A few things I've learned doing decking...

[allan5oh]

Just got back from my second trip, here's a few things I've learned:

1) I'm extremely out of shape. Especially for a 26 year old. Twelve straps thrown, tied up, and tightened I'm huffing and puffing. Part of the reason I wanted to go to deck is because I gained 50 lbs in 5 years doing dry van. I was too skinny back then, but now I'm borderline overweight.

2) You can NEVER have enough storage. I need a third box!

3) There's no such thing as "over securing" a load.

4) If you have to harass the loader to load you right, do it! Even if it takes 15 minutes.

5) My East drop deck empty handles better then any dry van I've ever pulled. Even when they're fully loaded. The thing handles great. A lot less fatigue.

6) Customers in this part of the industry are easier to find, and generally have a better attitude. They unload you a lot faster as well.

7) Not one, nobody, not a single experienced deck driver will give you the cold shoulder if you ask for help. Hell my first load there were no less then TEN guys helping me out. They all love getting asked for help or advice.

8) Fuel mileage varies a lot more compared to dry van. 5.6 to 7.3 so far.

9) Backing up a trailer that you can see over and has NO tail swing is a dream! Even blind side is a heck of a lot easier. I don't really understand why deck guys always seem to have problems backing up. It's the easiest thing I've ever done.

[Chiefwhatdahey]

Just got back from my second trip, here's a few things I've learned:

1) I'm extremely out of shape. Especially for a 26 year old. Twelve straps thrown, tied up, and tightened I'm huffing and puffing. Part of the reason I wanted to go to deck is because I gained 50 lbs in 5 years doing dry van. I was too skinny back then, but now I'm borderline overweight.

You want a workout buy some big boy tarps for the OS/OD loads, you haven't had a true experience till you've wrestled large tarps in windy freezing weather


2) You can NEVER have enough storage. I need a third box!

You'll figure out over time what to carry, Most of my extra stuff is padding to protect tarps and straps. In addition to 4x4's I also carry some short lengths of 2x4 for minor blocking.

3) There's no such thing as "over securing" a load.

Amen


4) If you have to harass the loader to load you right, do it! Even if it takes 15 minutes.


I rarely have to argue with the person that loads my trailer, when it happens I remind them that it could be their family that gets killed if something goes wrong.


5) My East drop deck empty handles better then any dry van I've ever pulled. Even when they're fully loaded. The thing handles great. A lot less fatigue.

6) Customers in this part of the industry are easier to find, and generally have a better attitude. They unload you a lot faster as well.


Believe it or not, it use to be better when steps were harder to find.


7) Not one, nobody, not a single experienced deck driver will give you the cold shoulder if you ask for help. Hell my first load there were no less then TEN guys helping me out. They all love getting asked for help or advice.


I've been injured twice in the last twenty two years I've pulled a step, the support I got from fellow flatbedders as well as shipper/receivers was greatly appreciated.


8) Fuel mileage varies a lot more compared to dry van. 5.6 to 7.3 so far.

9) Backing up a trailer that you can see over and has NO tail swing is a dream! Even blind side is a heck of a lot easier. I don't really understand why deck guys always seem to have problems backing up. It's the easiest thing I've ever done.


If you have a spread axle you'll find out what swing is when that front axle grabs at the wrong time.

Many flatbedders have never pulled a van, they have little experience docking a trailer, I wiggle my way in and out of plants and convention halls hauling tool mach'y with little trouble.

You sweat in the summer, freeze in the winter and the wind always howls when you have to tarp, ya gotta love it.

[Bandit102]

I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in china. But I do cuss and throw things and kick stuff a hell of a lot when I have to tarp that cheap stuff out of Wyoming in 30 mph winds.

[possum]

It never fails, can be a calm sunny day but as soon as you find out you gotta tarp it along comes the wind. Had one take me right off the truck one time.

[LightsChromeHorsepower]

Just got back from my second trip, here's a few things I've learned:

1) I'm extremely out of shape. Especially for a 26 year old. Twelve straps thrown, tied up, and tightened I'm huffing and puffing. Part of the reason I wanted to go to deck is because I gained 50 lbs in 5 years doing dry van. I was too skinny back then, but now I'm borderline overweight.

2) You can NEVER have enough storage. I need a third box!

3) There's no such thing as "over securing" a load.

4) If you have to harass the loader to load you right, do it! Even if it takes 15 minutes.

5) My East drop deck empty handles better then any dry van I've ever pulled. Even when they're fully loaded. The thing handles great. A lot less fatigue.

6) Customers in this part of the industry are easier to find, and generally have a better attitude. They unload you a lot faster as well.

7) Not one, nobody, not a single experienced deck driver will give you the cold shoulder if you ask for help. Hell my first load there were no less then TEN guys helping me out. They all love getting asked for help or advice.

8) Fuel mileage varies a lot more compared to dry van. 5.6 to 7.3 so far.

9) Backing up a trailer that you can see over and has NO tail swing is a dream! Even blind side is a heck of a lot easier. I don't really understand why deck guys always seem to have problems backing up. It's the easiest thing I've ever done.

Totally right on & why I love flatbedding. As a life-long flatbedder who recently started pulling vans I have gotten a backing comeuppance. I now have a ton of resect for the backing skills of van drivers. With flats you just never seem to get the really hairy ones that seem common to dry vans. When I see guys spin a 53' around and stick it in a hole, even with the huge backswing- I'm friggin impressed.

[rank]

Totally right on & why I love flatbedding. As a life-long flatbedder who recently started pulling vans I have gotten a backing comeuppance. I now have a ton of resect for the backing skills of van drivers. With flats you just never seem to get the really hairy ones that seem common to dry vans. When I see guys spin a 53' around and stick it in a hole, even with the huge backswing- I'm friggin impressed.

the huge back swing is what allows them to swing around

[LightsChromeHorsepower]

the huge back swing is what allows them to swing around

Yeah, but when you got 10 feet sticking out behind and only 1 foot on either side of the slot you are backing into, I'd be scared sh#*tless that the backswing would scrape the side of the adjacent trailer if I tried to wiggle it in.

This van stuff makes me want a log hauling job real bad.

[Rev.Vassago]

Yeah, but when you got 10 feet sticking out behind and only 1 foot on either side of the slot you are backing into, I'd be scared sh#*tless that the backswing would scrape the side of the adjacent trailer if I tried to wiggle it in.

Depending upon where it is, sometimes I get scared sh#tless too. It's a lot easier when they build the stupid docks further apart (like most of the newer facilities), but the older ones have them crammed together real tight.

[RostyC]

sometimes I get scared sh#tless too

Glad I ain't the only one.

Allan, I agree with everything you said except the backing up. Seems like when it looks hard I get it in no problem, when it looks easy I'm fighting it to get it where I want it, and why is it that when I one shot it on the blindside side no one sees me, but when I can't seem to hit the broadside of a barn sight side there's a crowd of guys watching. I am learning to use the dump valve to my advantage though.

[rank]

I watched a driver put a van into a hole at the Gibson, PA Flyin hook a few weeks ago. It was storming real bad and there was only 1 spot in the whole joint. Guys were parking anywhere rather than park in this spot which was the 2nd spot back from the fuel island. The guy in the first spot had his nose sticking way out but this guy hit it first time... and he didnt even set up for it. Tandems were way ahead tho. He could have never done it with a 41' wheelbase and a 10' spread.

[RostyC]

The more I chain the more I like it, I was intimidated at first but now that I've done it a few times I'm starting to like it more than straps. Look out rank I'll be getting a step or double drop and coming after ya!

On a side note: would everyone please leave the light and low (4' high or less) flatbed freight alone, that's what I like to do and there's not enough to go around. Thanks guys you're the best.

[rank]

The more I chain the more I like it, I was intimidated at first but now that I've done it a few times I'm starting to like it more than straps. Look out rank I'll be getting a step or double drop and coming after ya!

Bring it on. We'll interline and control the eastern seaboard. We'll go halves on a warehouse in SC so we can cross dock. You run south I'll run North. Better yet, if you get an RGN, we don't need a warehouse. We'll just cross dock 55,000 lb excavators in truck stop parking lots.

[Walking Eagle]

I'll help with the big loads

[rank]

I'll help with the big loads

...and I'll pilot for ya.

[rank]

Here's a question for you and Jumbo. I don't do weight so help me out.......if you're permitted for weight and not size, do you still have signs & curfews? I'm thinking no.

[RostyC]

Bring it on. We'll interline and control the eastern seaboard. We'll go halves on a warehouse in SC so we can cross dock. You run south I'll run North. Better yet, if you get an RGN, we don't need a warehouse. We'll just cross dock 55,000 lb excavators in truck stop parking lots.

You think big my friend, I like that. If we achieve that though, then why stop there. World freight domination? or perhaps world domination of all things? We'll rule the world and then one of us will get greedy and want total control and kill the other and since I'm not that bright I'll be the dead one for sure.

Second thought, lets just stick with controlling the eastern seaboard.

[Jumbo]

Here's a question for you and Jumbo. I don't do weight so help me out.......if you're permitted for weight and not size, do you still have signs & curfews? I'm thinking no.

I do more size then weight. I have read some of the provisions and usually the heavier loads (up to a certain point) can travel at night, But that varies by the state. But usually the heavier loads are on wider or longer trailers with all the axles which makes them an oversize load. I think Eagles trailer is 10 or 11' wide empty. I've had 2 loads that were up over 100,000 lbs. gross but both were 13' wide also.

[allan5oh]

I think I have the strap throwing down pretty good. It's more about technique then strength. Had a load of styrofoam insulation, very high.

Still constantly learning. Every commodity is different, some guys that have been out here 30+ years still learn things.

[Walking Eagle]

Here's a question for you and Jumbo. I don't do weight so help me out.......if you're permitted for weight and not size, do you still have signs & curfews? I'm thinking no.

Depends on the state but what get's you is, even if it is legal width, with all wheels on the ground you are way over length and that puts a stop on you in most states. I am about 125 feet.

[RostyC]

I think I have the strap throwing down pretty good. It's more about technique then strength. Had a load of styrofoam insulation, very high.

Still constantly learning. Every commodity is different, some guys that have been out here 30+ years still learn things.

Yeah, I like to roll my straps up in a ball and toss them over and try to get them to roll over the product and down the other side. I also now try to pull just enough strap to hit the rub rail on the other side and not fall all the way to the ground.