TMC
#1211
12-24-2006, 05:50 AM
Originally Posted by JBenson2
terry lamar said:
Our class was cut short because of the holidays, so I'm not sure what we missed. We didn't get to through the tarps around or carry them up the ladder. We did get to throw the 4" strap over the 13' load. I'm sorry to say most of my class are a bunch of weaklings.
I don't think TMC permits anyone to carry the tarp up the ladder anymore. There were a few "injuries" and the practice was stopped. Fortunately at each location I've been to, the forklift will position the lumber tarp on top. On Friday, I almost ran into a show stopper. Mendards (similar to Home Depot) placed sheets of plywood on the flatbed. The boards were almost 6 feet high from the flatbed floor and the sides were smooth. There were no handholds at the top so it made climbing the boards dangerous. Fortunately, they had a smaller pile at the back of the trailer, so I used that pile as a stepping stone to get to the top. I was stuck in Albuquerque for 24 hours during the ice and snowstorm. I met another TMC driver (from the Yellowstone) division. He carried a extendable ladder on his flatbed to handle similar situations. I'm the living proof, that we had to carry the steel tarp (80 lbs) up the ladder. Don (the instructor) had us call our names before we went up, and i forgot, so I had to go twice... Some nice workout. lol... So yeah, but there was a guy, who didn't do any of those, (b/c he couldn't) and he's with a trainer now, so if you can't It won't mean you're out eighther... Load securement, and driving was the most fun in orientation (to me at least), but than again, i'm a positiv e thinker, and have an open mind... just for reference, we started out with 43 students (including experienced drivers) and ended up 18 graduates... so yeah, we lost ppl for various reasosns, but i'm still bogled by the ppl who left b/c they were lazy, and didn't wanna work... Their DAC report will be nice. Abandoning orientation... lol MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!! Keep the rubber side down... That's all that counts. Cheers BND
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#1212
12-24-2006, 06:28 AM
Wishing everyone a happy holiday
Well i finally arrived at the house on Thursday without a load so but things looked better now since i get to swap with another driver here and I can take his ld to norwich connecticut which isnt to bad i just hope i can get a long one to run through DSM on New years because no way am i gonna be on the road new years eve lol
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When life puts you down the wrong highway,get out the map and find your way to the right one, but watch for scales
#1213
12-24-2006, 07:31 AM
Originally Posted by JBenson2
On Friday, I almost ran into a show stopper. Mendards (similar to Home Depot) placed sheets of plywood on the flatbed. The boards were almost 6 feet high from the flatbed floor and the sides were smooth. There were no handholds at the top so it made climbing the boards dangerous. Fortunately, they had a smaller pile at the back of the trailer, so I used that pile as a stepping stone to get to the top.
I was stuck in Albuquerque for 24 hours during the ice and snowstorm. I met another TMC driver (from the Yellowstone) division. He carried a extendable ladder on his flatbed to handle similar situations. Sorry we didn't have an extra moment to spare there at Menards. We were on a tight schedule trying to get that load delivered the same day. With any luck our paths will cross again. :lol:
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 Nothing is foolproof to a talented fool. -------------------------------------------- The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say. -- J R R Tolkien
#1214
12-24-2006, 08:05 AM
Glad to see everyone posting here about their "adventures"! Makes me feel like I'm with you doing it all over again. I wish you all continued success and good luck.
Happy Holidays from Flatbed Fred.
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#1215
12-24-2006, 07:31 PM
I dont know if any of you went to Columbia but there is a container trailor on the yard. Used to I dont know about now you had to get on top of it and toe the edge for 1 minute to make sure you were not afraid of heights. When I went through we had 2 guys get sent home b/c they couldnt do it. A little hint on the getting on top of lumber loads, usually in the front you have 4 stacks, take your equipment bar and jam it in the center you usually get it about half way in there, now you have somewhere to step up from the catwalk. I hope that helps the guy that was talking about the plywood load.
#1216
12-25-2006, 12:34 AM
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Earth, North America, North, East, 9th State, 42° 56' 1" N, 72° 16' 41" W
Posts: 538
Thanks for patching things up boys.
Hey in the spirit of the positive lets share some ideas. I have started another thread that is devoted to flatbedding tips; loading, securing, and tarping. I put the thread in "What about this trucking company?" because that is where we mostly check for new posts. Hopefully that won't annoy CAD too much. TMCTrainer9224, your tip about the winch bar in the front of a load to climb on is great. Rawlco, leaving a strap loose to pull yourself up is also a very good idea. Post them both! I hope I can come up with a few. Merry Christmas
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The hand of the diligent shall rule; the slothful shall be under tribute." Proverbs 12:24, God, A really long time ago.
#1217
12-25-2006, 04:13 PM
I wonder if anyone knows the brand of bungees TMC uses? I still have a ton of them, but I'll run out one day. I really prefer them over the kind Passmore offers. Where can I buy these things? Anyone?
#1218
12-25-2006, 04:27 PM
Well, I got back from Des Moines early Saturday morning, I drove straight through exec pt for a very short nap just as I crossed into Texas. Later that day I noticed a huge, the size of a softball, hernia in the side of my front driver's side tire. This thing is huge. I don't know when it happened. It wasn't there at DM, nor was it there when I filled up with diesel the last time. I'm lucky it didn't blow in the middle of the night at 70 MPH. It's ironic because I was sent home with a hernia the last time I was there!
 I'm going to get two new front tires tomorrow and I guess some snow chains. I haven't used snow chains since I was in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendelton, CA. We used to go skiing and had to put them on going up the mountain. That was back in the mid 70's.
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Terry L. Davis O/O with own authority
#1219
12-26-2006, 02:28 AM
Originally Posted by terrylamar
Well, I got back from Des Moines early Saturday morning, I drove straight through exec pt for a very short nap just as I crossed into Texas. Later that day I noticed a huge, the size of a softball, hernia in the side of my front driver's side tire. This thing is huge. I don't know when it happened. It wasn't there at DM, nor was it there when I filled up with diesel the last time. I'm lucky it didn't blow in the middle of the night at 70 MPH. It's ironic because I was sent home with a hernia the last time I was there!
I'm going to get two new front tires tomorrow and I guess some snow chains. I haven't used snow chains since I was in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendelton, CA. We used to go skiing and had to put them on going up the mountain. That was back in the mid 70's.has a nice ring to it.....
#1220
12-26-2006, 02:38 AM
Originally Posted by ToolMaker
Originally Posted by terrylamar
Well, I got back from Des Moines early Saturday morning, I drove straight through exec pt for a very short nap just as I crossed into Texas. Later that day I noticed a huge, the size of a softball, hernia in the side of my front driver's side tire. This thing is huge. I don't know when it happened. It wasn't there at DM, nor was it there when I filled up with diesel the last time. I'm lucky it didn't blow in the middle of the night at 70 MPH. It's ironic because I was sent home with a hernia the last time I was there!
I'm going to get two new front tires tomorrow and I guess some snow chains. I haven't used snow chains since I was in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendelton, CA. We used to go skiing and had to put them on going up the mountain. That was back in the mid 70's.has a nice ring to it.....
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Terry L. Davis O/O with own authority |
