Triletter Update - A Year After CDL School

I'm loving all of the Flatbed info and camaraderie on here. If everything works out the way I'm planning, I'll be another one using the hints and tricks that I'm learning on here.

Things are still hopping for me and I am having a blast. Got through the house over Labor Day so picked up some more stuff for the truck, did some shopping, spent some time with the family, especially my grandson. Didn't count as "hometime" since I was under load for delivery on Tuesday morning. Sent in a thank you note to Ops about the good work of getting a bunch of us home under load. Received a thank you on the QC from the head of Ops saying they rarely get atta boys. Hey, this is a team sport - without all of us doing our part we wouldn't have a job. I hear lots of complaining about it, but they don't intentialy mess with drivers - they have better things to do.

Got sent right back to Mo via Indiana. Got a load of roofing insulation to Joplin for their new high school that is being built after their former one was destroyed in a tornado. Learned more about strapping, but that load is a pita. Currently headed to Louisiana delta country. US71 through the Ozarks is an interesting route. "Holey Poopski, Batman!" Narrow, twisty and hilly. Get to finish the next part in the early morning hours; shouldn't have problem staying awake.

Melton is a great fit for me. I understand that I am so green it isn't funny, but the drivers are willing to pass on their knowledge and help each other out. They keep me busy and I am like a sponge soaking up the stories and knowledge. This really is a life style and they pay me for it, too!

Another bit of catch up. Got a load of metal from Joplin, Mo to pretty much the southern most part of Louisiana. Learned that when people start directing you and traffic, stop and ask exactly what they have in mind. Makes for a lot less frustration on everyone. The heat along with humidity from a recent down pour made me melt, but that was just foreshadowing of things to come. Spent the night in a mom/pop place and chose to get an early start vice the scheduled 11 am appointment. Smartest thing I have done in a while. Driving the back roads of Louisiana at night is a real eye opener; especially when you have one of those lane departure things buzzing at you. Sheesh.

So I get to the shipper and find out I am hauling 7 telephone poles that are going to be used for holding nets at a golf course. The CSR is good. So good that he could sell bridges in the middle of the desert. He sold a tarp job on the poles. They were loaded quickly and I figured out how to choke them and secure them so even if I wrecked they would still be on the truck. By the time I got them tarped it was 95* and 95% humidity. I sweat way more than average for a little guy, but I even out did my self on this one - I sweated out the bottom of my light weight long pants legs! The old guy that was security kept telling me to drink and take breaks since it was so hot. I kept a decent pace and kept pounding cold water and some Gatoraid. Wasn't exactly fresh when I finished, but a quick strip, truckers bath and some fresh clothes and it was off to some more narrow winding roads through Louisiana and Texas.

Pushed real hard to make the JIT delivery to Fort Carson, Co. Made it with time to spare and got an ear full from the driver that had the other 20 poles that works for a different company. Harangued me about the my company being bad, the military being bad, my strapping and tarping et al. Finally got my poles transferred to his truck and got ready to leave and found I had burned through all 70 hours. No hours the next day and only 8 the following. Got a 34 hr restart, but that doesn't do my mileage much good for the week. The good part is that the manager of the golf course opened up the maintenance building to me for facilities and shower so had food, water and a great view. It all balances out.

Getting on to the post complex was much easier for me than most, though I didn't know it at the time. Every single comercial vehicle was being stopped, all occupants had to get out, open all doors/hoods/hatches for inspection and then have the under side mirrored. I was thinking about how I am going to get the poles untarped enough for them to inspect. I had all of my paper work ready with my TWIC and decided, since it is a military installation, get my retired military ID out. Got to the MP and handed him my cards. He looked at the retired ID, handed them back to me, popped off a smart salute and told me to have a nice day, sir. It has been almost 20 yrs since I have been saluted. I was so caught off guard that I returned the salute like a total dufus. I am certain there were a bunch of other trucks going

Looking forward to what the box of chocolates offer up tomorrow!

Larry, I'm in Colorado tonight also. I'm keeping an eye out for you these days - by the way they put me in a different truck now - I'm in #1336 Western Express flat-bed. I'm in Denver tonight and will pick up some steel in Pueblo tomorrow that's headed for Las Cruces New Mexico. This heat and humidity has been tearing me up too. I was tarping an eight foot tall load in Oklahoma the other day and I darn near lost my breakfast before I got the job finished!

Thanks for the truck # update. Been looking for your truck, too. I am back on the board, but have not assignment yet. Such is the life of a trucker.

I sure love to hear the flatbedders tellin' about their road adventures.....memories... You guys be sure and keep yourself hydrated...If you don't you will pass out...and thats not good goin' down the road. Stay safe..enjoy the beautiful fall...I checked the cows and horses...winter is gonna be a real bugger this year.

And remember. FLATBEDDIN" AINT FOR SISSIES

Star, I used to gauge the coming winter by the new hair on my donkeys. There's nothing like the country lifestyle.

Well it is time for another update. I am starting to feel more comfortable with the securement and can get it done in a lot less time. Tarping is still a pain and seems to take forever, but it looks good when I am done. Getting better at managing hours, but still getting bit by the time bug. Now I can arrive early, but right after everyone has secured for the day or they won't have equipment in place to unload me until the sked appointment. Roll with it and have fun.

Drop this load (can't really call it a load; 15 drums (55gal) on 4 skids tarped) in the morning and then go home for 5 days. Worst problem is I am less than hour away from home. Have to drop the trailer for a repair; 12" hole in a wooden runner and then bob tail home. Taking Momma on our annual anniversary celebration. I don't know how, but the woman has put up with me for 34 years!

My youngest graduates college in Dec and wont be employed right away. So I thought, why not see if he wants to ride around with the old man. Seems he likes the idea more than I thought he would. He hasn't been west of the Mississippi so we will see what happens. If nothing else I have some one to help me with frozen tarps for a couple of weeks.

The body and mind seemed to have adapted pretty well. Since I got my truck on 16 Aug I have put on 11,500 paid miles. That includes the Labor Day holiday and two 34 hour restarts (both unwanted). While not all that much compared to some, I am amazed how those miles add up. Compared to swinging doors part time, this flatbed gig is the bomb!

Larry, glad to hear things are going well for you and that you are enjoying the job. It just takes a little time at the first with flat-bedding to get your own rhythm or style that you are comfortable with. Managing that clock can be a little tricky, but there again the best way to learn it is to just get out there doing it every day until it kind of starts to "click".

Hey, as an aside, my wife and I were married 31 years this month also. I missed my anniversary though - the road is a jealous mistress. I will make it up to my wonderful wife as soon as I get the chance. She's put up with me through all these years, she's not about to bale over me not being able to come home on the exact date of the anniversary.

Keep up the good work, and I'll keep an eye out for you!

I'm so glad there is a growing flatbed group on here...I get tired of dispelling all the myths about flatbedding all by myself... Good to have you boys around !!!