First Year Solo. Knight Flatbed

Good thread. Although I feel your frustrations as I read thru it. Traffic from Richmond to NYC sucks sucks and sucks some more. Oh did I say it sucks.

Finally back to skateboarding... Did a whole week of van runs and am glad to be back to flatbed. Honestly this is a better look for Isabel lol.

Did a couple runs during the week that went smoothly. The first tarped load didn't look so nice and took longer than I wanted but the week turned out to be a good one. Haven't attempted a back yet with this new truck and a flatbed trailer. Haven't done a back in over two weeks with a flatbed trailer. A little concerned about that since I recently found a way to alley dock park a spread axle. Hopefully I didn't forget how and able to still get it in between two trucks....

On Friday I was assigned a 2 stop run going to Milwaukee for a 0700 delivery on Monday. I arrived here at 1600 hr, Sunday and was unaware they don't have overnight parking. Right now I'm parked outside the gate hoping noone bothers me. I really don't want to move. The closest truck stop is about 15 min away but I'd rather just stay here. If I had known they didn't have overnight parking I would have stopped at a truck stop for the night.

Driving on Saturday's and Sunday's are relaxing. Throughout the week I'm rushing to tarp, strap and get to the shipper/receiver. Weekend driving is peaceful for me. I have two drive days to get to where I need to be with no stress. Even the bumper to bumper traffic on I-94 passing Chicago, on a SUNDAY! afternoon smh, was care free...

Lol I have no use for that load bar Momma Anne. I left it where it was.

TwoSides, I'll someday include photos, of . . the 'oddities' of load locks/bars! Holds up a wall, as you work on the drywall, holds up a ceiling, as you effect repairs there, as well !

I'll snap some for ya!!

Hehehe.. you'll regret leaving it! I'll send photos, next time by here, haha! There are SO many useful things for those thingies, man!

In the meantime, be safe; know you are followed! Even mentioned you in Jim's thread; go look!!

Best always;

~ Anne & Tom ~

Good thread. Although I feel your frustrations as I read thru it. Traffic from Richmond to NYC sucks sucks and sucks some more. Oh did I say it sucks.

Thanks George, yes I agree, traffic sucks!!

Driving on Saturday's and Sunday's are relaxing. Throughout the week I'm rushing to tarp, strap and get to the shipper/receiver. Weekend driving is peaceful for me. I have two drive days to get to where I need to be with no stress. Even the bumper to bumper traffic on I-94 passing Chicago, on a SUNDAY! afternoon smh, was care free...

Hope this NEW week (almost 1/2 done) has gone great for ya!

Any updates? Loved that load/pic, btw!

~ Anne ~

Today was/is a no drive go get the trailer fixed day. Momma Anne, Mon and Tues were fine but today "Wed " was a complete pause in driving. I had a backhaul from Milwaukee Mon to Portage, IN going to Lancaster Pa. 5 skidded coils. Started that Mon afternoon-ish and completed the run Wed morning. Could have got it there Tues but I overslept and didn't make it there before they closed at 1500. After that I went to Hydro in Cressona Pa for my next load.

Arrived at Cressona around 11 am. Dropped the empty trailer and came back around for my load. I was assigned a 3 stop run going to Alliance, OH and ending in Salem, OH. Easy enough, not too far and I've been to those places before. I go to get the paperwork and was told the load wasn't ready. They had no idea when it would be and was given an eta of around 1400hr. I let my DM know and he puts me on another load. This one is a 2 stop run to Sidney and Columbus OH. Haven't been to those places but still should be an easy run.

I get the paperwork for that load and see the gross weight is 48,388. This by far will be the heaviest load I have done. My heaviest gross weight was 73k and some change, for sure this will exceed that. So I drive inside looking for the preloaded trailer but can't find it. My guy there at Hydro, Big John, saw me double back around and stops me... Yo bud, he says. Your looking for trailer f50077. I say yes sir, I am. He tells me it's a Conestoga... Instantly my mood changes. I overlooked the Conestogas that were sitting outside because they usually have a "1" in the number, not double 0.

I always experience some type of issue with these Conestogas and I'm thinking the worse. Found the trailer and before hooking up I inspect it, it looks fine other than the inspection is up, the tires on the left side front axle are worn and I also notice the axles are closed. No biggie, I will stop at the terminal and get tires and slide the rear axles back before I leave. Looking at the weight of the load, I know it's over weight on my trailer so I can't leave them closed... I message my DM about the inspection and tires and get no response. So I proceed to push back the curtain and look at the load.

This is a new one for me. Never had a load with 3 spaced out sections on the bottom like this. Ironically I watched a YouTube video of a guy with a similar load the other day. So I strapped it up the same way. 2 straps on each of the bottom sections and I want 6 over the top. In the pic there are 5 over the top because I want a strap where the rear axle is. But I have to slide it back. This is where the problem occurs. I hook up to the trailer, let the air build up, unlock the pins, apply the trailer brakes and move forward.... The wheels don't stay locked and roll like the brakes aren't even applied. Ahh yes, of course it wouldn't be that simple. I try it again, same result. I message my DM and let him know whats going on. I call breakdown and they ask if I can drive it 9 miles to the nearest Loves. I secure the back and head to the Loves on I-78. On the way out of Hydro I get weighed and I'm 79,700 lbs. Wow!

Arrived at Loves at 1400 and the guy says the mechanic is out right now. He comes out to look at the trailer and I explain to him what the problem is. He takes a look and says the brakes are fine but I will need 5 tires for the trailer lol. All 4 on the front axle and 1 on the rear inside. Says they will change them when the mechanic comes back. So I go across the street to this mom and pop place because this Loves is super tiny. I wait and wait and wait. Finally get a call at 2000 hrs telling me to come on over. I get there, back into the door get out and the tech shows me a flat on one of my drives...

Big ass nail that I must have picked up from across the street. This is how my day went, or should I say is still going. It's now 2300 hr and I'm still here while they work on the drive tire. Starting to get the whole experience of trucking now with breakdowns, layovers and detentions. Gotta love it....

Today was/is a no drive go get the trailer fixed day. Momma Anne, Mon and Tues were fine but today "Wed " was a complete pause in driving. I had a backhaul from Milwaukee Mon to Portage, IN going to Lancaster Pa. 5 skidded coils. Started that Mon afternoon-ish and completed the run Wed morning. Could have got it there Tues but I overslept and didn't make it there before they closed at 1500. After that I went to Hydro in Cressona Pa for my next load.

Arrived at Cressona around 11 am. Dropped the empty trailer and came back around for my load. I was assigned a 3 stop run going to Alliance, OH and ending in Salem, OH. Easy enough, not too far and I've been to those places before. I go to get the paperwork and was told the load wasn't ready. They had no idea when it would be and was given an eta of around 1400hr. I let my DM know and he puts me on another load. This one is a 2 stop run to Sidney and Columbus OH. Haven't been to those places but still should be an easy run.

I get the paperwork for that load and see the gross weight is 48,388. This by far will be the heaviest load I have done. My heaviest gross weight was 73k and some change, for sure this will exceed that. So I drive inside looking for the preloaded trailer but can't find it. My guy there at Hydro, Big John, saw me double back around and stops me... Yo bud, he says. Your looking for trailer f50077. I say yes sir, I am. He tells me it's a Conestoga... Instantly my mood changes. I overlooked the Conestogas that were sitting outside because they usually have a "1" in the number, not double 0.

I always experience some type of issue with these Conestogas and I'm thinking the worse. Found the trailer and before hooking up I inspect it, it looks fine other than the inspection is up, the tires on the left side front axle are worn and I also notice the axles are closed. No biggie, I will stop at the terminal and get tires and slide the rear axles back before I leave. Looking at the weight of the load, I know it's over weight on my trailer so I can't leave them closed... I message my DM about the inspection and tires and get no response. So I proceed to push back the curtain and look at the load.

This is a new one for me. Never had a load with 3 spaced out sections on the bottom like this. Ironically I watched a YouTube video of a guy with a similar load the other day. So I strapped it up the same way. 2 straps on each of the bottom sections and I want 6 over the top. In the pic there are 5 over the top because I want a strap where the rear axle is. But I have to slide it back. This is where the problem occurs. I hook up to the trailer, let the air build up, unlock the pins, apply the trailer brakes and move forward.... The wheels don't stay locked and roll like the brakes aren't even applied. Ahh yes, of course it wouldn't be that simple. I try it again, same result. I message my DM and let him know whats going on. I call breakdown and they ask if I can drive it 9 miles to the nearest Loves. I secure the back and head to the Loves on I-78. On the way out of Hydro I get weighed and I'm 79,700 lbs. Wow!

Arrived at Loves at 1400 and the guy says the mechanic is out right now. He comes out to look at the trailer and I explain to him what the problem is. He takes a look and says the brakes are fine but I will need 5 tires for the trailer lol. All 4 on the front axle and 1 on the rear inside. Says they will change them when the mechanic comes back. So I go across the street to this mom and pop place because this Loves is super tiny. I wait and wait and wait. Finally get a call at 2000 hrs telling me to come on over. I get there, back into the door get out and the tech shows me a flat on one of my drives...

Big ass nail that I must have picked up from across the street. This is how my day went, or should I say is still going. It's now 2300 hr and I'm still here while they work on the drive tire. Starting to get the whole experience of trucking now with breakdowns, layovers and detentions. Gotta love it....

Good LORD, son!

We were in Sydney yesterday; need to drop you my phone # ! LoL.

What the HECK????? Why did they even LOAD that trailer, with 4 or 5 bunk arse tires?!?!?!?? No papers? Stuff like that makes me crazy. Anymore, Tom will flat out refuse to pull a loaded crap trailer. Then again, it's not steel beams, just cardboard.

Have you ever run into/spoken with Old School? Man, you sure should. Somehow, he's got the 'ins' with the flatbed side of Knight. He pulls Connies a lot, too.

Sheesh; please update! If you ARE in Ohio often enough, get a hold of me!

Hope when you read this, your day has gotten better, man.

~ Anne ~

What the HECK????? Why did they even LOAD that trailer, with 4 or 5 bunk arse tires?!?!?!?? No papers? Stuff like that makes me crazy. Anymore, Tom will flat out refuse to pull a loaded crap trailer. Then again, it's not steel beams, just cardboard.

Because the condition of the trailer is not there responsibility... That's what I was told when I questioned them "Hydro" on previous f'ed up loaded trailers. They just load the trailer and move on. I get it but they can at least let Knight know the trailer they load is messed up smh. I also don't like how they load the trailers for us. It's like they don't give a damn. I want to refuse a lot of loads so bad but I just throw extra straps on and pray for the best...

Have you ever run into/spoken with Old School? Man, you sure should. Somehow, he's got the 'ins' with the flatbed side of Knight. He pulls Connies a lot, too.

No, I haven't met the legendary Old School yet. Still waiting for that day lol

Sheesh; please update! If you ARE in Ohio often enough, get a hold of me!

I'm always in Ohio Momma Anne. The dedicated route I'm on has me on 70 and 80 every week... email me....

Hope when you read this, your day has gotten better, man.

I wished I had but so far its a no lol

Continued from yesterday..... The truck was finally done at 0120 Thursday... I get the invoice for the job and see they only put tires on the trailer and a plug on a drive... I'm confused and ask the guy, what about the trailer?? He tells me the tech went home and they will look at it in the morning when he gets in. The tech went home??.... He was the one that called me and told me to come into the bay. I start to question the guy on why it took so long for the tires. 5 hrs for 5 trailer tires and a plug on a drive. I'm a little annoyed that it took so long. He starts to answer me but I cut him off and thanked him. I realize he was the only one in there. I see in his eyes he is exhausted and there was no need to question him. It is what it is at this point.

The Loves is super tiny and at 0130 there was definitely nowhere to park. Not even on the side or anywhere, it was full to capacity. There is a flying j 14 miles down 78 so I left to try my luck there. Before leaving I thought maybe I should hop on the Cat scale and get weighed. Just curious on how illegal I really am....

Crazy heavy on the trailer axles. Now knowing my actual weight I'm torn between driving 14 miles or staying where I am. The only options I have at the time are blocking the parking lot, sitting duck on the shoulder of 78, or the flying j 14 miles away. There is only on choice I really have. I leave and go to the flying j taking it slow. I get there and it's like this one perfect spot was waiting just for me. I'm happy something went in my favor that night.

My phone rings at 0710. It's the tech from Loves. Tells me he is ready to look at the trailer. I make my way back to the Loves and he gets to my trailer. He has me set the trailer brakes, pull forward, do this, do that and after 2 hours says it's the relay value and they don't have the part there. That's just great, he sends a message to Knights breakdown to get the part over to them and I'm waiting again. 3 hrs later, there is no part and no clue on when it will arrive. My DM messages me and wants me to come to the terminal and let the shop try and pull the axles apart. I'm a little hesitant on that because the terminal is 60 miles away and there is a weigh station I have to pass on 81. I inform him about it and he calls a driver that passed by there earlier and he said it was closed. Now off to the terminal....

I get to the terminal and we were able to get the axles spread apart. It was simple, they placed blocks at the rear axles, greased it up and had me pull forward. Worked on one try... I then pull off to the side in the yard and rework the rear of the load. I had to move two winches so they weren't over top of the tire and throw that sixth strap over the top in the back.

As I was doing that, Brad, who was my second trainer on the road who is now a trainer on the simulators and backing maneuvers in the yard, comes walking over with his class of five trainees. They stand there and watch as I was strapping the load which was somewhat awkward. Two of them are there for flatbed and they start asking questions. How do I like it? Is it hard? How to strap a load down, etc... I'm answering them and showing them what I'm doing until that one dreaded question comes up....How was the training?.... I instantly pause because I don't want to lie but I also don't want to sound like a terminal rat lol. Thankfully Brad quickly steps in and answers that question for me lol.

They leave, I finish up and head to the Loves down the street to get scaled. I want to be sure I'm legal before hitting the road. My steers are 11960, drives are 28000 and trailer is 39520. I'm close on my steers and trailer axle but I'm good to go. I head out but did not 1make it to far. Im feeling tired so I immediately pulled into a rest stop. I got maybe 5 hrs of sleep this morning and there's no need to risk anything by driving tired. I'm only going to Ohio so I will be there tomorrow

I got maybe 5 hrs of sleep this morning and there's no need to risk anything by driving tired. I'm only going to Ohio so I will be there tomorrow

a.) That's NOT enough sleep! Nope, no risking. Want a tat like Tom's? 309.06 (forehead, hands!)

b.) 'ONLY' Ohio, hahahaha!! We'll meet, someday! That's funny, tho! O.o :)

Hope this finds you in a better day and a better way, man.

You really NEED to try and get a bead on Old School !!!! You've probably crossed paths (literally) at the Hydro plant, and y'all didn't know it! Here's some help:

Old School's Blog Spot! I wish he kept this up, going forward; but with all that IS enclosed; it's awesome, it's amazing, it's .. YEAH! His email addy is SOMEWHERE either in there or on here; but with no WiFi (for 2nd almost 3rd day!) I'm not 'totally' adept; sorry!

Man, I'm always rooting for you . You'll end up being in the upper echelon of this stuff, soon.

Mark. My. Words. :)

~ Anne ~