easier load if I could have stacked the boxes. But... the bill of lading said that the boxes were not stackable. They had to be tarped because the wooden crates were made in China and the Chinese wood falls apart if it gets wet.

Sometimes the loads come with sharp corners that can damage the tarp. In that case, we have to take care of it before we throw the tarp over.

Always good to have the correct tools onboard.

The West Pennsylvania Ice Storm

I was securing the load of lumber I just got and while I was doing that, it started to snow. Once secured and tarped, I hit the road. Once on the Interstate , the ice storm hit. I could see it forming on the mirrors and antennas, as well as wiper arms. The thought went through my mind about black ice on the road. However, I did worry because the tires kept throwing mist. As long as the mist kept flying, I was confident. But the wiper arms were getting caked with ice and wouldn't wipe the windshield very good. It was about time for a load check/tire check (LCTC) and I found a rest area to conduct the inspection, and fix the wiper arms. When I got out to look, this is what I saw.....

Once I got into Ohio a ways, the ice began falling off and went away. This is OJT at its best.

I absolutely love this thread. I'm considering going flatbed eventually and this is just making me wanna go flatbed even quicker! Lol

I absolutely love this thread. I'm considering going flatbed eventually and this is just making me wanna go flatbed even quicker! Lol

I love it myself. But don't get me wrong. There are days that this REALLY sucks. But in my opinion, the good for me outweighs the "suck."

I absolutely love this thread. I'm considering going flatbed eventually and this is just making me wanna go flatbed even quicker! Lol

Flatbedding gets in your blood and so far there is no cure...

Here is a water tank that I had to deliver to a job site today. This thing only moves 2-3 times a year. There was no license plate or SM (special Machinery) sticker on it so I had to wait for a single trip permit.

I'm beginning to believe it. I take pictures of every load I carry. I share them mostly with my family; but then I found *this* thread. . . . .

Here I'm hauling roofing material from Utah to West Virginia. There is a lot of glue on this load so it will be a HAZMAT run. ($$$$'s)

As you can see, flatbeds *do* back up to docks occasionally. As a matter of fact, we back into some pretty interesting places.

Here we are all tarped up, placards in place, ready to roll.

I even had time for a selfie!