A few things I've learned doing decking...
#1
01-28-2009, 02:40 PM
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: jackassville (winnipeg, mb)
Posts: 3,280
A few things I've learned doing decking...
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.
#2
01-29-2009, 04:01 AM
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.
#3
01-29-2009, 12:31 PM
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.
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1999 FL Classic, N14+ 525 hp, RTLO16-9-13A 1997 Van's Aircraft RV-6, IO-360
#5
01-30-2009, 05:45 AM
Board Regular
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: In the back of your mind
Posts: 421
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.
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The Big Engines In the Night- The Diesel on the Pass -Jack Kerouac, "Mexico City Blues"
#6
01-30-2009, 03:34 PM
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.
#7
01-31-2009, 05:31 AM
Board Regular
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: In the back of your mind
Posts: 421
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.
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The Big Engines In the Night- The Diesel on the Pass -Jack Kerouac, "Mexico City Blues"
#8
01-31-2009, 05:50 AM
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.
#9
01-31-2009, 07:44 AM
Originally Posted by Rev.Vassago
sometimes I get scared sh#tless too
 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.
#10
01-31-2009, 04:14 PM
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.
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