Anyone use flat trailers now?
Discussion
In particular with sheets and ropes.
I was brought up in general haulage, though it's the best part of 30 years since I've driven a wagon either in anger or just playing. When I was involved though, apart from a couple of taut-liners, mainly for specific jobs, everything was loaded onto flats and sheeted/roped down, with the exception of a few loads which had to be chained.
Even travelling up and down the motorways I seldom see a nicely sheeted load nowadays, with most stuff being in covered trailers. It was something that most drivers used to pride themselves in, ensuring there were no flapping sheets, even trying to get the dollies at exactly the same height and the loops pointing the correct way. We had a few high/bulky loads which needed 5 sheets; a back sheet, then two down each side to the chock rail, left side first, with a drip sheet (flysheet) going over the top of the lot, yet there was no movement once done correctly.
I'll admit it was hard work, but it kept you fit and, once relatively experienced, wasn't that bad a job. The other big thing was that when you were empty you could tell just by looking in your mirrors, no massive headboard in the way.
Possibly just the ramblings of an old man, but I do miss seeing well sheeted trailers. Oh, and the Scots (for some reason) always seemed to have the tidiest ones. Apart from mine of course.
I was brought up in general haulage, though it's the best part of 30 years since I've driven a wagon either in anger or just playing. When I was involved though, apart from a couple of taut-liners, mainly for specific jobs, everything was loaded onto flats and sheeted/roped down, with the exception of a few loads which had to be chained.
Even travelling up and down the motorways I seldom see a nicely sheeted load nowadays, with most stuff being in covered trailers. It was something that most drivers used to pride themselves in, ensuring there were no flapping sheets, even trying to get the dollies at exactly the same height and the loops pointing the correct way. We had a few high/bulky loads which needed 5 sheets; a back sheet, then two down each side to the chock rail, left side first, with a drip sheet (flysheet) going over the top of the lot, yet there was no movement once done correctly.
I'll admit it was hard work, but it kept you fit and, once relatively experienced, wasn't that bad a job. The other big thing was that when you were empty you could tell just by looking in your mirrors, no massive headboard in the way.
Possibly just the ramblings of an old man, but I do miss seeing well sheeted trailers. Oh, and the Scots (for some reason) always seemed to have the tidiest ones. Apart from mine of course.
I think nowadays most stuff tends to be backed onto a bay, and as such you can't have warehouse operatives falling off the sides. The thing that annoys me is how everything is in a curtain sider, most jobs would Be better with a box trailer these days, certainly less susceptible to theft and given that nobody straps anything down that comes off a bay, safer.
I mainly move potatoes, there is no reason it couldn't be done on flat trailers, with sheets, you'd get an extra ton of weight on I'd imagine, and people would be forced to actually strap their loads so it would be secure. However, the industry standard seems to be to shove them in a curtain sider. Which means I get s
tty back loads, such as bottled water, I hate doing bottled water, you can't strap it safely and it shouldn't travel in a cutain sider imho, but 99% of it does.
The Scottish still have the best kit though!
I mainly move potatoes, there is no reason it couldn't be done on flat trailers, with sheets, you'd get an extra ton of weight on I'd imagine, and people would be forced to actually strap their loads so it would be secure. However, the industry standard seems to be to shove them in a curtain sider. Which means I get s
tty back loads, such as bottled water, I hate doing bottled water, you can't strap it safely and it shouldn't travel in a cutain sider imho, but 99% of it does.The Scottish still have the best kit though!
Edited by bigfatnick on Monday 30th November 13:11
The highway robbery squad are getting more ontop of loads not strapped down even in box bodies let alone curtains .
€300 fine in Germany if caught by the BAG man if you haven't strapped down properly and if they can prove who loaded you they will fine them also .
I cannot understand not securing a load properly but maybe that comes with doing a fair bit of ADR work .
My pet hate is IBC containers , make me feel seasick when in stop start traffic .
Far too many out there cannot use a ratchet strap correctly , I will admit that I have never done rope and sheet and its very rare too see these days , Swains have a few flat beds on their fleets but I have yet to see a young gun driving one .
€300 fine in Germany if caught by the BAG man if you haven't strapped down properly and if they can prove who loaded you they will fine them also .
I cannot understand not securing a load properly but maybe that comes with doing a fair bit of ADR work .
My pet hate is IBC containers , make me feel seasick when in stop start traffic .
Far too many out there cannot use a ratchet strap correctly , I will admit that I have never done rope and sheet and its very rare too see these days , Swains have a few flat beds on their fleets but I have yet to see a young gun driving one .
I have been out of the haulage industry for 15 years, however I spent 20 years on class one work and a big part of this was flat work, sometimes throughout Europe, 3 tonne reels of paper out and, well literally anything back, happy days? yes certainly but I am not sure I would want to repeat it!!
Seems it's a dying art then 
I've been out a bit longer than you Harvey and, as you say, wouldn't go back to sheets if I had the option.
I packed it all in when I was due another medical on or about my 50th birthday. I was working in France and hiring cars on a constant basis so needed my licence to show the hire company. I also worked out that I'd not actually driven a wagon for over 5 years since the previous medical so it just seemed a waste of money.
Can't say I miss it to be honest, especially with today's traffic...
I've been out a bit longer than you Harvey and, as you say, wouldn't go back to sheets if I had the option.
I packed it all in when I was due another medical on or about my 50th birthday. I was working in France and hiring cars on a constant basis so needed my licence to show the hire company. I also worked out that I'd not actually driven a wagon for over 5 years since the previous medical so it just seemed a waste of money.
Can't say I miss it to be honest, especially with today's traffic...
I still pull a flat trailer on a daily basis, sometimes a flat step frame, very very occasionally a curtain or a fridge van.
Last week I had to skin a load of sand from Carlisle heading north to Peterhead, that was the first time since January I think I had the covers out, I'll be honest I don't miss not using them.
Everytime we are on any form of distance work we take covers "just in case" I shudder at the thought of having to use them
Saying that I prefer flats to curtains.
Last week I had to skin a load of sand from Carlisle heading north to Peterhead, that was the first time since January I think I had the covers out, I'll be honest I don't miss not using them.
Everytime we are on any form of distance work we take covers "just in case" I shudder at the thought of having to use them
Saying that I prefer flats to curtains.
I've never worked as a commercial driver but was brought up on a farm and learned roping and sheeting flat tractor trailers loaded high with straw and hay. I also 'worked' as a second man to my Grandad from an early age carrying all sorts from fish in boxes from Peterhead to wheat and sugar in 2cwt bags (they were a challenge to a 12 year old)to and from Leith docks.
This was all in the days before straps were in general use and every lorry used ropes tied with kinches.
It still impresses (older) people when I sheet and rope a load on the back of my pickup or tractor trailer as they never see this done nowadays.The only lorry I've seen lately using sheets and rope is our local coal merchant with his wee 7.5 Tonner.
This was all in the days before straps were in general use and every lorry used ropes tied with kinches.
It still impresses (older) people when I sheet and rope a load on the back of my pickup or tractor trailer as they never see this done nowadays.The only lorry I've seen lately using sheets and rope is our local coal merchant with his wee 7.5 Tonner.
Not in the same league but I used to use a iveco daily and trailer both drop sides with ropes straps and sheets
Gave it up 2 years ago as the work dried up , it'd take me a good 30 minutes before I was happy to move, 1 tonne pallets standing 5ft high.
A few weeks ago I called into one of the companies I used to work for just as a guy with a 7.5t drop side was leaving, one strap on each pallet , no way that's stopping there if it goes tits up
The amount of curtain siders I saw just zip the curtains and drive off with 20 1 tonne pallets on was unbelievable , no straps on any of it.
Gave it up 2 years ago as the work dried up , it'd take me a good 30 minutes before I was happy to move, 1 tonne pallets standing 5ft high.
A few weeks ago I called into one of the companies I used to work for just as a guy with a 7.5t drop side was leaving, one strap on each pallet , no way that's stopping there if it goes tits up
The amount of curtain siders I saw just zip the curtains and drive off with 20 1 tonne pallets on was unbelievable , no straps on any of it.
We had a delivery many years ago from Swains.
Driver jumped up to pull the sheets back and it all went quiet. Mate shouts down from the roof that driver is out cold on the top. Lucky enough, we managed to get his heart going and the FB got him into an ambulance eventually.
Like to think the fella is still about somewhere, and keep the first aid courses up to date just because they worked in this case.
Them sheets were bloody heavy though, no wonder he keeled over !
Driver jumped up to pull the sheets back and it all went quiet. Mate shouts down from the roof that driver is out cold on the top. Lucky enough, we managed to get his heart going and the FB got him into an ambulance eventually.
Like to think the fella is still about somewhere, and keep the first aid courses up to date just because they worked in this case.
Them sheets were bloody heavy though, no wonder he keeled over !
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