Flatbedder are still somewhat helpfull to each other.

Remember the days when you pulled up to the reciver, and the driver in front of you was untarping, and you got out your gloves and helped him out, and then he /she returned the favor?....

There are still a few of them around, but not like before.

This happened to me a while ago...I got out of my truck to help this guy out, and when we finished with his trailer, he got back in the truck, and watched me untarp my load..didnt even get out to help me fold my tarps...what an aszhat.. :vmad: :vmad:

Must be one of those new breed guys.. :angry:

[Big_Dave]

Try getting help sliding the tandems on a van. :wtf:

A couple weeks ago I had a set of pins that were sticking. No amount of pulling forward or backing up seemed to 'help' unbind them. Pounding on them with a hammer isn't the ideal way to get them unstuck.

A bedbugger drove past me 3 times (bobtail). I tried to flag him down to ask if he could put some pressure on the handle while I rocked the truck a bit.

He flipped me off and kept going. :angry:

Sad part about this is, I was using the scale at the local Allied Van Lines terminal in Roseville MN. It's the closest scale to our yard, that's why I go there. Short trip back to the yard if I need the load reworked.

Took me about 30 minutes to get the pins unstuck. What a PITA. :angry: Thankfully we don't have but a couple trailers that are like this. :cool:

BTW, I've helped many drivers slide tandems, throw a tarp onto the trailer, etc......

I've had some of them offer to pay me for the help, I just tell them to 'pass it on' to the next guy that needs help.

A bedbugger drove past me 3 times (bobtail). I tried to flag him down to ask if he could put some pressure on the handle while I rocked the truck a bit.

He flipped me off and kept going.

The sad part is...that how many times that guy has gotten help from someone like you, and he choses not to remember that....I dont worry about it much..I belive what goes around eventually will come right back :cheers:

[Preacher]

Man, I always offer to help with strapping/tarping. I figure that you reap what you sow. Now mind you, I've only got one arm, and not that I'm looking for any sympathy either, but it's amazing to me that whenever I could use a little help rolling out a tarp or perhaps strapping in the rain, It seems like I get no offers for help. Everyone just stands around with their thumbs up their you-know-whats. Still though, I will continue to offer to help if I can, and be glad to assist.

[Foxfire]

Preacher, I was in Gary, In. one day in a heck of a jam. The shippers were real azzhats and refused to even put my tarps on top of a load of 4'styrofoam sheets that I was hauling. Anyway here I sat at the J and knew I wasn't no way gonna head for Jackon, Ms. with that load untarped. So I fired up my trusty Grant XL and asked if someone could come help me get my tarps on top of the load. There were the usual wiseacres telling me all of the things I SHOULD have done and how I needed to be at home rattlin pots and pans. I didn't answer those, just politely asked if there were any REAL flatbedders out there that would give me a hand. Well, to make a long story short, I got out and was trying to manhandle those 8' drop lumber tarps up on the cat walk and see how I was gonna get them up when a red Mack pulled up and the rather small man driving asked me if I was the one that needed help. I assured him I was one and the same. He then backed in right next to me with his load of flat steel. It wasn't until he grabbed my tarp and threw it up on his trailer that I realized he had a hook for a left hand. I was getting all kinds of embarrassed when he said, "Honey, we all need a helping hand sometimes." He proceeded to get both of my tarps up there and the next thing I knew was spreading them out. I ran for the bungie straps and started tying like there was no tomorrow. I didn't insult him by asking him how much I owed him. I asked him to join me for dinner. I then slipped the waitress money to pay for it and enjoyed the best conversation I have ever had. I sure wish I knew where he was today. He taught me a lot that day.

[Preacher]

Great story foxfire. Very encouraging.

[CD]

I gotta agree with ya HBT some of the newer drivers and unfortunately even some older types refuse to lend a hand and that is fine with me,I will remember ya ;)

I was taught from DAY 1,that the sooner you get that feller in front of you loaded/unloaded,then the sooner you can be on your way!!!

The real butt-chapper is when you pull your rags and start rollin them and get assistance from the competition before your own company compadre offers a hand(or not at all) :wtf:

Personally....I ALWAYS at least offer my assistance :classic:

[Jimbo]

I was climbing the big hill just south of State College, PA. a few years back. With no warning at all, the motor just shut down. I was out of fuel.

Actually, I had about 20 gallons, but the steep hill made it all run to the back of the tank, and the fuel pickup was in the front.

To make things worse, it wasn't my truck. There was not one single thing in the truck that I needed. No hose, nothing to put the fuel in....nothing.

Withing 3 minutes, there were 5 trucks on the side of the road, offering help. One guy gave my 15 gallons of fuel from his refer unit. Another guy had the hose we needed, and still another let us use a few 1 gallon bottles he had. The first trip to my truck with a gallon of fuel, one guy already had my fuel filters off, so we filled them first, and replaced them.

Within 5 minutes, I was up and running again. I offered to but all that helped a dinner on up the road, and in true trucker fashion, they all said "No thanks....just help someone else later on".

Things are bad out on the road now, but there are still a good amount of true truckers out there. I was glad to meet a few that night.

[nitestar]

I nearly always offer to help.
I don't care who you work for,
I don't care if your an O/O or company driver.
I don't care if you are male or female.
I fold my tarps my way and I am sure you do yours your way.
I will ask you how do you want to do this?
I will follow your lead. I will fasten bungies or pull tarp or just hold it till you get it hooked so the wind doesn't parachute you off of the load..
I have had my offer of help refused and thats ok too.
Not every body needs help or really knows how to accept it.
I do have a problem with a company that sends a driver with no experience or no idea how to tarp a load and it is kicking thier butt.
I try not to be obnoxious in asking if they need help or offering my advice.

At a base in a secure area I was leaving with my escort and another truck pulled in. a tarp load. I asked my escort if we could just sit here. I would help this guy untarp and get ready for you to unload. He had no problem with it, However the other trucker didn't know how to react. I was the competition.
I said get er done, get out sooner. your choice. 10 minutes we had it untarped and put away and ready to unload. He was literly in shock about me helping him.
I always feel better helping someone. pull pins or tarping or just giving directions.

I help the driver, not the company name on the door. could care less who you work for.

The brotherhood of trucking, still some lifetime members left.

[copperbottom]

nitestar said:


"The brotherhood of trucking, still some lifetime members left"
Amen!!!!!

[michmanchuck]

nice to see people helping out out on the road. I hope i run into good people like you all when i get out and going this July. :D