Safety Tips for Flatbed Trucks Owners
The business of hauling heavy, large, and unusually shaped objects on a flatbed truck is a tough job with serious risks, both for staff and the public. Safety is not an accident. It requires developing safe practices, processes, and strategies that are followed EVERY TIME.
If you haul on a flatbed truck, develop safety steps that include these considerations:
Load Flatbed Trucks Properly
- Start with a flat surface. Loading on a sloped surface will make it difficult to secure the load properly and risk injury should the load slide from front to back or side to side.
- Try to avoid slick surroundings; be extremely careful when loading in wet, muddy, icy, or snowy conditions. The truck bed, load, and loading equipment will be affected by these hazards.
- Keep the center of gravity low and in the middle of the truck.
- Load from front to back, with 60% of the weight forward, near the cab, and 40% of the load near the rear of the truck.
Fasten Securely
- The load must be secured to ensure it does not move or fall from the truck during shipment. This will require a variety of fastener types: bungees, tie-downs, strap winches, and chain binders. Have the proper equipment to secure the load on the truck.
- Inspect these fasteners before securing the load. Do not use damaged or severely worn fasteners.
- Some loads will need to be covered by tarps. Make sure the tarps are secured and cannot come loose, as these make the load vulnerable and endanger other drivers.
Protect Flatbed Trucks Loaders
- Protective clothing, including slip-resistant shoes, gloves, and eye protection are not just “good ideas;” they are essential to protect loaders and drivers from injury.
- Move slowly when conditions are slick—wet, muddy, icy, etc.
- Use the ladders on the truck bed instead of jumping. The joint damage that happens with each jump is irreversible—stay in this for the long haul.
- Safety inspections will ensure these features are in place, so use them with every load and unload.
Maintain Equipment
- The load will not make it to its destination if the truck is incapable of reaching the desired location. Make sure the truck engine, tires, and safety equipment are inspected and in good repair before any load is secured.
- The truck bed and all connection points must be free of corrosion and strong enough to handle the pressure required for handling heavy loads.
- Take pride in your ride! A well-maintained vehicle, free from rust and damage instills confidence in clients on both ends of the journey.
Know the Limits of Your Flatbed Trucks
- Abide by weight limits. The gross weight of the vehicle includes the truck, the load, and the fuel in the tank. The weight limit is posted on the vehicle. There will be no excuse when weighed by the DOT.
- Oversized loads have limitations, both height and width restrictions. Hauling loads inappropriate for the vehicle and without proper planning, even for short distances, can lead to disaster and damage to other vehicles and road infrastructure. Follow the guidelines for oversized loads with each jurisdiction along the destination route.
Anticipate Movement
- Road vibration, turn torque, and wind pressure work on the load during transit. Even well-secured loads can shift. Plan to make a stop shortly after getting underway to inspect the load and retighten fasteners.
- Plan for this stop to be at a truck stop, rest stop, or large parking lot to avoid high-speed vehicles passing very close to the truck during inspection.
Protect Your Flatbed Trucks and Their Loads
Our professional service team can help provide you with helpful tips for flatbed trucks hauling and provide state-of-the-art flatbed trucks accessories.
