The Secrets To Flatbed.

Any insider knowledge/tips and tricks to become a successful flatbedder other than the obvious like a good attitude and determination. Read a few great threads but wondering if there is anything else I might need to know. Thanks again

Expect to get dirty. Very dirty. Every day. Be the dirt. Embrace the dirt.

There's more, but I gotta go.

Expect to get dirty. Very dirty. Every day. Be the dirt. Embrace the dirt.

There's more, but I gotta go.

Hmm. Enlightenment through the embracement of suffering? Turtle is the "Buddha of Flatbedding"

Securement and tarping/untarping efficiency is important. Many other factors you can't control - speed-limit and traffic + hours of service.

The factor you can influence is how quickly you get in and out of a customer, and Flatbed usually has a lot more power in this than say a dry-van. This is because a large portion of your load/unload time is your own securement/tarping. It's the hardest work you will do, but if you bust your butt and get it done, you will have many hours to relax in the driver's seat as reward.

Good flatbedders have this down to a science. The key is to aim for 0 wasted time. This means throwing straps, edge protectors and sometimes even beginning tarping while the forklift driver is still loading you, or making sure you have all of your tarps/straps/edges rolled and put away before you are fully unloaded.

The difference here can be very substantial. An average driver might take an hour to an hour and a half to get at a customer, while a great driver could get the same load secured and tarped and be on their way in 30 minutes. This really adds up, especially in regional driving.

The factor you can influence is how quickly you get in and out of a customer

Good flatbedders have this down to a science. The key is to aim for 0 wasted time. This means throwing straps, edge protectors and sometimes even beginning tarping while the forklift driver is still loading you, or making sure you have all of your tarps/straps/edges rolled and put away before you are fully unloaded.

Absolutely 100% spot on!

There have been countless times that I rolled into a customer, see a driver puttering around his truck securing the load, and I'll still be loaded and out of there long before he's unrolled his tarps.

Zero wasted time, and zero wasted movement. Moving at maximum efficiency is how you make your donuts.

Expect to get dirty. Very dirty. Every day. Be the dirt. Embrace the dirt.

Let's see some pictures.

It's true! I was helping out around the Carlisle terminal this morning while my truck was in the shop. I help fold, roll, and store about two dozen tarps. Dirty work.

Do your load checks.

If you need to walk on top of the load without a safety harness,be extremely careful where you step while spreading the tarps