Metal Coils

[bamahillbilly]

Whats the big deal about hauling metal coils?
Any safety tips?

[Big_Dave]

2 ways to load them, 'shotgun' or 'suicide'.

'Shotgun' is where the coils are loaded so they can roll off the side. If they were to 'escape' the trailer, they'd scatter like the pellets of a shotgun do once they leave the barrel of the gun.

'Suicide' is where the coils can roll forward through your cab if they escape. :yikes:

An extra chain per coil doesn't hurt. ;)

The main thing to remember is securement! Proper blocking (coil racks) and proper chaining proceedures NEED to be used.

good point dave
proper seccurement can be said for all types of trailers

[DrivingZiggy]

When chaining, do not be intimidated by Billy Big Rigger. One time I was getting one large coil and used 8 chains on it. Billy walked by and loudly and obnoxiously counted every chain while pointing to each one. Then he walked off shaking his head.

I did not lose the coil.

DAVE!..I didnt know you pulled flats before :wow: ...He never tells me anything.. :freaked:

Everyone is correct...Proper securment of the coil is most essential...Can never have too many chains. If you lose a coil, it will put a hole right in the road, or God forbid, you lose it on a bridge..it could go right through...

Also with the new securment rules, you are no longer allowed to cross chain...meaning have one chain going across another. :wtf:

[Jimbo]

There's also a way of loading coils called "eye to the sky". That's mostly for smaller rolls, where the hole in the coil is pointing straight up. That is the safest way to travel, if the coils are small enough to fit the width of your trailer.

If you have coils loaded standing up, be sure the center of the coil is not touching the deck. You will "flat-spot" them if you do. Some receivers don't care, if the coils are for scrap or something. Also, be very careful about your speed while turning a corner, or going around a ramp. The center of gravity is pretty high on a roll that is standing up, and I have seen flatbedders with years of experience flip a trailer. I saw one guy that had a brand spanking new trailer, and twisted it all up 10 minutes down the road. It was heart-breaking. Just remeber that you can hit a turn too slow over and over, but you can only do it too fast once...

Thats good advice Jimbo... :cheers:

[copperbottom]

PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:14 pm
We have hauled sucide/shotgun coils, requireing 5 chains/straps for securement(2 chains pulling from forward/rear movement each side and 1 strap over the top), and a whole flatbed of coils from RockyMountain steel.........our basic standard on a full load is blocking on all coils plus, 3 chains front & back coils......2 chains everyother row, 1 chain on the remaining coils........ we've haule 47000lbs of coils and it takes every chain we have to do it and we GOT chains......... I secure my loads so they don't go NOWHERE, and check them regularly. I've seen too many loads shift, fall off, or cause a overturn. Flatbedding takes a eye for securement. cb

[copperbottom]

Also be aware of tall split coils..............Arrow had 3 trailers turnover with these coils in one weekend. ALWAYS use 2 straps over the top on these coils and remember there is a very high center of gravity on these loads........SLOW SLOW SLOW on all corners and don't forget a 6" drop offor slope can flip a trailer also w/ a high center of gravity. The biggest help is making your securement so your load becomes one with the trailer......cb

[dominopizzadrvr]

I Preferred suicide,easier to chain down in my opinion.Don't forget you need to chain them down according to your chain ratings and coil weight. If you have a 35k Lb coil and 5k rated chains,well you do the math cuz i'm just a freight hauler these days. Side kits are the way to go.....no tarpin just slingin'

[Curlyfrompgh]

Coils can be loaded two ways 'suicide' (breaks loose and kills driver :yikes: ) and 'homicide' (breaks loose, rolls off tlr. and kills someone else :yikes: . This term not used much since it’s not P.C.) or 'shotgun' (I was under the impression that this was because it was like looking down the bore of a shotgun) You load them the way the shipper tells you unless you have a choice.(it never hurts to ask :noclue: ) This is because the receiver has made clear preferences as to how they want their material shipped. There are many reasons why they make these decisions some are telescoping with thin metal when 'shotgun' so they spec. 'suicide' or side unload. Or they do not have an overhead crane and must unload from the side, or they don't have access to the side but have a dock, they spec. rear unload. Some customers may have an overhead crane but use a clamp and have no 'C' hook. They will say side unload or 18" min. spacing between coils This is to prevent coils from being butted up together in the same rack. This is done by the driver to save space,(when loading for LTL) use less chains,(this makes the 2 coils 1 unit and can be secured using the required number of chains for the combined weight) use less racks, (when the driver does not have the number of racks required to haul the load) or all of the above. Some Shiprs/Rcvrs may spec 18’’ spacing because of damage in the past caused by the coils rubbing against each other in transit.
SHOTGUN They can be secured with chains through the eye, :no: ALWAYS NO EXCEPTIONS ON COILS REQUIRING MORE THAN TWO SECUREMENTS :no: then additional securements over the top of the coil. When using a sidekit you are limited to securing where the dropchains are unless you lift a board and use the pockets and spools. This allows spray into the tlr. and possibly a moisture damage claim on the load, and also damages the board. :angry: But this having been said, securement is the priority and steps can be taken to reduce the risk of moisture damage. A sidekit is the way to go if all you are going to haul is coils. But if you are going to haul whatever comes up then…. Let me just say tearing the kit down and packing it away gets old before your done doing it the first time! :angry:
When you have an open flat, you can put the securements wherever you want. But this also leads to other considerations. Driven by efficiency :D or laziness :angry: (depends on your perspective) Flatbedders like to use as little ‘canvas’ as possible to cover the load. So the preference would be suicide since this takes up the least amount of space. But then again shotgun is easier to tarp! Ah decisions, decisions…..
:thinking:

[Square Wheels]

Whats the big deal about hauling metal coils?
Any safety tips?.....Rachet binders for coils,and rubber laid across your coil timbers. If you chains are loose enough, (due to use of snap binders, not always the case), the coil will slide like grease with out rubber under it and we all know that concentrated weight in motion will mess up your day.

[Curlyfrompgh]

If you chains are loose enough, (due to use of snap binders, not always the case) Not stopping enough and making sure the chains are tight ALWAYS the case. ;)


we all know that concentrated weight in motion will mess up your day.
Not all do know and some that should don't have a healthy respect for physics.

[Square Wheels]

If you chains are loose enough, (due to use of snap binders, not always the case) Not stopping enough and making sure the chains are tight ALWAYS the case. ;)


we all know that concentrated weight in motion will mess up your day.
Not all do know and some that should don't have a healthy respect for physics.[Thats exactly right. I was just giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.[/list]