Most people think that the process of transporting goods or equipment is simple—just load them on the truck and go. However, there are certain procedures which have to be followed, if you want your goods to reach their destination in a good condition. You also need to consider safety procedures to make sure that no one is hurt in the process of transportation. Here are some things you might need to keep in mind about flatbed trucking:
What Is a Flatbed?
As the name might suggest, a flatbed is a truck with a flat bed in the back. This bed has no sides and no roof. This kind of truck can be used to transport items which are extraordinarily large or which have an irregular shape. Items such as these might not fit in a regular truck which has sides and a roof, but they can be strapped on to a flat bed. There are many types of flatbeds, with low decks, sloping low decks, longer lengths, side panels etc.
Loading and Unloading a Flatbed
When you’re loading a flatbed, it’s important to make sure that the items being transported are properly balanced and not likely to fall over. They may also need to be strapped down to make sure that they stay in place. Placing a tarp over the goods being loaded also ensures that they will be protected from the elements. At times, it is necessary to use a forklift to load a flatbed.
Similarly, it’s important to be careful when unloading flatbeds. It may be necessary to consider the weather conditions and whether the ground is uneven. It may also be necessary to use a forklift.
Securing Cargo on a Flatbed
When placing the cargo on a flatbed, the driver will need to make sure that the weight of the cargo is evenly distributed. If there’s too much weight on one part of the bed, that can cause the vehicle to swerve, which is dangerous.
It’s also necessary to use tie-downs to secure the cargo to the bed. Federal regulations suggest that one tie down is needed for every ten feet of cargo, but depending on the type of load, more may be needed. It’s also necessary to choose the right type of tarp because different tarps are recommended for different types of goods, such as steel, machinery and lumber.
