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<h1>Flatbed Truck Drivers Terminology</h1>
<h2><em>Learn the Lingo</em></h2>
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Before your <a href="http://lonestar-llc.biz/top-reasons-to-become-otr-flatbed-truck-drivers/">pull open deck</a>, you need to understand the words and ways of flatbed truck drivers. There's a lot to learn, even for experienced OTR drivers. With that in mind, Lone Star offers paid flatbed truck training. (Of course, we cover related travel expenses, too.) In case you're interested in the details, see Reason #8 to <a href="http://lonestar-llc.biz/flatbed-driver-jobs-reasons-to-drive-for-lone-star/">Drive for Lone Star</a>.)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/4" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" overlay_strength="0.3" shape_divider_position="bottom"][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/1" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][toggles style="default"][toggle color="Accent-Color" title="1. STANDARD FLATBED TRAILER"][vc_row_inner column_margin="default" text_align="left"][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/2" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]Standard flatbed trailers that carry "legal loads" share the following characteristics:
<ul>
 	<li>A flat, level bed <em>(Because it has no sides or roof, it's called an “open deck.”)</em></li>
 	<li>Width less than or equal to 8’6”</li>
 	<li>Height 60” from the ground before loading</li>
 	<li>Length 48’ to 53’</li>
 	<li>Carries a load of up to 46,000 lbs.</li>
</ul>
Flatbed trucks carry cargo that won't fit on standard pallets or in box vans. A flatbed trailer can transport any bulky item its bed will hold. It's especially suited to carry wrapped stacks of construction materials, oddly shaped parts or heavy equipment. Flatbeds are best for cargo resistant to extreme temperatures or conditions.

The flatbed trailer's chief advantage is quick and easy loading. Cargo comes on from the back at a dock, from the side by forklift or from overhead by crane or helicopter. For that reason, flatbed trailers are perfect for pickups and deliveries at off-road or unconventional locations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/2" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4259" src="http://lonestar-llc.biz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/standard-flatbed.jpg" alt="flatbed driver jobs" width="700" height="309" />[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/toggle][toggle color="Accent-Color" title="2. LEGAL LOADS"][vc_row_inner column_margin="default" text_align="left"][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="3/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]A "legal load" meets all federal size and weight rules, as well as those of the states through which it passes. Generally, the load and truck together are no more than 13’6” tall and 8’6” wide. Legal lengths and weights vary from state to state.

<a href="http://lonestar-llc.biz/heavy-haul-jobs-truck-drivers-guide/">Specialty trailers</a> often offer the flexibility to ship very tall or long items as legal loads. That's especially important because loads that exceed legal dimensions are subject to federal, state or local restrictions. (See "Over-dimensional Loads" below.)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/toggle][toggle color="Accent-Color" title="3. FLATBED TRUCK TRAINING, OR SECUREMENT TRAINING"][vc_row_inner column_margin="default" text_align="left"][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="3/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]A skilled flatbed driver knows it's critical to prevent loads from shifting. Freight must remain on the open bed and off the roadway. It also should stay put, so the trailer is balanced and stable.
<h3>Flatbed Truck Training</h3>
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issues detailed regulations on keeping cargo in place. Many municipalities have additional requirements as well.

Consequently, flatbed truck training focuses on securement. It teaches you to fasten down cargo of all shapes and sizes. You learn to prevent freight from tumbling off the deck or piercing the cab during a quick stop.

You learn about other hazards unique to flatbed driving, too. Securement involves concentrating weight or pressure in a small area. Removing securement devices requires care. Released too quickly or in the wrong order, straps and chains whip the driver with great force. The load suddenly is let loose, with great force, thereby endangering bystanders.
<h3>Securement Devices</h3>
To contain a load, some flatbeds have “drop sides,” hinged to fold down for loading. A “stake truck” uses steel uprights, often removable, for the same purpose. As an alternative, a carrier can install a “side kit." (Scroll down for a detailed description.)

Flatbed truck drivers secure freight to open beds with nylon straps or steel chain.
<ul>
 	<li>Flat webbing straps are more user-friendly and less likely to damage freight. They're available in longer lengths for taller loads.</li>
 	<li>Chains are stronger. While nylon has a 5,000-pound working load limit, chains handle up to 12,000 pounds. They're more suitable than straps for heavy steel products. Chains are also less susceptible to abrasion on sharp corners. (Nylon straps need extra padding there.)</li>
 	<li>A driver attaches straps to one side of the trailer with a metal hook. They connect the other side with a winch, which tightens down the load.</li>
 	<li>Chains are looped through a special “rub rail” on either side of the trailer. A load binder takes up the slack in the middle of the chain to tighten down the load.</li>
 	<li>Drivers also use rope, bungees or coil racks to secure loads.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Dunnage</h3>
“Dunnage” fills open spaces between cargo items and prevents shifting. It can create space under or between cargo items, so a forklift blade slides in for easy lifting. Wood, matting, drywall strips and air-filled bags commonly serve as dunnage.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/toggle][toggle color="Accent-Color" title="4. SIDEKIT TRAILERS "][vc_row_inner column_margin="default" text_align="left"][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="3/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]A standard flatbed trailer can be equipped with a “side kit.” Removable plywood or fiberglass side panels form the trailer's sidewalls. They provide structure, support and extra protection for the load.

With a side kit, a flatbed truck hauls loose cargo that’s not crated or packaged. That includes granular material, like soybeans - small objects, like watermelons - or oddly shaped pieces, like scrap metal. A side kit forms a protective barrier, too. It can be built around heavy freight or equipment that’s already loaded on the deck.

A tarp and bow system may be installed over a side kit to protect cargo from the elements. Then the trailer is called a “covered wagon.”
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/toggle][toggle color="Accent-Color" title="5. TARPING"][vc_row_inner column_margin="default" text_align="left"][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="3/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]Some loads need protection from weather, wind, dirt or moisture. Flatbed truck drivers cover them with tarpaulins, or tarps.

Tarps usually are made of a heavy vinyl or PVC for water, weather and tear resistance. Rows of D-rings and grommets run its length. They’re used to accommodate the ratchet straps, bungees, ropes or chains that pull a tarp tight over cargo.

Tarps come in a variety of shapes, sizes and weights to cover specific types of freight. The largest weigh up to 80 pounds when dry, and far more when wet or icy. These are a few of the most common types:
<ul>
 	<li><strong>Lumber tarps</strong> originally were intended for specialized lumber hauling. They’ve become all-purpose covers to protect pallets and other bulky cargo. Commonly 24’ wide and anywhere from 26’ to 30’ long, they cover large, high loads. The lumber tarp features a flap that folds down over one end of the load. The flap provides a tighter seal and prevents “parachuting” (when wind fills and billows a tarp).</li>
 	<li><strong>Steel tarps</strong> are smaller than lumber tarps – typically either 12’ or 16’ wide and 24’ long. They are four-sided, without flaps. Steel tarps protect heavy loads with a low profile, such as steel rods, sheet steel and cables. They also provide “top only” protection for loads of crated material.</li>
 	<li><strong>Smoke tarps</strong>, at 10’ or 12’ by 12’, are much smaller. Also known as nose tarps, they cover the top front of a load, protecting against exhaust, bugs and road debris. They can be secured over the front of a load of pipes to prevent wind from whistling through. Smoke tarps can cover small portions of cargo on the open bed, too.</li>
 	<li><strong>Coil tarps</strong> also are called bag tarps, because they’re sewn in a bag shape. Like a fitted cap, they’re pulled over steel or aluminum coils or cable spools to keep them dry and tightly wound.</li>
 	<li><strong>Machinery tarps</strong> protect valuable manufacturing or machine equipment from weather and road vibration. They cover the oversized, odd-shaped loads carried on specialty trailers. Many are manufactured to custom specifications.</li>
</ul>
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/toggle][toggle color="Accent-Color" title="6. BULKHEAD AND HEADACHE RACKS"][vc_row_inner column_margin="default" text_align="left"][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="3/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]
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Bulkheads and headache racks are safety barriers. They protect the driver from cargo that breaks loose during a sudden stop.
<ul>
 	<li>A headache rack is a reinforcing panel attached directly to the tractor’s frame, behind the cab or sleeper. If the cargo pushes forward, it knocks the cab off its frame rather than penetrating it.</li>
 	<li>A bulkhead is attached to the trailer itself, on the end of the deck closest to the tractor. It’s meant to block the cargo’s forward motion. Impact causes the bulkhead to bend and push the load up, over the cab.</li>
</ul>
OTR cabs often are equipped with headache racks. Bulkheads are more commonly used on local routes.

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/toggle][toggle color="Accent-Color" title="7. OVER-DIMENSIONAL LOADS"][vc_row_inner column_margin="default" text_align="left"][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="3/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]There are more than 14 different types of flatbed and specialty trailers. The weight and dimensions of their loads range from “legal” to extremely oversized. (See “Legal Loads” above.)

Flatbed trailers are flexible. The road system is not. Delivering an over-dimensional load presents serious technical, legal and logistical challenges. Lane width, bridge strength, signal height, ramp curvature and traffic patterns are just a few.

It takes skill and concentration to deliver an oversized load on time. It takes great care to travel safely in traffic without damaging your surroundings.

That’s why it takes <a href="https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/permit_report/index.htm">special permits</a>, too.

To travel legally, an oversized load needs a permit in every state through which it travels. Many cities and counties require permits, too. All permits are load-specific and valid for a limited number of days.

Over-dimensional trucking is meant for the transport of large and heavy units, not small units combined into an oversized load. A permit is issued only if a shipment can’t be divided into smaller legal loads in less than 8 hours without decreasing its value.

Permitted loads are subject to federal, state and local safety restrictions. They might include any or all of the following:
<ul>
 	<li>In most states, permitted loads may be moved only during daylight hours, Monday through Friday, and not on holidays.</li>
 	<li>The driver often is limited to the use of pre-approved travel routes.</li>
 	<li>Paid police escorts may be required along designated stretches.</li>
 	<li>The hauler may need to arrange to move overhanging signals or wires en route.</li>
 	<li>The load may have to be marked by red safety flags, banners and amber lights.</li>
 	<li>Loads wider than 11’6” and/or taller than 13’6” typically require pilot/pole/escort cars from origin to destination.</li>
</ul>
Extremely wide, tall, long or heavy loads are known as “<a href="http://lonestar-llc.biz/heavy-haul-jobs-truck-drivers-guide#heavyloader">super loads</a>.” The definition varies from state to state. A loaded truck that’s over 16’ wide, 16’ tall, 160’ long and/or 200,000 lbs. qualifies in most. Super loads are subject to special, extensive permitting processes.

Specialized trucking companies like Lone Star often handle <a href="http://lonestar-llc.biz/flatbed-driver-jobs-what-we-haul/">over-dimensional cargo</a>. Our specialty trailers and expert drivers can handle the complex challenges of a permitted load.

Want to be <a href="http://lonestar-llc.biz/flatbed-driver-jobs-reasons-to-drive-for-lone-star/">paid more</a> to haul oversized freight?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/4" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/toggle][/toggles][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" bg_image="2926" bg_position="left top" bg_repeat="no-repeat" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="center" top_padding="10%" bottom_padding="10%" overlay_strength="0.3" shape_divider_position="bottom" shape_type=""][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/1" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]
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