Flatbed Likes Dislikes

As a newbie I can say that learning to back in a flatbed and park for the test is much easier than reefer. They are shorter and easier to handle on turns in my opinion. You have a clear view unlike the box. Plus you don't alley dock.. you just pull forward at the customer and get loaded.

Con.. those tarps are damn heavy and I don't know how some of the smaller driver do it. The first time I reach ed for one I was not expecti ng that weight.

In reefer I get to sleep while getting loaded instead of wrestling with a heavy tarp and straps...really nice to be inside heat when it is snowing out

I love pulling flatbed but I am not a fan of tarps or Home Depot ladder loads out of Romeoville, IL. Stay away from home depots...beware!

So I post that and then have the most demanding and challenging day of my 3 months into this career by far. By a very long shot. I ask why they call it suicide and my response is " Shotgun please!"

So I post that and then have the most demanding and challenging day of my 3 months into this career by far. By a very long shot. I ask why they call it suicide and my response is " Shotgun please!"

momma said there would be day's like this. Lol

You guys make me want to do flatbed. I just don't know how I'd handle the tarps. I'm not physically strong by any means. I hurt my wrists easily, don't have much strength in my hands. And my arms...not stron either. How can you handle heavy tarps that way??

Can you actually go to a company to train on flatbeds, and if you can't manage to do it, just be transferred to a different division with no penalties?

Idk but I'm 6'3 260 pounds and those tarps gave me a hell of a workout yesterday. I don't think I really know how to properly handle them though. I trained on dry van not flatbed.

You guys make me want to do flatbed. I just don't know how I'd handle the tarps. I'm not physically strong by any means. I hurt my wrists easily, don't have much strength in my hands. And my arms...not stron either. How can you handle heavy tarps that way??

it looks like your massage therapy training would help you. I couldn't do all that rubbing for an hour

RV, You will build strength as you work. The tarps will be a challenge in the beginning but the longer you do it the stronger you will get. Also, you will find things that will help you. Little tips and tricks that will help. I have known several female flatbedders. Not all loads will require tarping. I work in the steel trades and rarely is one of our loads tarped.

You guys make me want to do flatbed. I just don't know how I'd handle the tarps. I'm not physically strong by any means. I hurt my wrists easily, don't have much strength in my hands. And my arms...not stron either. How can you handle heavy tarps that way??

Lifting tarps requires more back and core strength than arms. And legs. Your arms are really just there to hold the tarp against your body.

Let me rephrase:

...to hold the mucky, grimy, sludgy tarp against your freshly washed clothes.