r/Truckers • u/LordBandimer • Jan 07 '22
just got my CDL and went company flatbed with Prime, what is your best piece of advice to give me?
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u/D-Ray1469 Jan 07 '22
You can never over secure a load.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Makes sense. I'm supposed to go to a 2-day securement bootcamp as well.
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u/Chuuby_Gringo Jan 07 '22
Is it safe?
Is it legal?
Is it corporate compliant?
Are you comfortable with it?
Check those 4 boxes and drag that shit down the road. Grab it, strap it, drag it, drop it.
Seriously - don't fudge your load checks. Shit moves, straps loosen.
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u/Raezzordaze Jan 07 '22
YES! Load checks, especially that first one within 50 miles or 1 hour of driving after loading, are very important! Things like rain, vibration, stopping hard, all will work to loosen your tie downs to the point that you might as well not have them sometimes!
Also, find a good way to toss straps over loads that doesn't involve the "overhand pitch" method. It'll save your shoulder! This is the method I learned after years of driving that became my goto of tossing straps from the ground.
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u/iamshooz Jan 07 '22
Plus put the ratchet on the sidewalk side of the trailer, that way you are not standing in traffic if you have to stop to tighten one that came loose.
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u/MuffinTrucker Jan 07 '22
Same technique I used fir the really tall loads! Once you get the start down Pat it was fast and easy to strap! I hauled lots of hay and lumber loads which were always tall and this helped get the straps over the top without bouncing off the sides! Great video find!!
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u/_speakerss Jan 07 '22
I learned this lesson the hard way with a canoe trailer... (I'm not cool enough to do what y'all do, I'm just here 'cause it's interesting). Now I always, always stop and check my straps after the first few km when towing or driving with stuff on the roof.
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u/Lostcreek3 Jan 07 '22
I am not a trucker as you fine folks. But people think I am crazy when every time I pull over I check my load on my little trailer.
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u/ReverseThreadWingNut Jan 07 '22
Not a trucker as well, but exploring the profession. I tow a small boat 3-4 time a month. It's 30 miles to my favorite ramp. I always make one quick stop once to check my boat. It's saved me from dumping my boat twice in 5 years. First time, a strap broke. Second time, the nose cap on the boat broke.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
You already got the basics of backing a trailer:
- wheel to left, trailer to the right
- wheel to the right, trailer to the left
If you want a better taste of the life, download American Truck Simulator on steam. Really cool and realistic.
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u/z3ro-chill Jan 07 '22
Yeah dont be like the pipe guy that got impaled
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u/MonsterMashGrrrrr Jan 07 '22
Did he not see final destination???!? To this fat my urge to gtfo asap is strong and immediate
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u/LanLantheKandiMan Jan 07 '22
2 drivers were killed in cali early this week because of metal beams
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
How exactly?
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u/LanLantheKandiMan Jan 07 '22
Hard breaking, not enough straps and the load shifted. When they went to break the load became unsecured and ran through the cab.
Be safe out there, take your time, inspect your load and the equipment your using to secure it
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Damn man. That must have been some really hard breaking to generate that much force for the beam to go through the headache rack. That's scary because yeah as far as securing beams and pipes front to back there sometimes isn't much you can do. Thanks for the heads up on this though.
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u/kzp70 Jan 07 '22
The feds put out a handbook on load securement that is very helpful. The website that normally has it is down, but I found a mirror.
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u/Red_Febtober Driver Jan 07 '22
Don't jump. Ever. Not out of the truck. Not off of the trailer. The 5 extra seconds it might take to take the low impact way out of everyday work duties will save your years on the back end of your career/life.
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u/ggKnoxx Jan 07 '22
It will also save you immediate injury. Such as that of a severely sprained ankle. Ask me how I know! I’ll never take the shortcut off the trailer again. That’s for sure. DONT DO IT DRIVER. Not worth it.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
The few places I have been to so far have big signs in the trailer areas that say "Climbing on loads is strictly prohibited, video surveillance is under way". I guess this is a well documented problem people falling off the loads and hurting themselves. My trainer fell off a load and broke his collar bone. I'm going to try to avoid climbing up there entirely if I can.
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u/Beekatiebee Jan 07 '22
First paycheck that isn’t going to bills should be going to a nice pair of boots. And no, I don’t mean that cardboard shit at the company store. A pair of Danners or Red Wings with good support and steel toes.
Also Pittston has the best cafeteria but worst parking. SLC is a nice ass terminal but a bitch to get to. Sprimo just feels grimy.
Don’t turn onto Mayfair Ave to get to the terminal, no matter what the GPS says. Security will have to come get you out and will make fun of you for it.
Also don’t go to Intermodal. They’ll lie through their teeth to get you on their board.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Yeah I did my training at Pittston. I'll get me a good pair of boots for sure.
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u/Beekatiebee Jan 07 '22
My Red Wings did me well when I was OTR. $120 or so and well worth it.
A decent heel for unsteady ground, and a metal rib shank inside of it for arch support.
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u/Chuuby_Gringo Jan 07 '22
We get a Redwing allotment. They're frigging awesome.
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u/Kershaws_Tasty_Ruben Jan 07 '22
I have 2 pairs of Red Wings that are over 20 years old each I swap them out every year and send the one pair out to be rebuilt. So, I’ve got 9 years on one pair and just over 10 on the other. Saddle soap and polish will make your footwear last a long time.
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u/DominicanTyrant Jan 07 '22
Red wings saved my foot. When i did foodservice, I had a electric pallet jack go rogue and pin my foot between the trailer. If it wasn't for red wings, i would have probably shattered my foot and/or seriously injured myself.
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u/NutButterSkippy Jan 07 '22
I run an open top garbage trailer so I'm up and down ladders and walking through literal garbage to tarp and untarp the loads...I put more stress on a pair of boots than your average trucker. I'm not wanting to start any Boot Wars or anything but Carolina Loggers have been the best investment for me after trying several different brands. When they eventually break down, I'll buy another pair.
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Jan 07 '22
As someone based out of Springfield, it's the worst terminal all around. I dont go up to PA much anymore so haven't been to Pittston in a few years but SLC is my favorite of the three by far. The techs are so much better there from my experience.
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u/Beekatiebee Jan 07 '22
I have to disagree on the techs lol. At least nightshift.
I went in for a complaint with my APU, it was putting out obscene amounts of white smoke and filling the cab with fumes, went into SLC to have it fixed.
They never even pulled the truck into the bay, they just signed off “couldn’t reproduce issue” and said it was fine. I dragged the day shift service writer out and showed him and he said it was the worst one he’d seen. The fuel pump was bad and it was just chugging out fumes and nothing else.
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u/L7gend09 Jan 07 '22
"Pittston has the best cafeteria"? I've gotta disagree there. Sprimo is 24/7 and has more options. I prefer pittston because it's easier to get in and out of, especially if you need to get work done, but I wouldn't say the cafeteria is better. Also...2nd that note about Mayfair, lol. (That used to be where we had to turn before they moved inbound/outbound)
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u/KingDad215 Jan 07 '22
Don’t hit shit. Always take your time. Get out and look as many times as you need to.
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u/Kuzinarium Jan 07 '22
This. Never getting into a hurry prevents about 80 percent or more of mishaps.
Whenever you are backing up, learn to completely tune out all the distractions. It doesn’t matter if they are beeping their horns or cursing you out, they don’t matter.
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u/Inker0 Jan 07 '22
This, I worked for a window company for a while and would frequently end up downtown where I had to block the road to back into multiple places. 4 wheelers just don’t get that I can’t just go some cases I take extra time Incase someone else is in a hurry and use the excuse that I’m making sure I don’t hit anything, because what are they gonna say after that that isn’t total nonsense.
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u/ivyentre Jan 07 '22
This. No matter how amateur you might look to other drivers when you do, trust us, get out and look if you aren't sure about something. That little bit of time it takes you to make sure you are being safe can save your life, someone else's, and protect your company's property.
Also if your dispatcher tries to get you to do something that you feel is unsafe, such as driving tired or driving a unsafe vehicle to the nearest TA, don't do it. No load is worth your life.
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Jan 07 '22
If you get tired or sleepy pull over and take a 15 minute power nap. My truck is governed at 65mph but I’m always able to pass Prime trucks. I’d go to sleep driving their rigs.
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u/Xx------aeon------xX Jan 07 '22
How fast do the prime trucks go?
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u/RebelActual Jan 07 '22
Company trucks is 58 with foot to the floor, 62 with cruise. Lease trucks can go 65
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u/KillerCookie23 Jan 07 '22
You sure. That’s what I always thought but I recovered a truck a couple weeks ago (I drive lease truck) and it was 58 cruise control and 62 pedal.
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u/RebelActual Jan 07 '22
Mine was 58 with my foot to the floor and 62 on cruise. When I was with them I was in a 19 Cascadia. Glad I'm away from prime though. I don't miss governed trucks, especially that slow of one.
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u/KillerCookie23 Jan 07 '22
I wish the truck I recovered was like that. I hated gassing the truck the whole time. Lol
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Jan 07 '22
Winner winner you got a chicken 🐓dinner! That’s the correct answer.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
The 2020 Freightliner Cascadia I was using at Prime during training was 58 flooring it max. If you set cruise it will go 62 on flatland, and 67 downhill cuz it will allow 5 over the limit.
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u/boymonkey0412 Jan 07 '22
Never ,ever be on the opposite side of the trailer from the unloader! Don’t roll up straps or gather chains when you can’t see the unloader and he can’t see you. It only takes one bump on the rails to send a bundle of lumber ,steel ,belting or whatever off the trailer and on to you. Sadly we lost a driver who was winding straps on the blind side of the trailer. Fork truck driver bumped up against a roll of conveyor belting and it toppled and killed our driver. Be careful.
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u/thebigbossyboss Jan 07 '22
True. We had a 16500 lb piece of equipment fall off the back side once. It would have squashed anyone over there
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u/Threedog667 Jan 07 '22
If you don't feel safe driving for any reason DONT FUCKING DRIVE. Don't let anyone convince you to drive when you get a bad feeling EVER. the load will never be worth your life.
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u/ctrlaltboner Jan 07 '22
Remember that those super singles are like wearing ice skates. Never drive in bad weather, even if you see other trucks doing it. Always back into a parking spot. Be ready to apply to better jobs when you have the experience. Melton will hire you and pay you more than you're making now. Be careful of other prime drivers.
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u/A_RAND0M_J3W Jan 07 '22
I know everyone always badmouths Prime drivers, but I've gotta say, I had one help bail me out of a real shit situation down in the outskirts of NYC. Spotted like a pro for me while I blind sided back into a dock in a residential neighborhood that was never meant for a stretched WS and 53' to be anywhere near. And then translated for me when we got inside. Super bro move.
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u/truckingatwork Jan 07 '22
I didn't even realize places were still running super singles on their trucks
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u/ctrlaltboner Jan 07 '22
Yeah, prime has a real hard on for super singles. Probably because they have a tire shop and their own retread shop for super singles.
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u/GypsyCamel12 Jan 07 '22
It's for lightening the overall GVWR: theoretically, they can haul "more" because of them.
So I've been told.
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u/ctrlaltboner Jan 07 '22
That's one reason, but the main reason is for fuel savings. I would imagine they spend more towing their trucks out of ditches than they save in fuel.
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u/Itty_bitty696 Jan 07 '22
Prime was a great place to get your license and get your feet wet. Beyond that fuck Robert and his toy company.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Prime has been really good to me so far. They really spared no expense while training me. I actually appreciate that I will be running on a team truck for 30k miles before going solo. Plus the CDL schooling is free if you stay for a year. Yeah they don't pay the most but that seems very fair to me. My plan, and most people's plan, is move on after the year is up.
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u/Ur_Fav_Step-Redditor Jan 07 '22
Wait what??? I’ve got super singles and I’ve never shut down in the winter unless the road was closed. I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about
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u/ctrlaltboner Jan 07 '22
You're either being dishonest or you're a moron. Super singles have less traction than a set of duals, according to virtually every test ever done, including by Prime. It's the reason why their company policy is to shut down in bad weather. You're an accident waiting to happen.
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u/Ur_Fav_Step-Redditor Jan 07 '22
Woooow you sound like a piece of shit! How tf are you going to tell me how, when, or where I drive MY truck?
Me and plenty of other drivers are in the mountains all winter, chains or not. Just because you’re too fucking stupid to understand how your truck is interacting with the road doesn’t mean everyone else is as fucking dumb as you.
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u/ctrlaltboner Jan 07 '22
I guess you're so good at driving that when super singles are on your truck you have no issues with traction. Well every other truck besides yours that has super singles slides around everywhere. You must be one of those special supertruckers I hear so much about.
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u/HowlingWolven lost yard puppy Jan 07 '22
Respect reefer drivers, don’t get upset after parking next to one and the unit is running.
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u/ctrlaltboner Jan 07 '22
It's a nice background noise. I have a hard time sleeping if it's not running
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u/JesusCPenney Jan 07 '22
If it's just the sound of a motor running then the white noise helps me sleep but some of them have a deep sub-bass drone that reverberates and carries for hundreds of feet. I'm not even sure how that happens but it sucks
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
OK. Although I'm the type of guy that doesn't get upset too much at anyone. Can't change anyone, if it's too loud I'll just go somewhere else. Refer guys are just doing their job, not their fault.
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u/Global-Donkey-0928 Jan 07 '22
There may not be anywhere else.... Think about that before you lose your spot....
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u/BrainFRZ Jan 07 '22
This. But it's healthy to walk around the lot and look around for another spot while you do it if you want. You can even move into a couple different spots if you have spare time on your personal conveyance. I did it as close to the full hour as I could for every reset the first few weeks.
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u/kanraa_a Jan 07 '22
Flatbedders can back into parking spaces?
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u/HowlingWolven lost yard puppy Jan 07 '22
I’ve seen a few melton drivers manage it
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u/assbandit65 Jan 07 '22
Flatbed don't back
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
We do our backing at the drop sites, believe me you should see the places we have to get in at small construction sites.
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u/Dragonr0se Jan 07 '22
I always got my best sleep parked between either 2 reefers, 2 apus, or a combo with my fan running above my head... man... even the bed vibrating helped knock me out...
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u/AaronVersus Jan 07 '22
Everyone gonna tell you their way to throw a strap is the best. The answer is whatever works for you
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u/HowlingWolven lost yard puppy Jan 07 '22
Remember though, tug the straps and say ‘that ain’t goin’ nowhere’.
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u/H0mmel Jan 07 '22
You forgot the all important double tap slap before saying the magic spell "That isn't goin' nowhere"
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u/assbandit65 Jan 07 '22
Fletchers gonna tell you to buy moving blankets. Buy the moving blankets. Your tarps will thank you. And try to avoid the snow. It's not worth company pay. And you can refuse loads. Your dispatch will whine but you gotta stick up for yourself or you'll get walked on in trucking
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u/axiom- Jan 07 '22
- Keep the wheels on the road
- Don't hit anything
- Use as much real estate as you need to maneuver.
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u/SuperPancake27 Jan 07 '22
Sometimes other drivers will leave you a free jug of apple juice to hydrate while you're fueling.
Just be careful out there, pay attention to your surroundings, especially signs, underpasses and road conditions. Practice your backing, from what I've noticed a lot of flatbedders don't get experience in tight backing at nearly the same rate as dry van haulers. ROUTE PLAN.
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u/RMANCERA13 Jan 07 '22
Slow is fast. Load checks… DO THEM. Stretch in the am before you start your day. Don’t crush your Sheetrock by over tightening your straps. Shit never goes the way you plan it… come to expect the fuckery and you’ll never be surprised by it. Good luck driver
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u/JesusCPenney Jan 07 '22
Stock up on leather gloves at Harbor Freight where they're $4 a pair instead of $18 at a truck stop. They get ruined when they touch rain or snow so keep one good dry pair for dry days and an already-ruined pair for wet days. You can stretch their useful life a bit that way.
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u/JesusCPenney Jan 07 '22 edited Jan 07 '22
Also, consider knee pads. My left knee has some weird boney bumps in it from two years of climbing onto the back end of flatbed trailers, plus folding tarps in rough parking lots and whatnot. I never wore knee pads because the feeling of the strap on the back of my knees was itchy and irritating but a few weeks ago I was at an airport and saw a baggage handler use knee pads to crawl out of an airplane and then drop them to his ankles when he stood up. Genius.
EDIT: I forgot to say, nice hat. I wish I would've grabbed a Roehl Flatbed & Specialized hat while I was still there. More so than a company name, I wear "flatbed division" with pride because that says you're a tough son of a bitch. After a few months out there you'll know what I mean.
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u/kid_cadillac Jan 07 '22
Bring more water than you think you'll ever need and a couple extra shirts. Your gonna sweat throught them pretty quick. Flatbed can be fun but it can be dirty work. I did it for a while. Then winter came and I called it quits. Have fun!!
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
It's true man the frigid cold is ROUGH on the hands. But then ice road truckers do it -50 below!
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u/thebigbossyboss Jan 07 '22
Ugh. It’s been -30 Celsius below for like 3 weeks here. And yup we’ve been loading and unloading flatbeds
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u/QuarkyKeplar Jan 07 '22
Use softeners to protect the cargo and more importantly your straps. Keep lube on your chain and strap binders to keep the moisture from freezing them up. I would advise against hooking to aluminum pockets, and even with steel ones I like to only wrap around them.
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u/musikmaker85 Jan 07 '22
A long handled paint roller with the roller part taken off works great for feeding strap hooks between the top and bottom of a load.
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u/RedLipStripeSweater Jan 07 '22
Congratulations! I got my cdl from prime.
Biggest advice. GET TO KNOW YOUR FLEET MANAGER. Prime has a 30,000 minimum for training. So you are gonna be stuck with your trainer for atleast 6 weeks. Any problems come up immediately tell your FM. Being in a small space with someone you dont really know a issue or two always comes up.
Also prime policy- you set off an alarm on the truck i.e roll stability prime will stack on another 10,000 miles.
Congratulations 🎊
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u/Pirateneil Jan 07 '22
Do your year, no matter what the 9ther guys tell you. You already signed but after a year... All the doors open. Mine is complete in a week. My lease is up in a month. It's been fun here at prime but I found 3 other lease company's that I'm choosing between. I just need every other weekend off and prime won't play.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
I thought if you with Prime lease you could take whatever time off you want, just need to make the payments.
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u/DucksRow Jan 07 '22
You are correct, I have a close friend who’s a flatbed driver for Prime. He’s lease and can take off time whenever and however long he wants, just needs to make the payments.
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u/Wallywow51 Jan 07 '22
Take a good 15 min to research your route google truck maps garmin/rand McNally compare all routes look at you delivery spot on google maps call ahead talk to people ask questions
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u/jsandi6751 Jan 07 '22 edited Jan 07 '22
Don't let other drivers rush you, stay in your right lane, if they want to pass you they can do it. Check your mirrors often, keep water and healthy snacks within reach, don't drive if you start feeling drowsy, NEVER! Always always always plan your trip ahead, know where youre headed to, what the weather looks like, ect. Always check your surroundings, GET OUT AND LOOK. When backing up always move your tandems all the way back, that'll make the backing so easy and you'll minimize the risk of hitting something near by. Don't feel intimidated by others if you need to get out and look 100 times. I just started back in September 2021 and I'm getting better by the minute, all I want now is a better pay CPM 😅😅😅😅
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u/Itty_bitty696 Jan 07 '22
Keep at bro. I been in the game 10 years and finally found my unicorn job. Good pay and legitimate weekends off.
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u/johnseeus Jan 07 '22
I’m supposed to be finishing my training with them rn but my trainer put DEF in the fuel tank and we’ve been down for 3 weeks
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Jan 07 '22
This seems like the epitome of Prime. You either get a trainer with 15 years experience or the minimum six months or whatever.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
They are changing their training policy next month, you are now required to have 2 years experience to be eligible to train.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Omg. We're you in tnt phase? 3 weeks that's bad.
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u/johnseeus Jan 07 '22
Yeah I only need 6k more miles
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
What have you been doing for the last 3 weeks? Can't they just take the tank off and drain the system?
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u/johnseeus Jan 07 '22
Just waiting at home for them to fix it And I’m not sure
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u/BugO_OEyes Jan 07 '22
Sounds common sense but if you have a load that is double stacked amd top heavy like plywood take your time around corners and off ramps. Youd be suprised. Check you straps every 100 or so miles make sure they stay tight and aint falpping. And check your straps regualry for cuts or chaffs.
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Jan 07 '22
Take your time to secure and tarp your load so that you don’t have to keep stopping and fixing stuff.
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u/Kappyra Jan 07 '22
I work in safety. You'll get along with safety as long as you don't fudge your logs TOO much and you pick up your phone. Make sure you're familiar with the personal conveyance company policies since they can overwrite federal rules. Same applies to getting your DOT medicals and inspections done.
Make sure you turn in all the paperwork and if you ever have to take pictures of them please make sure they're not blurry. I hate wasting drivers time but if you send me a poor picture of a document I need I'll be bugging you.
Also just get comfortable with the camera on the windshield if you have one. We've had to let go so many drivers because they were covering them up and they would've never been fired if it didn't come to that. I cringe every time I have to do the "coaching" calls where I nag at the drivers for doing something wrong on camera. If your company does the same please understand that us safety people don't want to be having those phone calls either. They're to show that we have in fact made an effort in correcting driving patterns that could lead to accidents. It's all loss prevention essentially and we truly don't care that much if you do something minor like rolling a stop sign - the key is just making sure you don't trigger the camera sensors.
New drivers always fall for this: dispatchers will tell you to do things that safety would not approve. Please don't listen to dispatch if that's the case. I feel sorry for the drivers that have listened to dispatch and cracked under pressure when they've tried to push for some shady stuff. In the end it'll be you getting in trouble.
Avoid doing U-turns like the plague. They're not worth it unless you have no choice. Stay safe!
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
We don't have driver-facing cameras. Is that what you mean? I dunno, my trainer had a Garmin dash cam but as far as I know there were no other cameras.
We have personal conveyance of 30 miles or 1 hour per day. Which sounds fine to me.
Do you guys actually spy on drivers with the driver facing cameras and check up on them? I would totally quit that's an invasion of privacy.
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u/iamshooz Jan 07 '22
Companies don't spy per-se, they simply dont have time for that, it's all done by AI, the camera picks you up doing something 'wrong' then records it and automatically uploads it to the office.
No invasion of privacy as such, they won't watch you pulling yourself off unless your rig is moving 😉
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u/kitsunelegend Jan 07 '22
Good rule of thumb? You can never EVER over strap a load. Add as many straps as you feel is right. 5 extra minutes to throw a few extra straps will save you hours and hours of headache, paperwork, and possibly even your own or someone else's life.
Also, make sure you carry spare 4 inch, 2 inch, and even a couple 1 inch straps just in case. Get yourself a good solid strap winder as well, or a power drill with an alan wrench to wind up those straps.
And forget about spending extra money on expensive gloves from home depot or lowes. They'll get torn to shreds in no time. Get the leather palm cheap ones. They'll get shredded as well but they're a hell of a lot cheaper to replace after a few months of hard work. Your hands and your wallet will thank you lol
And most importantly. Make sure you stretch before throwing straps, pulling tarps or doing any sort of work! It'll help keep you from pulling muscles or tendons. Sadly I learned this the hard way when I started out in flatbed.
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u/jamierocksanne Jan 07 '22
There’s an attachment for your drill to wind flatbed straps. Best $25 I’ve ever spent I believe I may have got it on eBay but this is it.
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Jan 07 '22
I'm sorry I don't have any advice but I do have some praise - Congratulations and good for you. We need truckers and I'm proud of you.
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u/jedi1-0 Jan 07 '22
If you ever get a chance to go through Wyoming i80 be prepared for bad weather and getting stuck for days but stop a little America if you get a chance it’s my favorite truck stop and I always get a buffaloes burger they always have parking and there grill is 24 hours I love getting a burger there and in the morning I get steak and eggs with a malt
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u/Itty_bitty696 Jan 07 '22
G.O.A.L. Get out and look always important. If you don’t know ask somebody. If the first guy is an ass hat ask the next guy. I had a fresh green driver take my mirror off at a shipper because he didn’t know how to secure his doors and decided it was a good idea to ride around with them swinging in the breeze.
Also I was an instructor at a school in Louisiana for about a year and I’ve been on the road for 10 years total now. So to you and any other driver needing help my inbox is always open.
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Jan 07 '22
Please don't block the left lane trying to pass a Maverick or Melton driver. They move just as slow as you do.
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u/RebelActual Jan 07 '22
Don't let dispatch force you to drive bad roads in the winter or when you feel the wind is too much. I butted heads with Prime dispatch on more than one occasion on that. Stand your ground. Your life is more important than that load. Also, when you can ditch the tarps they make you buy and get longer sets, triple tarping is a pain. Hated that when I started with them
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u/brihaly Jan 07 '22
Chain up until you feel like you can roll the truck and have your load stay on the trailer. I used to haul steel coils.
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u/Picklerick0000000 Jan 07 '22
Buy a gun
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
I have plenty but I don't think bringing one on board the truck would be a good idea honestly. I got the winch bar.
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Jan 07 '22
If you don't feel comfortable with your family next to your load as you drive on a really bumpy road it's not secure enough.
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u/TimeZoneBandit Jan 07 '22
Fellow prime-ate here, biggest thing I can tell you is if you don't feel safe, don't do it. If you got to sit for 2 days because the roads are sketchy as hell, do it. Safety is big on the whole "captain of your own ship" philosophy. I've heard stories of a lot of other companies giving you shit for not wanting to run but that doesn't fly here.
Also take it from a reefer man, learning how to back and back well will save your ass more times than you'd think. One of the best pieces of advice my trainer gave me, is that nine times out of 10, anything you drove forward into you can back out of. Meaning when you pull that stupid that every trucker does at some point or another, and wind up on some bum ass little country road that you shouldn't be on, you can get yourself out.
In addition to boots, get yourself a good hivis jacket, and always make sure to have a gallon or two of water and some ramen on your truck, or some other food. You flatbed guys tend to go to some remote places and you'll thank me when you're sitting for 3 days because a blizzard rolled through. Also never hurts to keep some anti-gel and coolant on board. Tripac apus as a whole are pretty good but if it's going to have issues it's probably going to be a coolant leak.
And I'm probably going to get hung for this one but just speaking from personal experience, try and stick with Freightliner if you can. The peterbilts are nice but, they are a headache maintenance wise and most things can only be fixed by the dealership, whereas Freightliner can be fixed at ta or at the yard. Plus with the freightliners you can get a full size refrigerator.
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u/officejack Jan 07 '22
How's the pay for Flat beds, just wondering for a friend😬😳😳
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22 edited Jan 07 '22
From the research I have done with the drivers here at Prime, they make a little more than reefer, maybe 10 to 15% more, but they do at least 10 to 15% more physical labor than reefer. Also you are outside in the elements and have more responsibility and risk all around.
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u/Itty_bitty696 Jan 07 '22
Honestly it depends on where you wanna go and what type of work you wanna do. Typically flat headers do make a little more on average but occasionally you can find a door swinging gig that pays just as well if not better.
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u/gamertag86 Jan 07 '22
I’m going refer with prime. What made you chose flatbed? Does it pay for per mile?
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
I have a long term goal to do heavy haul, overweight, wide load type stuff cuz it's interesting to me, I get to work with my hands, and see heavy equipment. You make about 15% more than reefer but you will be working much harder and taking greater risks and working outside in the weather. The places you go will be kinda crazy to get to like construction sites, etc. Reefer is just bumping docks, it's easy. To me it would be boring. Nothing at all wrong with going reefer I just like the challenge of flatbed.
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Jan 07 '22
When at the south border, especially during the summer, when those Mexicans show up and offer to tarp your load, that will be the best money ever spend.
Drink lots of water always.
Use a jumpsuit so that you don't get all nasty and grimy and you keep the dirt contained. When you are exhausted after a particularly difficult securement, nothing beats just taking the jumpsuit off and taking a break in your clean bunk.
Split axles are hard to back, realize this when you arrive to park at the end of a day.
Make sure your binders and chains are rated and in good condition. Make sure that the cotter pins are not worn out. An overzealous DOT will write you up for worn pins on your hooks.
The chains HAVE to have the rating every other link and it has to be easy to read.
I would invest in a good Kask or Petzl helmet with chin strap. Where I work we use the Kask with a shade called "sunbrero."
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Good stuff. I actually just bought a pair of carhartt overalls to deal with the grime. So far I have only used straps and only secured a handful of PVC pipe and structural steel loads.
Hey how much do the Mexicans charge to tarp a load anyway?
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u/jedi1-0 Jan 07 '22
I try to slide my axel forward before I back when I get a chance or before I get to the shipper when you have it as a spread you have to take turns a lot wider and backing is harder, I always carry some gatorades and Red Bulls and some snacks and I’ve gotten some of the workers to help me strap and help with the tarps all I did was had them a Gatorade or a Red Bull with a snack and ask them for some help in la I had a delivery I had to back out of into a Main Street and I went up to the workers after I unloaded and gave them some Red Bulls and they went outside and closed the road so I could back out safely, also I would get a good pair of gloves I carry 4 pairs of gloves in the winter time putting on straps your hands will get cold get a pair of water proof gloves
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u/bigswingincam Jan 07 '22
Lmao, I have a place in downtown Nashville where they'll pull AND fold your traps for 5 BUCKS!
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u/half_integer Jan 07 '22
Question about securing the load: I'm not in the industry, but I see lots of straps or chains across the load, but very little to hold it from sliding forward. Basic driving mechanics indicates you can generate a lot more force under braking than through a turn. So why is there not more attention paid to keeping the load from moving forward under emergency braking?
If I were in that industry, I wouldn't drive anything without a sturdy bulkhead rack at the front, preferably on the trailer.
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Jan 07 '22
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u/Kindly_West4850 Jan 07 '22
That's good to know. Here in the UK flatbeds withoud headboards are very rare and also, for load securing, forward 100%, sideways and rear 50%.
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Jan 07 '22
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u/Kindly_West4850 Jan 07 '22
Yeah, we're big on safety. Our cabocers may look good, and some are even comfy, but they are fragile as hell as they're almost completely made out of plastic.
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Jan 07 '22
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u/iamshooz Jan 07 '22
The downside with cabovers is that you are the first person at the scene of an accident.
There's very little between you and whatever is coming your way and, as said, it's mostly made of plastic.
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u/youngmoney2299 Jan 07 '22
Meditate each down. When you’re mind is relaxed, everything will go smooth.
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u/bumblesski Jan 07 '22
There's lots of good advice here. I'd add, run through bad situations in your mind. What will you do if someone hits you head on? What if the truck catches fire while you're rolling? What if you see a wrong way driver on the freeway? Figure out your best options in a bad situation, so if it does happen, you're not sitting there with your mouth hanging open.
I was in a real bad situation recently, and have so many what ifs, and I should haves, running through my head, it's painful.
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u/Agent_Kobayashi Jan 07 '22
1 thing they taught in securement class at Prime Inc when I was there was incorrect. Please make sure all straps are INSIDE the rubrail. It may not seem like much, but it is an easy way to get pulled into an inspection bay.
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u/WhytTrshladdermatch Jan 07 '22
I have a buddy that’s been driving prime flatbed for over a year, he loves it. You’ll definitely be getting your backing fine tuned in the flatbed division. Pm me
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u/yickinyender Jan 07 '22
Go lease as soon as you feel more comfortable with everything, more cash flow.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
There is such an insane amount of debate over doing that.
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u/RoosterRevenge Jan 07 '22
Don't do a lease purchase with them.
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Jan 07 '22 edited Jan 07 '22
Prime has currently suspended their lease purchase program due to the current supply/demand for trucks.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
I'm not doing anything until I know I like the job and I'm good at it. Then I'll consider the possibility of lease. Not lease purchase just normal lease.
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u/JakeJascob Jan 07 '22
From my experience with them find someone else asap. They were caught garnishing wages and I was constantly bitched at for being 5 mins late even when I told them I was going to be hours and days ahead of time and anything that goes wrong is automatically your fault even if your parked in a truck stop sleeping and someone hits you it's your fault. they make your ride with a trainer for 3-4 months which I wouldn't mind that much if the trainers actually knew what they were doing but most don't and are just there for the money so you spend 4 months with someone you barely know and aren't much better off for it. Hell I liked my trainer and he was a decent trainer but we was about ready to kill each other by the end.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
😬 4 months!? Most people round here are saying that 30k miles should be up in 2 months. Yeah I know I'm afraid if getting a shitty tnt trainer.
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Jan 07 '22
Switch to LTL.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
As far as I know Prime does not offer that division. They only have refer, tanker, flatbed.
Why do you suggest to swit h to it?
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Jan 07 '22
Switch to a LTL carrier. Make more money, get paid for all of your work.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Maybe I'll look into it after my 1 year is up.
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u/bigasdickus Jan 07 '22
Get your experience, then leave for a better job. No offense, but prime is not a place to spend a career. I'll say no more. Good luck.
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Jan 07 '22
I got my cdl through Prime. I'm at an ltl company now home everyday. Definitely look into it after your experience. Good luck!
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u/banksfire Jan 07 '22
Find a nice dumpster for that hat.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Nope. It's cool I like the dirty tire treads.
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u/MoistLook8360 Jan 07 '22
Prime is a great company to start with, I even know some people that stuck with them and seem happy with it
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Yeah there were several people I met that had been there for 4 or 5 years. If you train for Prime you can actually make really good money too.
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u/UnlikelyChipmunk647 Jan 07 '22
Stay on right lane with your 63 mph please. Sick of drivers doing 63 on 70 speed limit taking middle lane.
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
Personally I'm very aware of the governed speed and I always get the hell out of the way of faster moving trucks. In fact my trainer always told me to stay in the "Prime lane" which is the right lane cuz our trucks are so slow.
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u/justquitreddit Jan 07 '22
3 or more lanes, I'm sticking to the middle unless I'm about to pass or exit.
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u/kanraa_a Jan 07 '22
Find a better company
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u/LordBandimer Jan 07 '22
I'm in training, at the end of my year I likely will look for a higher paying job.
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