Flatbed trailers have no walls to secure the loads firmly. For safe delivery with a flatbed, a driver needs a particular skill-set, which includes;

Tarping: Ideally, flatbeds are designed for trucking oversize loads that are not vulnerable to environmental changes such as scorching sun and heavy downpours. Having said that, there are circumstances where drivers need to cover the load. For instance, a customer may request for privacy while moving the load. As such, the driver will be required to hand tarp or use the available tarp system to cover the load before leaving the pickup point.

Quick and Efficient Load Securement; The time spent loading and securing cargo has a significant impact on the overall annual mileage that a driver covers. So, the quicker the load is secured, the faster the truck leaves the pickup point. Also, the absence of sidewalls requires a driver to ensure that the load is adequately secured to avoid weight shifting or back and forth wobbling of the cargo while towing. The driver needs to know the protocol to follow and the down downs of the straps and chains that are permitted under the safety road regulations. With such skills, the trucking process will be smooth, and the loading and unloading process will be fast and safe.

Loading and unloading. Both the processes will be done by special handling equipment such as forklifts and cranes. Even though such equipment will be handled by trained operators, a driver’s skills will be required when positioning the load. Load distribution and balance are very important and have to be done right while loading. During unloading, the driver needs to ensure the process is safe, and the load is not damaged.