I hope you guys can help me, how long does a load check in general take? Lets say you carry 48000 lbs of steel beams on a flatbed and a trap is over all of it including chains and tie downs. Would it take longer than 10 minutes?
Posted by HikeTheSky@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 14 comments
See above. I am trying to figure out how long such a check takes. And would you do it at the side of an interstate next to the slow lane in an incline or would you wait for the next rest stop in less than ten miles?
jdpunome@reddit
If nothing came loose and your cargo is still right where you left it, then it should be quick. If you have to tighten your chains /straps or apply some extra bungies to get rid of that annoying bubble, then it will take longer. Really all depends but as far as your log is concerned, safety or dot just want to make sure you're doing them. Not graded the same as pre/post trips.
Vegetable_Living_415@reddit
NEVER on the side of the road unless your about to lose part of your load.
Your load being properly secured is more important than time or whatever the broker or your dispatch have to say. Or anyone else. That is priority numero uno.
Steel beams are nothing to fuck with, so take your time and do it right.
If you can feel your chains thru the tarp, awesome. If not, or you can't tell if that one's loose or not then you HAVE TO reach under the tarp and check it. Yes it's a pain in the ass, yes it'll take more time. And YES, it's still freakin matters.
Personally I hate tarping a chained load because i can't see my chains. I can't keep an eye on them as i go down the road. But that's the job.
So stop somewhere safe and check your load. And tell anyone giving you crap, to go pound sand. If ya gotta fix shit, then ya gotta fix shit. It'll take just as long as it's gonna take.
Don't skip steps to make other people happy. That's how you die, that's how other people die. Customers need that load delivered to the address on the BOL. Not in the middle of the intestate, not thru your cab, not thru someone else's windows.
Kiiaru@reddit
If nothing is wrong with your load? 3 minutes, enough to check your straps/chains, tarp, thump your tires, make sure you still have mudflaps, and check your lights. If you have to tighten something or fix bungees? It takes as long as it takes, don't rush.
I never do anything on the side of the road unless it's an emergency like a strap is fluttering free because it ripped. At the very least shoot for an exit ramp to pull over (make sure it's not a soft shoulder)
Beautiful-Slice166@reddit
It takes as long as it takes. And pulling into a sage location is always best, as...well you arnt suppose to stop on the side of the road unless you break down anyway
Dual-use@reddit
Dont do in on the side of the road. I usually do my load checks during pretrip, fuel stops and whenever I get the feeling something... just isnt right
Human_Lecture_348@reddit
/every 3 hours or 150 miles?
BoostedLexus@reddit
NEVER check your equipment on the side of the road unless it's an emergency, that's how you end up on a shirt or your family having a car wash in your name!!!
If no faults are found, 5min, 10min max. Check it every 3hrs, pre trip, fueling, stopping to get food/break or use the bathroom at a SAFE location, and post trip at the end of the day.
Accomplished-Cat-632@reddit
You’re doing a safety check. Let’s do it in a safe location please. And it takes as long as it takes.
NectarineAny4897@reddit
Solid.
Randorini@reddit
Idk, depends on the load but like 2 minutes, just walk around touching everything to see if it's tight.
I usually just do this Everytime I stop or get fuel, just a quick lap around the trailer
HikeTheSky@reddit (OP)
How about when everything is covered under a tarp that goes all the way down and doesn't allow you to see the load or anything else?
Randorini@reddit
I don't ever tarp stuff anymore but even than, just touching, you know where your chains or straps are under the tarp so you just feel them through it.
It could take longer if something is actually fucked or moved but 99% of the time it's just a quick walk around the trailer.
Typically you can see when shit gets loose in your mirrors but not all the time
fastnsx21@reddit
At a rest stop. 5 minutes MAX if there's nothing wrong
Choice_Pop3111@reddit
well, that would depend on how long you have been in the Job... the longer probably the faster... but you dont want to put yourself on a clock... if it takes 10 minutes that great... takes longer if you find a issue to correct...
let me tell you how long it takes if the load slides off in the road... hours and a expensive tow truck call