Flatbed Trucking Life: What You Need to Know Before Getting Started 

I worked in food service and beer distribution for over 3 years. Got my CDL doing beer. Went from those industries to flatbed and man, for me, flatbed is fun. Especially coming from the very physical worlds of food/beer. Started out at Schneider hauling fencing on a local dedicated account and now I’m at a small laid back local family company doing flatbed and whatever they need me to do. But flatbed is where it’s at if you want to keep active and be in the trucking industry. Weather can make things suck sometimes but I can’t see myself leaving flatbed trucking. Pretty damn decent money in it and it’s solid ass honest work!

Another handy tool to carry is a crow bar for pulling nails from nailer strip on trl floor, also a small ladder ( 6 ft) to make getting up an down from load easier an safer , great info for start up skateboarders

This video was alot of help, im also moving to open deck but i want to do it right and not hurt anyone by the material flying on the road and this helped with what i will need to be safe out here. Thanks

Can’t forget the handmade pvc pipe with a slit cut out for placing those edge protectors up on tall loads 😉

10 is the magic number ... I haul coils with my company and we are equipped with 10 of them... but just like the chains, you have the small coil racks which holds 10k per rack and then you have the bigger ones we don't use so idk the WLL for those.

Edge protectors protect straps not the product. Your bar has the pain in the ass safety threading. 3/8 g70 is 6600 wll whereas 5/16 drops you to 4700 Kinedyne straps are awful Your hammer is actually for beating down wire toes on steel loads Get the side winder instead of the Dumas one you got V boards, my guy Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso all suck

Great video. New flatbedder 9 months in. Great education

Do you work for a company in El Paso? I’m about to start my clases for my cdl. I want a flatbed job when I get my cdl license

Being an Owner Operator with a step deck trailer, You need 4 Piece tarps. Upper deck with 8' drop, Lower deck tarps need to be 10' drop tarps. Yes the tarps will be heavy. Welcome to the flatbedder life.

Good video, but I cannot believe you don't have any belly straps with a load that high; and that you wind uour straps with the hook inside. 😬

Already pull a skateboard, but always good to learn something new.

Don't forget a hard hat for those that reel their straps like you and throw the j hook end instead of the strap end.

Hey you missed one the headache rack especially if you doing flatbed in Texas i don't know about other states but if i remember the headache rack is required also to some a key component

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Safe travels.

I carry 12 3/8 chains and binders, 30 4" straps most are 30' some are cut to various lengths for specific purposes like my tarp strap, dunnage strap, etc.. , a couple 4" ratchets, and some 2" ratchets with straps. I have a 7' coil bag and 3 piece 6 foot drop lumber tarp with a few moving blankets for edges and/or gaps in between. I only ever really haul steel and coils, sometimes brick/shingles to get to and from home. I quit hauling lumber and drywall faster than I could blink. For rare occasions I haul something like AC units or anything I have to chain down at the corners, I have several 4" straps with chain ends that I've cut to like 3-4' long and I can just hook the chain in and strap it down in a winch than having to pull out actual chains. Then I got my coil racks, winch bar, etc. as well. I do not miss being a company driver at all toting around every piece of equipment under the sun and 300lb 2 piece tarps. When I drove for Roehl they made me carry 12 chains of each size, 2 different tarp sets that they expected you to fit in the tool boxes and not leave strapped to the trailer, and like 20 coil racks and a bunch of other crap.

Thanks for your knowledge, n insight etc. I learned more from this video than many other flatbed videos. I subscribed I am going to work for systems transport mon. Much appreciated!😅

It’s simple flatbed starting out just get a hard had vest and steel to boots. You won’t always have to wear it but there will be plenty of times u must

LIFE SAVER channel name is hilarious😂 my sister lives in El Paso and i just rolled through and hour ago

Really good and useful video

Do company drivers get supplied these tool? & what’s the best starter flatbed company for regional? TMC, PGT, Schneider, Melton?

Is that trailer your running 48 or 53 foot flat bed also if you plan on purchasing one which would you go with? Split axel or no? or sliding axle?

how many hours per day are you driving?

Good video

Thanks for info I start with TMC in September

I would say that you nailed what you need. Well done.

I purchased 1 set of tarps 6 years ago, 8' Drop Lightweight Parachute tarps. All ever needed. 12 blankets for protecting them of (some) loads)

I've never heard so much sarcastic negativity in my life. Why are you in the industry? Move to box pulling if you're so frustrated. Leave the real work to the rest of us, thanks.

Great video! Very informative. I just switched over to flatbed and oversize. I’ve been driving almost 3 years and I’ve only did drive van, refrigerated and trash/recycling. This is something that I’ve been wanting to do for a while and finally got the chance.

Thanks for the info. Just brought a flatbed yesterday. 48x102

Nice video I loved flatbed driving I miss it keep up the good work sir drove flatbed in Colorado for years good luck 👍 sir keep on trucking

Using a strap Winder With a rechargeable drill It's much faster five seconds,

This guy is fire🤙🏽🤙🏽

My dad drove flatbed, he ran rubber rope through the d-rings in the tarps, then had a bucket of s-hooks. Just walk around the load and snug it down. He just used a few bungee cords to close up the ends.

Starting flatbed next week. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated

Haha I didn’t notice the channel name. I too am Guerro in some of my friend circles. Thanks for the info. Starting my flatbed journey.

Great info.

One of the best useful videos I have watched.

Been driving 40 plus years , please educate me on the need to carry Snow Chains, in the Summer time.

Cargo nets, ropes, and a chain saw to customise wood.

Puro chicos tacos the 915

Don't need much do ya 🤣

I have a strong forearm 💪

Are you no longer in the oil field?

We call that a cheetah pipe

Outstanding video. Thanks.

Thanks for info. I'm going to TMC in about 3 weeks

EXCELLENT

Qvo Huero? How many strap protectors should I start with? Also what size straps are used?

On the 4 inch straps how long do you get them 30 feet?

Whatever happened to the oilfield ?

Welcome back to el paso man.

Clean that wind shield man

Kindly remove music from video not allowed in Islam Read Quran ALLAH your creator is talking with you: Chapter 2:Verse 21 O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous. Read Quran and Follow Islam because no salvation without Islam

On the straps i find easier to have those without out the hooks because you can put more tension on the load and easy to wind it back up

Very informative and thorough.Thankyou.

Coil racks about 10