Steel beam loads killing lots of drivers, any advice?

Trip chains, chokers, and build a bulkhead with your dunnage.

Those guys had issues due to laziness, complacency, or poor training/understanding.

 

Drive it as you loaded with explosives.

 

It's not rocket science. Most guys are just in a hurry. Straps and chains. Then actually check them after you get down the road. The loads shift and chains/straps come loose. Just actually do your job and check them. Your life isn't worth the few extra minutes. Just my opinion here, but I believe the eld is to blame here. Too many folks are worried about the clock.

Edit: also, actually take the time and layer your securement. Don't be the guy that just throws a bunch of chains over the top.

 

X chains in the front help alot as well. And do ur best to keep ur truck out of hard brake situations . keep securement tight at all times. If they are loading multiple layers its gonna take a couple trip checks to get them tight. Just check every 30 miles from shipper until they stop settling down... Other than that they are easy and fun to haul, one of my favorite loads to run. The long 50ft beams ride real nice since weight is destributed across the whole trailer evenly.... If you need help on securement dont be afraid to ask on here !

 

What he said, put more Dunnage down, put the securement at the Dunnage as tight as possible, chains across tha front, each layer. Also put chains across the back. It will walk back. Don't go very far before you check the load. Check it again if any chains were loose You can put straps on the beams, on the front and rear you need chains.

 

Once you get loaded, put up some pics in the Flatbed Pics thread. People see it pretty quick, and can help you out almost in real time.

And if you lose the load through the cab and live, don't forget to post pics in the Hall of Shame!!

 

Don't be afraid to ask one of the other drivers if it looks good. Refrain from putting the beam up to the cab. Those guys have loaded a few out.

 

Once you secure it properly don't forget to drive it responsibly. You can't control everything on the road but giving yourself some following distance does wonders for reducing hard braking...

 

I was at a steel dynamics and the guy next to me was throwing his chains and then using snap binders so loose that he was just snapping them closed with his hand. Didn't even need a bar.