Moving freight from place to place is not nearly as easy as it sounds. The tips for effective flatbed freight load transportation certainly show this. Therefore, for a seamless trucking and transportation experience, there are a few factors to put in mind.

Absolutely nothing in road transport is nearly as arduous as flatbed trucking. You could struggle forever, learning the hard way through costly mistakes. Or we could show you the ropes. In a minute, we’ll show you tested and trusted tips for flatbed freight transportation.

What is Flatbed Freight Transportation?

If you can ship it, you can truck it! The days of transporting only moderate-sized goods on roads are long gone. Flatbed trucking has ushered in the advent of heavy-duty transport on roads.

When we say heavy-duty, we mean heavy-duty! Flatbed freight load transportation allows you to move the following cargo:

• Mobile houses
• Trucks
• Lead pipes
• Heavy logs of wood
• Steel wires
• Vehicles

The maximum load-limit for a flatbed trucker is about 46000 pounds! Now, the smallest jet, the Embraer ERJ 135, is only about 26 000 pounds. Are you beginning to comprehend how much a flatbed truck can carry?

If a particular cargo is extremely heavy – a crane, or bulldozer maybe, two to three flatbed truckers could be ‘yoked’  to ‘plough.’ Hence, one of the many tips of flatbed trucking: no load is too heavy. In theory, therefore, there’s no defined load limit.

Related Article: The Flatbed Hauling Tips You Must Know

Proven Tips for Flatbed Trucking

Planning to use flatbed trucking for your next cargo? Here are some helpful tips to take into perspective.

How to Secure Loaded Cargo

There’s no point in trying to reach equilibrium in your weight distribution if you don’t secure them in place. You shouldn’t even attempt to move unsecured cargo.

There are strict guidelines on tying these goods down, and you must ensure they are followed. You don’t want any unexpected loose ends while on the road.

Tie-downs may be anything, ranging from synthetic webbing to chains to nylon ropes and ratchet straps. Per 10000 pounds, you should strap a minimum of one chain. And you can never use too many.

In the bid to hold down your goods, you should take extra precautions to ensure you don’t harm them. Often, the tie-downs either scratch or dent freight on a flatbed. It is, therefore, necessary to pad the goods wherever they contact the tie-downs.

How Good is Your Physics?

If you’d be carrying a whopping 46000 pounds, it must be secure. Your efficiency hinges upon accurate loading and balancing of the goods on your truck.

Know how to balance your goods appropriately since it affects general weight distribution. You’re also responsible for the safety of other road users. Therefore, balance and safety are doubly important.

Drive Slow and Steady

This tip for flatbed freight transportation is important to keeping your cargo in great condition throughout your trip.

When transporting flatbed freight, never move too fast. And even at that, you should make periodic stops on the trip to inspect the flatbed freight. The road conditions and the wind can combine to dislodge flatbed freight.

Use Tarps Effectively

Learning the skill of tarping is equally essential to flatbed trucking services. When you tarp, you flank a canopy/covering over your exposed goods. Some goods are so large they are impossible to cover and may have to be left open.

Securely holding down goods with high tension cords is not enough security measure. Covering your goods with tarps, on the other hand, protects them from harsh weather conditions and the prying eyes of criminals.

If you’re going to use tarps, use them correctly. You don’t want the tarps blowing in the faces of vehicles behind you. Examples of tarp materials include the following:

• Tarpaulin
• Steel tarp
• Lumber tarp (for logs)
• Smoke tarp (to protect from wind)

A better alternative to any of these materials is a tarp system. It consists of an internal framework that saves the stress of manually attaching the tarp to the load. They are ideal for freights that attain trailer and width requirements.

To maintain the integrity and strength of your tarps, here are a few tips:

• Always inspect your tarp for stains, holes, or any other form of damage.
• Wash/clean the stains and patch the holes.
• Regularly wash your tarps, dry them, and neatly store them away till further use.
• Most tarps come with their specified tie-downs. As good as improvisation is, ensure you use these tie-downs when they are available.

Stay Prepared

The goods you’re transporting will determine the kind of gear you travel with. Nonetheless, the basic things you should go with include safety glasses, a hard hat, a vest, and a fire extinguisher.

You should also travel with spare accessories for your flatbed truck. These should include extra tarps, chains, and cords.

Ensure You Have the Right Numbers

Remember, flatbed trucks don’t come with enclosed sides. Therefore, the driver is the entity responsible for ensuring the freight is stable throughout the journey. The way to achieve that is by calculating and double-checking the weight distribution numbers.

The first requirement the numbers should satisfy is the flatbed truck’s weight limit. Overshoot this number, and you’re leaving your flatbed truck open to multiple dangerous scenarios. For instance, heavy load can cause a flatbed truck to swerve or spill.

Another number that needs double-checking is the 60% rule. The best flatbed freight transportation practices recommend keeping 60% of your freight in the front half of the flatbed truck.

How heavy your load is will also affect stacking and loading on a flatbed. It’s best to start stacking your cargo from the centre of the rig. You can start to stack cargo outward from the centre to ensure uniform weight distribution.

Finally, be conscious of heavier cargo items. It’s best to stack heavier items in a position lower than the rig’s deck. In fact, we recommend placing these heavier items on the axles. Doing so will give your flatbed truck the low gravity centre it needs to stay stable throughout your trip.

Designate a Loading Space

Flatbed freight transportation often involves heavy, oversized cargo. Due to their sheer size, accidents around flatbed cargo can have dangerous implications. That’s why top on the list of tips for flatbed freight transportation is designating a safe space to load and unload flatbed freight.

You’ll need plenty of space to avoid dangerous situations for you and the rest of your flatbed loading team. You’ll also need a keen understanding of your flatbed cargo and the risks that come with it.

For example, are you moving unstable cargo that poses a physical risk when it falls? Then, you’ll need ample space to ensure nobody is standing in a position where they may get hurt if the cargo falls.

Assemble an Expert Team

Here’s another fact you need to know about flatbed freight transportation — you can’t do it alone. You need an expert team to help you load and unload flatbed cargo safely.

Any group of people can work seamlessly to load flatbed cargo the first time they work together. Therefore, it doesn’t have to be a team of freight professionals who have worked together in the past. It just has to be a team of professionals who have the requisite technical experience and knowledge.

You should also be in charge throughout the flatbed loading process. Ensure everybody understands what they have to do and when to do it. Plus, you should also have a clear communication system that fosters smooth teamwork.

Different Strokes for Different Loads

Flatbed freight trucking in the solution for moving large cargo with irregular shapes. Therefore, you’re going to come across different types of cargo on the job.

You and your flatbed trucking must pivot on-demand to move different cargo. For instance, you’ll be able to unload and load some cargo by hand. In other instances, you’ll need a forklift or a hand truck to load your flatbed safely. You may even encounter severe instances where you need a crane or larger machines to load your flatbed.

The tip for flatbed freight load transportation that matters here is selecting the right loading strategy for your cargo. Start by assessing the cargo you intend to load and design a custom plan to load it safely.

Remove Trip and Slip Hazards

Never overlook the dangerous effects of tripping around a flatbed truck. Slip hazards around a flatbed include spills, careless equipment and cargo itself. Uneven loading surfaces also constitute a slip hazard and can cause severe injuries.

Ensure everybody on your team is wearing non-slip safety shoes. The less trip hazards you have around a flatbed, the better. Plus, be meticulous about cleaning spills around the flatbed loading dock.

Choose the Right Tie-Down Equipment

Using the ideal number of tie-downs for your flatbed cargo is a vital tip for successful freight transportation. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says you need one-tie down for every 10 feet of cargo on your flatbed truck.

For instance, say you’re carrying cargo that measures 65-feet long. The FMCSA recommendation demands that you use seven tie-downs to secure your flatbed cargo.

Another point of discussion is how much load each tie-down on your flatbed can take. Chains, tie-down straps and other cargo securement equipment come with load limits that indicate how much weight they can secure.

Here, the combined load limit of your tie-down equipment should amount to half of your cargo’s weight. That’s why it’s important to check the load limits or ask questions before buying cargo control equipment.

Follow Flatbed Trucking Precautions

Flatbed rigs are different from other vehicles used for freight distribution and delivery. The marked lack of enclosed sides means you must take extra caution to prevent accidents.

The following precautions will help you prevent accidents during flatbed load transportation:

• Make sure there are no obstructed walkways near the flatbed rig
• Narrow ledges are a hazard around the flatbed loading bay. Remove all narrow ledges to avoid falling off the rig
• Flatbed rigs come with steps that make it easier to go up and down the cargo area. Use them instead of jumping off the rig.

Tips to Keep Your Flatbed Rig in Great Working Conditions

Our list of tips for flatbed freight transportation is incomplete without discussing the vehicle itself. It’s important to inspect the vehicle before and during trips. Doing so will help you prevent problems before they get worse.

Here are the key areas to check on your flatbed rig:

Tires

Tires are super vulnerable and can start leaking anytime. That’s why it’s important to check the tires before hitting the road with your flatbed truck.

Start by checking to ensure there are no objects embedded in the tire treads. Also, look for cuts and abrasions in your tires. You’ll also want to look for small objects hiding between the duals and remove them immediately.

Valve Cap

Look for missing or loose valves before you start driving a flatbed rig. Similarly, we recommend discharging air before you replace the valve cap.

Wheels

Check your truck’s wheels for missing lug nuts before you hit the road. You’ll also want to look for damage to your wheels. Bends or damage due to curbing can mess with your flatbed’s alignment and balance.

Engine

Look for warning signs of an impending engine failure before you hit the road. Check for power decreases, excessive smoking, oil pressure loss and the vehicle’s indication lights. Any one of these signs indicates a possible drivetrain or engine issue which requires fixing.

Related Article: The Hand Truck Safety Tips You Need to Know

In the End

Flatbed trucking is indeed a blessing to transport and freight distribution services. It is not for the light-hearted, seeing it demands such responsibility and discipline. Above, we have highlighted some of the flatbed freight transportation tips you need to know.

And here at Toronto Trailers, we sell all of the cargo securement tools and accessories you need for successful flatbed shipping. Look through our online store today!