As a prime inc driver I carry way more 20 10' 5/16 chains 10 snap binders 10 ratchet binders 4 4"x40' straps 30 4" straps 4 4" ratchet straps 6 2" straps 6 2" ratchet straps Normal winch bar Shorty winch bar 30 8" plastic edge protectors 30 metal edge protectors (Just like your good ones) 10 rubber strips 10 4x4s one side bevel 10 cool racks 200 bungees 10 j hooks 2 8' wood tarps with flaps 2 4' metal tarps 1 smoke tarp 10 tarp blankets (Harbor freight specials) Plus some other stuff that I never use
On your edge protector poke. Get a 4-5’ long, 3/4” dia., PVC pipe, with a 3/4”, to a “T” that is at least 1”-1 1/2” dia. Cut a slot lengthwise along the T section to accept an edge protector. I added a coupler to the opposite end of the T, which will accept the remainder of the 8’ section of 3/4” pipe I bought, then cut. Two smaller pieces store better and most average sized drivers will only need about a 4’ section, for the T portion.
I carry 4-6' chains with hooks on both ends for strapping equipment. Also carry 4-8' chains with hooks on only one end for the same reason. Additionally not a bad idea to carry 4-40' straps in case you haul a container or have to belly wrap tall product. Lastly, i use old straps cut into 18" lengths as strap protectors. Just my 2 cents. Great video, great vlog. Subscribed & calling Mercer soon 👍
Well I hope the working load limits on that trailer supports those 3/8’s chains otherwise they revert to what the trailer says but here goes my list when I flatbeded 12 5/16 chains 8 ratchet binders and 6 snap binders 20 four in straps four four in portables 6 to 8 two inch and rachets ten coil racks steel edge protectors a bundle of small vee boards three four ft tarps and one 8ft tarp two canvas tarps and some rubber padding. Any steel or aluminum, piping, hay totes and occasionally wheeled vehicles. My first dispatcher told me if you carry enough for every type of load you want have any room to haul the loads nice video
for your edge protectors I use a long handled 4 tine hay fork, works great. your loadout is about what I ran when I was with System Transport maxi division.
I know this is a old video n I'm not intent u respond quickly but for 15 yrs I been hauling tankers; oil, gas, propane n chemicals. And this 2021 spring I'm going to learn flatbed or step deck work to see if I like. The reason is I'm want to learn something different n be more physical activities. I hope the company I will choose teaching properly. Thanks for the tips about the equipments. Bless bro.
Right now I carry four 20’ chains. American 3/8’s. I plan on getting two 25’ and two 12’. For a total of 8. Doesn’t include the chain I have for the 4x4’s and a couple specialized axle chains.
Nice touch having something to patch up your tarps because they will get tears and holes and you don’t need wet cargo claims. Also the old carpet to cover the sharp edges you’ll run into with certain loads with sharp edges
I keep all of that stuff (not sure on the numbers of each). I have the enclosed headache rack where I keep my 2 lumber tarps and 2 steel tarps. I don't keep snap binders, all ratchet. I use mostly straps though. I just got a bumble bee drill strap winder about 3 hours ago from pet-ro. My edge protector pole is a paint roller telescopic pole with a pvc reducer screwed into a T that are gorilla glued onto the threads (had to make liquid threads to match up). That's about it.
I remember having all that equipment, then I went on rgn lowboy, no tarps, no headache rack, no straps (I kept two ) we had to cut back on weight of equipment as our loads were heavy, never really missed tarping, we would wrap exhaust stacks on machinery with a turpo, pull toy told you that.
That's part of the reason I switched companies. Instead of doing generalized freight I'm hauling brand new propane tanks. Less equipment on the needed plus I have the crane to unload. Only loads I have to strap is the back hauls if there is one for me.
Could you make a video on tips on turning that spread axel flatbed? I’m catching hell!😳🤦🏽♂️😂 In school we only used an empty dry van. Easy to turn! I’d love in that same video if you’d include backing tips for the spread axel as well. Truck stops are killing me 😂 Thanks 🙏🏾 Your videos are SUPER informative and most importantly, straight to the point!💪🏾
Jamael Nettles Backing a spread......your pivot point will change depending on weight of load and the contour of the ground. Typically your rear axle will be the pivot while backing, whereas the front is during forward motion. Just watch the ground and your aiming point, and adjust accordingly. You’ll get it after a few couple backs. I wouldn’t care to go back the a tandem axle. A traveling axle tandem, maybe, but a standard fixed or adjustable, NOPE!!!
To load coil they require long sleeve shirt too, I did it for years, there's a point that you have so many things that you don't have space to put them, crazy
Could you make a video about why you like that scale you have under your truck? I see videos about that type of scale but they’re all about tandems. All they do for adjusting the weight is slide their tandems. Most flatbeders have fixed spread axles and even on the Cat scale we weigh these spread axles different.
The biggest consideration before you start spending money on equipment is to know if your trailer has rated anchor points. If they do then are now part of the assembly and subject to FMCSR rules. All of our anchor points are rated for 5,400lbs so there’s really no point in spending $10-20 extra per strap for some super max abrasion 9,000lb rated strap, or 1/2” chains, or anything like that, because the assembly will still have a WLL of 5,400 regardless because the anchor points are rated. Just something to keep in mind. I also carry a few 5/16 chains with me because we do occasionally haul industrial AC units or something with manufactured tie down points that a 3/8 won’t fit through.
Just subscribed Im a flatbed driver. Love the channel stay safe brother awsome content very helpful when I was new to flatbed I. Learned a lot here still refer here now and then but always watch keep rubber down and shinny side up brother
How can I hang my bungees under my trailer like you do without them falling? I really need to know this because I HATE them always getting caught on stuff and each other in my toolbox 🤦🏽♂️ Thanks 🙏🏾
I just put about 15 or so together, tie one around the rest like the beginning of tying your shoelaces, and then hang them from beam to beam so they are relatively tight.
Brian ever consider a Little Giant ladder on the truck instead of the fiberglass 6’. Just for fold up and versatility? Not sure if you would benefit from it or not. Just curious ..
I’m considering some kind of replacement for it. I actually took the six footer off when I put this new headache rack on. I like the idea of those extendable ones that I owe 80 has but they want a pretty penny for them.
Hey cheif loved the vid got a question for you now I do have a bit of flatbed experience but most of my 28 years on the road has been refer so with that being said I am gearing up to put a 53 foot step deck behind the truck so I'm wondering in your opinion what gear should I have I'm going to use just 4"straps so how many should I have and what footage should they be same as chains going with the 3/8 like you said what variance in footage should I have there I'm not gonna do coil rolls but I m up for some flat steel loads let me know and again thanks much for the video
I noticed in the video you have a certain number of items you carry and in some of the links you have how many you carry. Am I to assume the links w/o the numbered carried is the correct amount need if I click the link?
What up trucker .I enjoy watching ur videos thank u for that .. I have a question bout Mercer.. I'm looking for a change and was wondering if u get home on weekends with them .
That’s really dependent upon where you live, I live in the Houston area and it’s definitely not possible for me. At least with the kind of money I want to make. I had surgery earlier in the year and I actually ran local for two weeks and I was making right at $4000 gross. For me that’s not enough so so I had to go back over the road. But like I said, it’s super dependent upon where you live. I have a buddy in Ohio and he could easily get home every weekend.
I completely understand exactly what you mean. I feel the same way. Your area wouldn’t be hard to get to and you could pretty easily run regional. As far as what kind of money you could make I’m really not sure. Mercer money is equivalent to Landstar money for sure. Since they’re mainly focused on flat, they have really good lanes and rates. Who do you work for now?
@@DrivenTrucking I've been leased on to a small 2 truck company in Tyler for the past 10 years called cutting edge .the best week I've ever had was 3800.00 b4 experiences. I'm on my second truck .I got my first truck and leased it on to cutting edge and I've never been anywhere else .I'm not dumb I no I can make way more somewhere else I'm just scared cuz this is all I've ever known and the owners no that and I think they use me alot because of it .. for example they take these crazy expensive vacations and then they don't pay me or delay my pay or hold back my pay almost feel like I'm financing there vacations sometimes and I have to pay .035% factoring on all the loads and then they still hold my money .I feel like if I'm paying for the factoring I should be paid a little faster . I'm still waiting to get paid for a load I hauled October 25th . They have put me in a situation were if something big was to break on my truck I'd be out of business
Gregory Arthur dang bud, I’m sorry to hear that. That’s definitely a situation I’d get out of ASAP if possible. If you’re going to be running otr, you should at least make it worth your while with a reputable company that treats their drivers well. Learning Mercer’s system was super simple and they have tools to make things easy as well as awesome discounts on things like fuel, tires, etc. Also, we get paid 24-48 hours after scanning in the bills which is done through the phone. I’d highly recommend you take that leap of faith and come on over. Give Raffique a call and at least just talk and see what he has to say. You can mention my name or not, I don’t care about the referral money, I’d rather hear your successful transition story. Landstar is a great option as well if you’d rather pull a box.
I don’t because I just really don’t have the room for them. Had I stayed Flatbed I probably would invest in them but with Mercer, I didn’t run across a ton of those loads and when I did, the shipper supplied them.
When you’re no longer driving a company truck/trailer, I gather it’s largely preference as to the load out and ratio of your equipment. How long do you spend patching tarps? Sounds like a real time suck.
It’s not too bad, I usually do it on a 34 while enjoying some exercise or some rays, maybe 2-4 hours but I always take my time. It can probably be done in 1 hour if needed.
I did, I have a new one on there now though, both from Mercer. I think that one was 900 and the one I have now was 2100, honestly I forget. The recruiters can give you exact pricing on them. The pricing is decent, you can find better “deals” but if paying full price they are good prices.
If you have one, could you provide a link to find affordable, reliable (I know these relative terms) flatbed trailers. I’m struggling bad to find one for what I consider to be a good deal that’s DOT inspected and has a coil package near Mobile, Alabama. I don’t want to drive a thousand miles just to inspect a trailer 🤷🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
I wish I had a great spot to buy trailers for you but I unfortunately do not as I purchased my trailer straight through Mercer. And in the current economy we are in for trucks and trailers, it is certainly a sellers market so the prices of trailers and trucks are very high right now. The best advice I could give is to scour www.truckpaper.com Other than that, I apologize but I just don’t have any solid place to buy them. I have heard finding a used flatbed for a reasonable price can be a daunting task. A gentleman I know had difficulty finding any one year ago and it seems to be the same in the current market.
I'm looking for a carrier for the flatbed loads I have available. Can you help me out with that I've already signed up with the load boards but it's kind of complicated
What up man...keep up the good work....I just started doing flatbed, bought me a 48 step deck with ramps, without tarps lol ...can I make money without tarps ? Can I make money with a 48 step deck? A lot of my friends telling me that I made a mistake, should've went with a straight flatbed...what do you think....?
It kind of depends where you are at and who you are running for, a step deck with ramps can make damn good money but it’s a little bit easier for a flatbed to stay loaded year-round. Might want to consider grabbing a cheap box for the winter months
You forgot to explain the smoke tarps to the kiddos, but a Google surch should cover it.... of course trucks don't smoke anymore so we could just call it a dust tarps now to be more environmentally friendly sounding🙃
@@DrivenTrucking would there be space in the side box for the chains? I'm planning on getting a W900 or T660 and my apu will be mounted on the passenger's side. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
SkateBoardTrucker The good thing about open deck is almost all of the other drivers are willing to help you so if you are ever in doubt you can always ask, you can always ask the shipper as well
I know this is an older video. However I really would like to at some point be able to get in contact with you pick your brain a little about drugs drive-in versus flatbed. Not just on a video but actually in conversation. I am driving now but considering switching. But just would love to hear someone else of you and talk to them about it see what’s best for me.
You could easily blow at least $2,000 just in securement equipment depending on what you get and where. It's the tarps, chains and binders that are expensive. Straps can be expensive just because you need 20+ of those.
True, Mercer doesn’t have a lot of pipe accounts but we do have a couple that do require pipe stakes. That’s probably something I should add to the list, thank you.
I this is my favorite place with good prices www.myteeproducts.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwna2FBhDPARIsACAEc_XIBwnBjyjAPK0jhIIZD80ObITQkWFK7c4qmy5l67PvISvxRsDB0HYaAvpfEALw_wcB
@@DrivenTrucking that’s all I want. Good equipment for honest prices. I am an owner operator currently pulling a reefer. It will take some time but I plan on switching over to open deck. I live in the Fort Wayne area so open deck freight is good in my area, plus Chicago is close by…
New driver about to get into flatbedding. This is the most in-depth list of tools and equipment I've seen. Thanks for the video!
Absolutely Colton 👍🏻
As a prime inc driver I carry way more
20 10' 5/16 chains
10 snap binders
10 ratchet binders
4 4"x40' straps
30 4" straps
4 4" ratchet straps
6 2" straps
6 2" ratchet straps
Normal winch bar
Shorty winch bar
30 8" plastic edge protectors
30 metal edge protectors
(Just like your good ones)
10 rubber strips
10 4x4s one side bevel
10 cool racks
200 bungees
10 j hooks
2 8' wood tarps with flaps
2 4' metal tarps
1 smoke tarp
10 tarp blankets
(Harbor freight specials)
Plus some other stuff that I never use
Hey prime a good company? thinking bout starting there
@@Elzorro574 if you want to go less than 60 mph
On your edge protector poke. Get a 4-5’ long, 3/4” dia., PVC pipe, with a 3/4”, to a “T” that is at least 1”-1 1/2” dia. Cut a slot lengthwise along the T section to accept an edge protector.
I added a coupler to the opposite end of the T, which will accept the remainder of the 8’ section of 3/4” pipe I bought, then cut.
Two smaller pieces store better and most average sized drivers will only need about a 4’ section, for the T portion.
Newbie here. No training til november so im watching to see whats involved.
Just secured a flatbed to the fleet and man this video is beyond helpful, thank you!
I carry 4-6' chains with hooks on both ends for strapping equipment. Also carry 4-8' chains with hooks on only one end for the same reason. Additionally not a bad idea to carry 4-40' straps in case you haul a container or have to belly wrap tall product. Lastly, i use old straps cut into 18" lengths as strap protectors. Just my 2 cents. Great video, great vlog. Subscribed & calling Mercer soon 👍
That’s great info! Thank you for that!! ABL Always Be Learning 😊
Stronger by the mile to Driven, I like straight headed young man, keep it up young man👍👍
Thank you so much! Greatly appreciated 👍🏻
Well I hope the working load limits on that trailer supports those 3/8’s chains otherwise they revert to what the trailer says but here goes my list when I flatbeded 12 5/16 chains 8 ratchet binders and 6 snap binders 20 four in straps four four in portables 6 to 8 two inch and rachets ten coil racks steel edge protectors a bundle of small vee boards three four ft tarps and one 8ft tarp two canvas tarps and some rubber padding. Any steel or aluminum, piping, hay totes and occasionally wheeled vehicles. My first dispatcher told me if you carry enough for every type of load you want have any room to haul the loads nice video
Yep we’re good 👍🏻 nice setup there!
for your edge protectors I use a long handled 4 tine hay fork, works great. your loadout is about what I ran when I was with System Transport maxi division.
Great tip 👍🏻 very nice thank you
I know this is a old video n I'm not intent u respond quickly but for 15 yrs I been hauling tankers; oil, gas, propane n chemicals. And this 2021 spring I'm going to learn flatbed or step deck work to see if I like. The reason is I'm want to learn something different n be more physical activities. I hope the company I will choose teaching properly. Thanks for the tips about the equipments. Bless bro.
Right now I carry four 20’ chains. American 3/8’s. I plan on getting two 25’ and two 12’. For a total of 8. Doesn’t include the chain I have for the 4x4’s and a couple specialized axle chains.
I haul pineapples outta Jamaica. I have a 16’ cart on a 1956 dodge pickup chassis pulled by two mules.
Lol, seriously, so new people to flat can have a nice reference point.
Driven Trucking not many know about fire hoses.
24 Year old mules by any chance???
Sorry Sir/Madam Senator. I do not recollect these conversations. 🤷🏻♂️
Just started flatbeding last week. Very informative video! Great work dude.
Cool never thought about using fire hose! i also used a piece of pvc tube with rope thru it to fish belly straps and chains,
Right on! I use the pole for that as well 👍🏻
Nice touch having something to patch up your tarps because they will get tears and holes and you don’t need wet cargo claims.
Also the old carpet to cover the sharp edges you’ll run into with certain loads with sharp edges
You’re a great teacher
Van driver for life
Remember Lowe’s and Home Depot are a flatbed best friend out on the road for extra equipment.
Super informative. I plan on picking up a flat bed trailer in january. After my ups contract runs out. This will help me get a head start on supplies.
Very nice! The links in the description are a mix between the cheapest I found without sacrificing quality 👍🏻
I keep all of that stuff (not sure on the numbers of each). I have the enclosed headache rack where I keep my 2 lumber tarps and 2 steel tarps. I don't keep snap binders, all ratchet. I use mostly straps though. I just got a bumble bee drill strap winder about 3 hours ago from pet-ro. My edge protector pole is a paint roller telescopic pole with a pvc reducer screwed into a T that are gorilla glued onto the threads (had to make liquid threads to match up). That's about it.
Great video man. That should help a lot of people out
Thanks Chris! I hope so. The majority of the stuff I posted in the comments is actually the cheapest that you can get without sacrificing quality.
Get fire hoses at northern tool
Dixie Mae WHAAAAAQT?!
Driven Trucking yes they carry fire hoses. To much crap to go to local fire house and ask.
Wow, that’s good to know.
You Killing it home keep having fun & sharing with the world wish you great health and abundance. 👊🏾
New too flat bed but I can say I like it hauling coils
I remember having all that equipment, then I went on rgn lowboy, no tarps, no headache rack, no straps (I kept two ) we had to cut back on weight of equipment as our loads were heavy, never really missed tarping, we would wrap exhaust stacks on machinery with a turpo, pull toy told you that.
That sounds really nice lol
That's part of the reason I switched companies. Instead of doing generalized freight I'm hauling brand new propane tanks. Less equipment on the needed plus I have the crane to unload. Only loads I have to strap is the back hauls if there is one for me.
I’m a new flatbed Owner Op, will be hauling construction loads. What equipment I need to get started.
Could you make a video on tips on turning that spread axel flatbed? I’m catching hell!😳🤦🏽♂️😂 In school we only used an empty dry van. Easy to turn! I’d love in that same video if you’d include backing tips for the spread axel as well. Truck stops are killing me 😂 Thanks 🙏🏾 Your videos are SUPER informative and most importantly, straight to the point!💪🏾
👍🏻 I responded on your other message 😊
Jamael Nettles swing wide set up your turns in advance watch your convex mirrors
Jamael Nettles
Backing a spread......your pivot point will change depending on weight of load and the contour of the ground. Typically your rear axle will be the pivot while backing, whereas the front is during forward motion.
Just watch the ground and your aiming point, and adjust accordingly. You’ll get it after a few couple backs. I wouldn’t care to go back the a tandem axle.
A traveling axle tandem, maybe, but a standard fixed or adjustable, NOPE!!!
Great information. Thank you.
Thanks man for tell us everything that we need it
Hey 👋 man I will hook step deck (drop deck) this Monday. Just whana say “thank you” for your videos)
That’s awesome! Good luck and congrats! 🎉
Yo bro your my inspiration can't get enough of ur channel keep rocking this shsss your info is on point
Could I get some close up pictures of your edge protector pole, see how you attached it? It's giving me a bit of trouble.
To load coil they require long sleeve shirt too, I did it for years, there's a point that you have so many things that you don't have space to put them, crazy
The amount of stuff we haul around is crazy!
Could you make a video about why you like that scale you have under your truck? I see videos about that type of scale but they’re all about tandems. All they do for adjusting the weight is slide their tandems. Most flatbeders have fixed spread axles and even on the Cat scale we weigh these spread axles different.
I’ve been having issues with it on this trailer and to be honest, haven’t had it looked at. 😳
Very informative, thanks for info and links!
Absolutely! Thank you 😊
Great stuff man. Thanks for sharing.
Much appreciated John
The biggest consideration before you start spending money on equipment is to know if your trailer has rated anchor points. If they do then are now part of the assembly and subject to FMCSR rules. All of our anchor points are rated for 5,400lbs so there’s really no point in spending $10-20 extra per strap for some super max abrasion 9,000lb rated strap, or 1/2” chains, or anything like that, because the assembly will still have a WLL of 5,400 regardless because the anchor points are rated.
Just something to keep in mind. I also carry a few 5/16 chains with me because we do occasionally haul industrial AC units or something with manufactured tie down points that a 3/8 won’t fit through.
Just subscribed Im a flatbed driver. Love the channel stay safe brother awsome content very helpful when I was new to flatbed I. Learned a lot here still refer here now and then but always watch keep rubber down and shinny side up brother
Need to know the mechanic contact information , you said you mentioned in past video? Thank you!
Ty
Thanks a lot.
How can I hang my bungees under my trailer like you do without them falling? I really need to know this because I HATE them always getting caught on stuff and each other in my toolbox 🤦🏽♂️ Thanks 🙏🏾
I just put about 15 or so together, tie one around the rest like the beginning of tying your shoelaces, and then hang them from beam to beam so they are relatively tight.
Very helpful thanks!
Thank you. Great information what I needed.
Please tell us where we can buy these equipments because truck stops are very expensive
Ive got that same shirt bro 😆. Good video man
Brian ever consider a Little Giant ladder on the truck instead of the fiberglass 6’. Just for fold up and versatility? Not sure if you would benefit from it or not. Just curious ..
I’m considering some kind of replacement for it. I actually took the six footer off when I put this new headache rack on. I like the idea of those extendable ones that I owe 80 has but they want a pretty penny for them.
GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!
Thanks John!
Well I do have a lot . Like you say Overkill. Better then you miss
Very interesting
👍🏻
Very helpful
Thanks man
3/8's chains just looks more like you got your crap together. Especially as a hotshot. 👍🏻
I know that’s right come’on
Driven Trucking chuck delete his comment? says he posted but I don't see it. 🤷🏻♂️🙈
Driven Trucking did ya set'm straight. 😱
Hey cheif loved the vid got a question for you now I do have a bit of flatbed experience but most of my 28 years on the road has been refer so with that being said I am gearing up to put a 53 foot step deck behind the truck so I'm wondering in your opinion what gear should I have I'm going to use just 4"straps so how many should I have and what footage should they be same as chains going with the 3/8 like you said what variance in footage should I have there I'm not gonna do coil rolls but I m up for some flat steel loads let me know and again thanks much for the video
I miss your content wish you would make more videos.
when you refer to tarps as 4' and 8' does that refer to the side dimension
Yes sir it does. Ideally a set (two piece) could cover 53’. Mine don’t but I wish they did
Flatbed forever
👊🏻
I noticed in the video you have a certain number of items you carry and in some of the links you have how many you carry. Am I to assume the links w/o the numbered carried is the correct amount need if I click the link?
How long are your chains?
What up trucker .I enjoy watching ur videos thank u for that .. I have a question bout Mercer.. I'm looking for a change and was wondering if u get home on weekends with them .
That’s really dependent upon where you live, I live in the Houston area and it’s definitely not possible for me. At least with the kind of money I want to make. I had surgery earlier in the year and I actually ran local for two weeks and I was making right at $4000 gross. For me that’s not enough so so I had to go back over the road. But like I said, it’s super dependent upon where you live. I have a buddy in Ohio and he could easily get home every weekend.
@@DrivenTrucking I live in Tyler TX. I really wanna work somewhere were I can be home weekends .i fill like I'm missing my kids growing up
I completely understand exactly what you mean. I feel the same way. Your area wouldn’t be hard to get to and you could pretty easily run regional. As far as what kind of money you could make I’m really not sure. Mercer money is equivalent to Landstar money for sure. Since they’re mainly focused on flat, they have really good lanes and rates. Who do you work for now?
@@DrivenTrucking I've been leased on to a small 2 truck company in Tyler for the past 10 years called cutting edge .the best week I've ever had was 3800.00 b4 experiences. I'm on my second truck .I got my first truck and leased it on to cutting edge and I've never been anywhere else .I'm not dumb I no I can make way more somewhere else I'm just scared cuz this is all I've ever known and the owners no that and I think they use me alot because of it .. for example they take these crazy expensive vacations and then they don't pay me or delay my pay or hold back my pay almost feel like I'm financing there vacations sometimes and I have to pay .035% factoring on all the loads and then they still hold my money .I feel like if I'm paying for the factoring I should be paid a little faster . I'm still waiting to get paid for a load I hauled October 25th . They have put me in a situation were if something big was to break on my truck I'd be out of business
Gregory Arthur dang bud, I’m sorry to hear that. That’s definitely a situation I’d get out of ASAP if possible. If you’re going to be running otr, you should at least make it worth your while with a reputable company that treats their drivers well. Learning Mercer’s system was super simple and they have tools to make things easy as well as awesome discounts on things like fuel, tires, etc. Also, we get paid 24-48 hours after scanning in the bills which is done through the phone. I’d highly recommend you take that leap of faith and come on over. Give Raffique a call and at least just talk and see what he has to say. You can mention my name or not, I don’t care about the referral money, I’d rather hear your successful transition story. Landstar is a great option as well if you’d rather pull a box.
Great video
Thanks buddy 👍🏻
Right now I haul nothing but lumber. Don’t need chains yet trying to get on with a maxi company. When I go OO I want to run a B train
Well I don't pull a flatbed I pull a RGN moving military equipment and I use ½ chain with ¾ inch ratchet binders.
Big bucks there
Is a headache rack required
by law in Oklahoma?
How long should the 4x4’s be?
"heres my winch bar" BAM NEXT THING lmao thought that was funny
😁
what do you do if the tarp is too heavy to pick up and move from the ground on to the trailer? It's just too heavy to tear it off the ground....
hopefully you can get some assistance from the forklift driver
Do you use wood v-boards ?
Some shipper ask for them up to 8 feet long.
I don’t because I just really don’t have the room for them. Had I stayed Flatbed I probably would invest in them but with Mercer, I didn’t run across a ton of those loads and when I did, the shipper supplied them.
When you’re no longer driving a company truck/trailer, I gather it’s largely preference as to the load out and ratio of your equipment. How long do you spend patching tarps? Sounds like a real time suck.
It’s not too bad, I usually do it on a 34 while enjoying some exercise or some rays, maybe 2-4 hours but I always take my time. It can probably be done in 1 hour if needed.
Did you get the headache rack from Mercer? How much did it cost and how much did the enclosed one run?
I did, I have a new one on there now though, both from Mercer. I think that one was 900 and the one I have now was 2100, honestly I forget. The recruiters can give you exact pricing on them. The pricing is decent, you can find better “deals” but if paying full price they are good prices.
If you have one, could you provide a link to find affordable, reliable (I know these relative terms) flatbed trailers. I’m struggling bad to find one for what I consider to be a good deal that’s DOT inspected and has a coil package near Mobile, Alabama. I don’t want to drive a thousand miles just to inspect a trailer 🤷🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
I wish I had a great spot to buy trailers for you but I unfortunately do not as I purchased my trailer straight through Mercer.
And in the current economy we are in for trucks and trailers, it is certainly a sellers market so the prices of trailers and trucks are very high right now.
The best advice I could give is to scour www.truckpaper.com
Other than that, I apologize but I just don’t have any solid place to buy them. I have heard finding a used flatbed for a reasonable price can be a daunting task. A gentleman I know had difficulty finding any one year ago and it seems to be the same in the current market.
Thanks for responding! Us rookies would love a video on tips for turning and backing the spread axel flatbed. ESPECIALLY for truck stops 😳🤦🏽♂️😂
Jamael Nettles I’ll see what I can do, if you catch me on a live feed I’ll be happy to respond to this 😊
I'm looking for a carrier for the flatbed loads I have available. Can you help me out with that I've already signed up with the load boards but it's kind of complicated
Please post Website
Where we have to buy
How much do your lumber traps weigh
They are all 18oz but I’m not crazy about the quality to be perfectly honest.
Company I was with before had 120# lumber (8 foot drops) with the flap. 2 tarps would cover a 53' load with about a foot of overlap.
You've probably mentioned this elsewhere at some point but - where/how did you get your trailer? Leased from Mercer?
Yes sir, they make it simple to get the trailer during orientation
What up man...keep up the good work....I just started doing flatbed, bought me a 48 step deck with ramps, without tarps lol ...can I make money without tarps ? Can I make money with a 48 step deck? A lot of my friends telling me that I made a mistake, should've went with a straight flatbed...what do you think....?
It kind of depends where you are at and who you are running for, a step deck with ramps can make damn good money but it’s a little bit easier for a flatbed to stay loaded year-round. Might want to consider grabbing a cheap box for the winter months
its money in everything...
I know this is an older video so you probably wont see it. But how long are your 4x4's. I saw somewhere I neeed 8' but all I can find are 6'
The ones I currently carry I actually shaved down to about 7 feet, I bought them at Lowe’s and beveled an edge and cut them down myself
You forgot to explain the smoke tarps to the kiddos, but a Google surch should cover it.... of course trucks don't smoke anymore so we could just call it a dust tarps now to be more environmentally friendly sounding🙃
What size binder do you use?
I prefer 3/8 since I can’t do heavy haul so 15/16-3/8
Where do you keep your tire chains?
There’s a hanger on the passenger side of my truck
@@DrivenTrucking would there be space in the side box for the chains? I'm planning on getting a W900 or T660 and my apu will be mounted on the passenger's side. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Are there any good securement books to help new flatbedders?
They do make a securement book, I’ll have to dig and find mine
Driven Trucking thank you. I’m new to flatbed and there are so many different loads. I don’t want to miss something
SkateBoardTrucker The good thing about open deck is almost all of the other drivers are willing to help you so if you are ever in doubt you can always ask, you can always ask the shipper as well
Driven Trucking thank you
Are you an owner operator.
If not does the company provide all of you equipment.
Yes he is
Hauling Glass
I know this is an older video. However I really would like to at some point be able to get in contact with you pick your brain a little about drugs drive-in versus flatbed. Not just on a video but actually in conversation. I am driving now but considering switching. But just would love to hear someone else of you and talk to them about it see what’s best for me.
You need a push broom
Yea, those aren’t bad to have 👍🏻
😎😎😎
👍🏻👊🏻
Most people are not going too know what a smoke tarp is .
That’s true, I rarely use mine as I have grass burner exhaust but they have been handy covering 1-4 feet of load I couldn’t wrap with one big 4 footer
👍
Quick estimate how much will all this equipment cost
You could easily blow at least $2,000 just in securement equipment depending on what you get and where. It's the tarps, chains and binders that are expensive. Straps can be expensive just because you need 20+ of those.
Thanks bro
👍😎👍
👍👍😎
👊🏻
GREAT FREE STRAP PROTECTOR-YOUR HANDS
Pipe stakes
True, Mercer doesn’t have a lot of pipe accounts but we do have a couple that do require pipe stakes. That’s probably something I should add to the list, thank you.
I will not use Snaps, only ratchets. I like my teeth to much.
But I’ve met other drivers that only use snaps.
I understand, I use extreme caution when using mine
You didn’t answer the question about whether goats milk or cows milk.
Neither preferably lol
Chuck I was thinking almond..... 😂
Driven Trucking yeah you're "touched" ... bless your heart 🙄
I carry a Mexican, so he can do all this for me💪 work smart not hard
Still in trucking business.
Do u still agree with this list?
Dude, where is the best place to buy said equipment?
I this is my favorite place with good prices www.myteeproducts.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwna2FBhDPARIsACAEc_XIBwnBjyjAPK0jhIIZD80ObITQkWFK7c4qmy5l67PvISvxRsDB0HYaAvpfEALw_wcB
@@DrivenTrucking thank you!
@@Hazmatt3446 No problem, I don’t have a deal worked out with them or anything, just a good honest recommendation
@@DrivenTrucking that’s all I want. Good equipment for honest prices. I am an owner operator currently pulling a reefer. It will take some time but I plan on switching over to open deck. I live in the Fort Wayne area so open deck freight is good in my area, plus Chicago is close by…
Don’t throw the hook
200 bungees lol