Advice For A Rookie Flatbedder

Any drivers out there have any advice on load securement and tarping?

Looking for tips on how to work smarter and get the job done faster.

Thanks y'all.

Flatbedding, more than any other type of trucking....is about SAFETY. You do what it takes, as long as it takes, to ensure your load is tied down, and tarped to the best of your ability. If it looks hinky...and another chain/strap. When you start flatbedding, those first loads will take you what seems like forever...you straps will flap, your tarps will billow....watch your load, and stop and fix the problem. After tying down EVERY load....stop every 50 miles or so and check your securement. Never think that you are so good, that you don't need to check... They don't call 'em "shotgun" and "suicide" coils for nothin'..... Never be afraid to over secure.....you can never have to many straps or chains on a load....BUT...DOT expects every strap/chain you have on a load to be tight.

Looking for tips on how to work smarter and get the job done faster.

Josh, one of the things about flat-bedding that I enjoy is that most other drivers will help you out, and it doesn't matter that they don't work for the same company as you. So, when a flat-bedder has a question he can always walk over to the next truck there at the shipper or receiver and ask them about it, and usually you will find someone helpful.

Working smarter and faster are both good things, but smarter is better than faster. StarCar is dead on when she says your first loads will seem like it took you forever to get them ready to go. When you first start doing flat-bed work yo will be slow at it, but it is best to take your time and do it right. As time goes by you will develop both in knowledge and skill.

Other flatbedders are more than happy to help. I asked a driver for help the first time I picked up slinky coils and had 3 drivers come over and talk to me. There's plenty of help out there, the biggest problem is getting them to stop talking so you can get back on the road.

I think there are some pretty good videos on YouTube about securement and tarping

Any drivers out there have any advice on load securement and tarping?

Looking for tips on how to work smarter and get the job done faster.

Thanks y'all.

If you do not feel comfortable then throw more securement on it.

The rule is check in the first 50 miles then every 150 after that. I always keep an eye on my securement. You will soon be able to tell when something is loose. The problem with doing something fast is you can miss something.

Would like to add that the should of the road is not the place to do this checking. Find a rest area or a truck stop. Some may ask why. It's fast to pull over for 2 minutes and check and get on the road.... Well I will tell you why. Ever trip over something you would not normal trip over? Yeah. Saw a flat bed pulled over on the side of the road and walking around checking the chains. He went up the steps to the catwalk and, I saw this happen, he got a foot tangled up in the air lines and fell backwards off the catwalk. Luckily enough he was able to get up cause where his head landed about 5 seconds later another trucks steer tires hit that spot. The highway was Shutdown cause the guy that almost hit the driver locked up all of his axles and slid sideways across the road and ended up flipping 2 cams so his brakes would not release so they had to wait for a wrecker and the police. I am glad the guy that was almost hit was OK but I hope the police wrote him a ticket for every true and imagined offense that he caused that day.

Some really good advice y'all, thanks!! I just got on the trainer's truck today and just looking for advice from everywhere. Once I get my own truck I want to hit the ground running...as best as possible.