First flatbed load Monday

[LindaLou]

And yeah, I am a girl. I was thrilled to see that Foxfire was a F/B driver, too. There are a few other women in my company on the flatbed side and they love it. I know the drill from being in a truck with my soon to be ex husband, not so much as a driver but as that handy extra pair of hands. Now I will have to manage on my own, and am looking forward to it. I am at the company hq in Missoula now having finished an "insurance liability" three day class. I recon that they showed me enough to get me in trouble! ;) But anyhoo, I will be here often with questions that I hope any of you would be gracious enough to answer for me.

I will be pulling a 48' spring ride. Yeah, low on the totem pole at this co gets you the beater! Well, it has two freshly welded crossmembers underneath. Glad I caught them here before the dot did.

So here is question one: Do you advise a pair of zip front coveralls like the mechanics wear? What about a pair of construction worker knee pads? (Ok, that is two questions!)

Have a safe and good day and I look forward to participating here!

[joerockhead]

Personally, I hate coveralls, I prefer the bib style overalls, less restrictive and easier to put on and pull off.

Never had a need for knee pads, never spent that much time on my knees! Safety Glasses, a hard hat and safety boots are a must for sure.

[Big_Dave]

I agree with joerockhead.

Make sure you have several pairs of strudy leather work gloves also.

[DrivingZiggy]

Pretty recently, I began using another type of glove. The ones that look like cloth gloves that they dipped palm first into the rubber. I love 'em.

And yeah, I am a girl. I was thrilled to see that Foxfire was a F/B driver, too.

I've been visiting this forum for a while, and Foxfire seems like avery nice lady...I have a lot of respect for her for doing something that most guys dont want to do.......She also has a lot of good info, as well :cheers:

[Foxfire]

Thx justa. You make an old lady feel great. Linda let me be the first to welcome you to an elite club. And also to give you fair warning.......... don't refuse to ask for help if and when you need it. And also don't be afraid to lend a helping hand to another driver ie. pulling off tarps or securing straps etc.

[copperbottom]

Hiya Linda............
Like foxfire I also am a lady flatbedder............ its good exercise and being female you will find a pretty good reception from shippers and consignees, along with 85% of the other male flatbedders.

I have gotten my share of negitive attitudes being female............but I just smile inwardly and go about my business,
secure or unsecure ,tarp or untarp, my load,
keep my attitude pleasent and
make sure they know I appreciate them getting me unloaded so quickly,
wish em a safe and good day, and I end up leaving with them smiling back appreciating a female that does her job with NO negitive attitude.

A couple of pairs of GOOD fitting leather gloves are a must.

I have also found if you take a 1" dowel and cut a piece @ 3' long, another @1' long, drill a small hole in one end, wrap that end with duct tape and screw a hook in the hole it works great for grabbing those bungie hooks thru the rails and gives you more leverage. It also helps rolling them end flaps up good and tight.

I also carry 2 wench bars for my tough binder jobs, leverage sure helps and saves the back.

When you go to secure your load, walk around it, envision how and where your going to use your securement, picture it in your mind, then lay out what you need where you need it and go to work. I have found this cuts my securement and tarping times by 1/3.
Always remeber if you don't think you have enough securement on your load to make you feel comfy.....add more, a little extra never hurts and only takes a few moments

Good Luck gf!! and don't forget most shippers will place your tarps up on your load with thier forklifts........also saves the back!! cb

[Truckaxe]

The construction style knee pads are good for if you have to get under neath the trailer and do some repair to it. Better than tearing up you knees. Also, will come in Hands if you are hauling some equipment that is rubber tired that you might have to crawl under to put chains on.

I've died and gone to fladbed heaven.. :lover: :rofl:

I have always said I would like to see more ladies driving flatbeds. I think it says a lot about a person that drives a flatbed and their abillity. :p

[LindaLou]

Excellent advice from all of you. Foxfire and Copperbottom, I do feel special and am willing to do the extra work in order to get the benifits from the flatbed style of driving...My company has carved regions for the van side and I would have had to choose east, west or deep south and pretty much stayed there. I am happy to run all 48 and like variety and challenge, which there is no shortage of in f/b.

Foxfire, I paid special attention to what you had to say about asking for help, I wasn't sure if I would be left to my own devices and watched from afar just cause I am female. I havn't had a problem asking for help when I was under a van, and help was always there when I needed it. I just want to be able to get the job done even if I am alone. I like the idea of drivers helping each other and always do what I can to lend a hand when I see the need, so maybe it's a karma thing! :D

Well, I am off to get my dowel and hooks and the gloves that fit me the best. I don't know where my first load will be going, but it probably will be lumber out of Plum Creek. It's pretty hot up here in MT, I will take it easy and have plenty of water available when I strap up and tarp.

Once again, thank you for sharing this information. Yeah, I have more questions and I'm not scared to ask them! Y'all be safe, and God Bless...

P.S. Here's my edit, please don't say old lady, Foxfire! You look great, and I made 48 yrs old last Sat. so Nah, Nah, Nah!

[Foxfire]

Linda it's nice to meet you! I got ya beat tho'.... I will be 52 in Sept.
You aked about coveralls........... get a pair of those lightweight Dickies coveralls with short sleeves. But only use them if you are really worried about getting greasy. I always kept "work" clothes and "driving" clothes. And I would put those work clothes on before I got to where ever I was unloading. If I went to a job site, I would take the time to change there..... right after I found the Supervisor and found out where they wanted me.
I used to buy several pairs of the cloth gloves at the Flying J for women. When a pair got too dirty I tossed them and got another pair. I could feel better with the cloth ones.
One thing to remember about tarping................ if you can get away with not tarping then do your best not to. But never fail to have that forklift driver put the tarps on top and tie them down with the load. It's real easy to loosen a couple of straps and then climb on top and spread them versus hauling the tarps up in the WalMart parking lot as the rain starts.....by yourself!
If you don't have two ratchet handles then find yourself a piece of pipe that will fit over the end of the one you have. As has been said, leverage makes up for size. I don't know how small or large a person you are, but I have always been a "lil fat gal" and never had a lot of trouble bouncing on that ratchet handle to get the straps as tight as I wanted them. I hate those handles with the square end. And I always kept a 3' piece of pipe to extend mine.
Also, it never hurts to have a bit of an attitude. Sometimes you need more than just a bit. But that is a judgement call you will have to make. Just don't let the shippers and recievers get away with something just becasue they think it will be funny. Just ask the guy at the gate at NewCor Yomata in Blytheville, Arkansas. I backed off the scale and right back to where they loaded me one day and made them take the steel off my trailer! A long story but the next time I rolled in there he didn't give me any grief.......lol.

[Truckaxe]

A must for any driver is some sort of hand cleaner. I carry a 2 gallon water jug (you can get from Walmart sits on its side with valve to leave it run while using it) and gogo in the side box with a small terry towel for washing up after loading or unloading. You can refill the water jug @ the fuel islands or any other clean water source.

[Foxfire]

That's a good idea TA. I carried babywipes for such as that. They came in handy for washing my face when I woke up also.

[The_Governor]

As we head into winter--rain and ice are sure to follow.

Wet leather gloves are the pits.My solution was found at the nearest Army-Navy store.

Three pair of green wool gloves @ $1.99 each

Three pair of rubber chemical gloves @ $1.99 each

Put wool glove on first and then the chemical glove over that.

Hands stay warm and dry.

[Truckaxe]

As we head into winter. If you are pulling a open flat a snow shovel, and some deicer will help you to be able to get teh deck cleaned off.

[LindaLou]

well I have a few stories so far, but nothing to compare with you folks for sure. as far as a snowy deck, I have a push broom or they can load it on top. Haven't had any scale issues so far with accumulation, they say that n.d. is bad for that? don't know. working hard, not minding it too much. life and money is good and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Please be safe, slow down like me to grandma speed. Please don't holler at me on the cb or flip me off for that. I want to stay on the road. God bless...

[wombat]

Please don't holler at me on the cb or flip me off for that. I want to stay on the road.

Don't ever worry about what is behind you or what someone says. You drive the rig the way YOU feel safest. To many drivers drive the way others think they should and/or listen and believe what other drivers say to them or tell them.

The phrase "You drive your truck and I'll drive mine" has become a disparaging remake but it does have a great deal of truth in it.

[LSMR]

Please don't holler at me on the cb or flip me off for that. I want to stay on the road.

Don't ever worry about what is behind you or what someone says. You drive the rig the way YOU feel safest. To many drivers drive the way others think they should and/or listen and believe what other drivers say to them or tell them.

The phrase "You drive your truck and I'll drive mine" has become a disparaging remake but it does have a great deal of truth in it.


AMEN to that wombat. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

That is one of the best pieces of advice to give to any driver-newbie or experienced.I wonder how many drivers get into trouble trying to keep up with the "Big Boys".I have always believed in driving within your own abilities.Again I say it-GOOD ADVICE wombat :cheers: :cheers:

[Curlyfrompgh]

[quote] Please don't holler at me on the cb or flip me off for that. I want to stay on the road.

[quote]Don't ever worry about what is behind you or what someone says. You drive the rig the way YOU feel safest. To many drivers drive the way others think they should and/or listen and believe what other drivers say to them or tell them.
THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THE VALIDITY OF THEIR REMARKS CONCERNING YOUR DRIVING. IF YOU ARE DRIVING 30 MPH AND THE REST OF TRAFFIC IS DRIVING 50 MPH YOU ARE CREATING A BAD SITUATION BY MAKING THEM REACT TO YOU AS A ROAD HAZARD. THIS CAUSES THEM TO CHANGE LANES AND OR SLOW DOWN. BOTH OF THESE ACTIONS CAN BE UNSAFE IF THERE IS AN ISOLATED SLICK SPOT. YES IT IS BEST TO DRIVE WITHIN YOUR ABILITIES BUT IT IS ALSO WISE TO KNOW WHEN TO PARK AND WAIT FOR THE CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON LESS THAN IDEAL ROADS IT IS BEST TO ADJUST YOUR FOLLOWING DISTANCE FIRST, THEN YOUR SPEED, THEN CONSIDER WHERE YOU will STOP IF THE CONDITIONS ARE GETTING THAT BAD.

[quote]The phrase "You drive your truck and I'll drive mine" has become a disparaging remark but it does have a great deal of truth in it.

SOMETHING YOU MUST CONSIDER IS IF YOU ARE DRIVING YOUR TRUCK THE WAY YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO YOU WILL ALMOST NEVER HEAR THIS PHRASE AIMED TOWARD YOU! ;)