Renting a flatbed

Headache racks are required when there is no headboard on the front of your trailer.It takes a certain kind of driver to pull a flatbed.You have to be willing to go the extra mile to make sure your load is secure.Tarping is tricky especially if you have heavy tarps,but when everything is said and done,you can stand back and look at your load and say man,that's a beautiful thing,all wrapped up like a present.I used to haul overlength steel, coils and a lot of lumber.When I first started,I mainly drove cabovers with a lot of space between the front of the trailer and the headache rack. That way you could hang it over the front of the trailer instead of the back.I almost always pulled a stretch. If I had 60-65' beams I would open the trailer to 55 or 60' respectively, hang 3'off the front and 2' off the back. Those were my favorite loads 3 or 4 heavy beams in the center low to the deck.Then you have loads that are all different shapes and sizes that you really have to use your head to place them and secure them.I've hauled a lot of pipe also and it can be very tricky. I have a Merritt headache rack in my barn.It has a locking center box that goes from top to bottom,chain racks on both sides with boxes underneath and flaps that fold over to lock your binders and chains securely.It also has a tarp rack welded on top. New it would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 2500,I got it used for a lot less from a hand was tired of skateboards.You should have at least 6 -10 chains and binders and 20 or so straps. Sliding straps on the trailer are ideal and 10 of those would come in handy.Dunnage is also very important and a lot of guys like to strap it to the deck, I always slid mine in by the landing gear and under the deck.You should also have some carpet or rubber strips to put on sharp edges and corners to protect your tarps.Tarps cost a lot,so you want to protect them.The best ones are the lightest ones. If I ever saw a mudflap on the road or parking lot I'd pick it up and use it as protection.I still have quite a collection,lol.A good pair of coveralls is also good to have,keeps your street clothes clean.Good sturdy gloves and hiking boots also are handy.I'm sure I left some things out and I'm sure you'll get some more info.It's not easy but people that have been doing it awhile can sure make it look that way.I did it for about 12yrs and being large it hasn't been very good to my knees and back,but then neither has lumping.If you get into it and you enjoy it, you'll have a lot of fun, I know I did. Good luck, any more questions, just ask.I just looked back and saw your from Pa, I made a whole lot of money hauling out of Bethlehem , Camp Hill and Allentown, also a lot of bagged mulch and soils from the mushroom farms.A lot of shingles and wallboard out of Maryland and plywood from Ga on up to Va, going to NYC and to the Amish.
.I hauled a load of 80$ a sheet plywood to the Justice dept in DC one time,they make benches for Immigration courts in the basement, what a racket they got.That's also a good story but I said enuff.

 

That's not true. I've seen plenty of sites dated 2014 that say the requirement was removed 10 years earlier, which would be 2004. Here is one such site;

No bulkhead? Don’t forget to use a penalty strap

 

I stopped driving OTR in 04',2 back surgeries. Haven't driven a flatbed since 94'.I personally would want that and the headache rack.Saw a driver saved from a 40klb coil in Philly by a rack and a driver killed in Fla hauling 6klb rolls of paper in a dry van, no rack.Thanks

 

It's the same with putting straps outside the rub rail. No longer illegal, but who wants to do that?

 

You know,you live in Pa,there's a company called Hale on rt.73 in NJ. The guy I worked for rented or leased 3 brand new Fontaine 45-75' stretch flats from there.That was a while ago, but they've only gotten larger.Hale trailer-sales, rentals, parts.www.HaleTrailer.com locations in Scranton,Allentown Pa. 11locations. 800-383-8894.That's the Allentown#, give them a call,all major brands.

 

A headboard or headache rack won't help much with a 40k coil coming at you. Your best off keeping it from moving in the first place.
And bean is right neither is required anymore.

 

You might want to update your information and make sure it's current before offering advice to the newbies.

I'm sure you wouldn't give out bad info on purpose but the greenhorns will take an old hands advice as gospel. That isn't always a good thing.

 

Good point,thank you next time I'll check my info,kinda thought that one was a no brainer.

 

No problem. No harm, no foul. I just hate the idea that some rookie will take advice, use it, and wind up in trouble because the advice wasn't right. They tend to quit taking advice when that happens and we all suffer for it.