Back when I was driving for Maverick,I had picked up a coil in Houston heading to Biloxi Ms.Right as I entered the loop a county DOT pulled me over.Told me he needed to see how my coil was tied down.I undid the tarp enough for him see under it and he was happy.He said they were checking all coil loads because they had caught a local flatbed driver hauling a 40,000 lb coil, he had it tied down with rope. Bet that cost him dearly.Just glad it didn't come off onto a four wheeler.

 

Alabama now requires any driver who picks up or delivers in the state to be certified. There have been too many incidents around Birmingham with improperly secured coils falling off trucks. Fines can be still and could involve jail time. It is my understanding that it does not pertain to coils going through the state. Only those originating or delivering in the state.

 

We had a Maverick truck drop a coil in the middle of the highway in Birmingham.Just about every Maverick truck was checked after that,no matter what you were hauling.Needless to say the driver isn't with Maverick anymore.

 

There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for someone to drop a coil in the middle of a highway. One carrier told me about a driver who dropped a coil that had NO securement. He loaded a coil and didn't even bother to even put a single chain on it.

 

Here in NY state metal coil endorsement is manditory to hev if your haulng coils just got mine il be going with Rohel in June. From my understaning about flatbedding is common sense and good jugdement.; just my thoughts

 

Unfortunately, there are increasingly too many drivers who don't exercise common sense.

 

Gonna have to change it to Uncommon sense

 

I'm might be getting a job with falcon transport doing their flatbed division. I have never done flatbed before. They said they can train me, and I know I will need allot of training. I have only run Vans for the last 8 years. So, I might have pick up some bad habits that I will surly have to break. Not that I'm a bad driver, but any one that has driven van knows what I'm talking about. I hope.
Anyway, I could really use some help learning this new field. I'm open to all tips on strapping, chaining, tarping. Thank you.

Also, I live in MI and need a Job, if this one doesn't take me. I have had a few trucking jobs, this last one is because of the auto industry dieing off. I just got laid off from a very good local run because they lost their account. Most of the companies I have been with run you good for about 6 months then right when you get your benefits they stop running me, and I cant make enough money to pay my bills. I would have no choice but to go to a different company. I have bills to pay. If any OO's have an extra truck I am a good driver and I will run it for ya. Thank you!

 

Seems to me the flatbedders are the ones with the bad habits, espially that nasty bad habit of not knowing how to back up

 

Don't sweat it man! In school we had a day course totally dedicated to load securement with 5 hours dedicated to securement on a flatbed. We used real steel coils, pipes, 275 gallon totes etc. Chains, binders, dunage, straps etc etc etc I was afraid it would go in one ear and out the other with a huge wealth of info. It's all actually very basic and mostly common sense once you physically do it.