Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowman7
When you do it everyday you get pretty good at it. Leave your racks and chains in place, then when you get there you just throw them thru the eye and tighten your ratchet binders. If you have the proper strength equipment 45k requires 4-6 secrements depending on shotgun vs suicide. Not that hard to tighten 6 ratchets. I was referring to the act of securing and not waiting, checking in and out etc, you can't control waiting for the shipper. If I wasnt already setup for a coil and knew thats where I was going then I would setup after I delivered, or I would setup while waiting in line. I was always legal. Point is, its alot closer to 30 minutes then 4 hrs. Maybe you were one of the guys always holding up the line! :roll: I'll race ya if you want, same securements.
Racing?! What does truck driving have to do with racing? I'd really appreciate you explaining to me what "racing" is and what place it has in driving a truck responsibly and safely. I never held up anyone. Every time I'd pick up a coil there'd be several bays available. But, I'd never cut corners just to get out of someone's way. If another driver doesn't like it, or if a crane operator is sitting there waiting, and waiting, and waiting... so what? Is their job on the line? Is someone else's safety on the line? Is a carload of kids on the line? To them, no. To me, yes.
Everything is on the line. I never gave a damn about those idiotic yahoos that only threw two chains over a 45,000lb coil. If they lose that coil, it's their responsiblity. Not mine. My responsiblity is to cover my azz and not kill or injure anyone else. I still get paid the same. So, you make 950 and I make 875. I don't care. I take care of myself and those around me. If I kill someone because of my negligence, I couldn't live with that. Could you? Probably so, since you only care about "racing" the guy next to you, not about safety.
I remember a time I was at a steel mill up in East Chicago. One of those big mills that covered several city blocks. I had to pick up a 47,000lb coil as did all the local drivers. I remember these guys in their ratty old FLD's and worn-out steel trailers throwing at most four chains over their loads. That's not even enough to meet federal regulations, much less give me a feeling of security. These guys were in and out in fifteen minutes or less. I spent at least an hour securing my coil. I think I threw about seven chains over that baztard, a 5klb strap, padding tarp, and tent tarp. During none of that time did I hold anyone up. There about five or six bays, and the locals were in and out in no time. At one point another TMC driver backed in next to me. Apparently he was a rookie because he asked me how he should go about securing his coil. His coil was the same as mine as going to the same destination. I recommended he put at least six chains on it, unwind those chains too, and make sure he feel comfortable first before leaving the mill. I left just as he was getting started. The next day at the yard we delivered at, he pulled in just as I was finishing up. He yanked his tarp off and I was shocked at what I saw. He had only put four chains on that coil.
Four chains on a 47,000lb coil! I didn't look at him or speak to him after that. I didn't care. If he wants to risk his life, the lives of the vehicles around him, and his career, just to save a few minutes, that's his choice. The same as the choice you make each day. If you want to risk it all just to save a few minutes and make an extra $50 here and there that's your choice, but I don't want any part of it. I won't do it. I just hope you never kill anyone in your haste to make a buck. Sorry man, but don't belong behind a wheel. :roll: