Any open deck drivers do this?
Posted by Living-Ad5291@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 5 comments
Does anyone slightly change the way they drive depending on the freight?
Like some freight I load and really don’t think about until delivery and there’s other stuff that
I’ll check straps/chains more frequently, extra following distance easier on the turns ect
nicerakk@reddit
It's a pro move to drive the load.
KC530@reddit
Of course. Some stuff is loose before even making to the interstate and others you can go quite awhile but always be checking your mirrors and trying to feel if something is strange going on back there
TruckinTuba@reddit
Absolutely, some freight needs to be checked more often
AsphaltPirate74@reddit
This means you're an experienced driver if you're doing this, this is how you should be going about things.
PVC pipe loads shrink and expand so I check the straps every time I stop. I go slower too around cruves and in the wind since it's higher up.
Heavy equipment/equipment, I just slap the securement on, check it after 50 miles, then I know I'm good after that. Of course every time I stop I tug on the chains, but it's a waste of time 99% of the time. I'll speed down mountains and take curves fast but I'd never do this with pipe.
Lumber and similar I always check for load shifts
Tarps; eh, I just do a walk around and see if I can tighten any straps down any more after 50 miles then don't worry about it unless I see the tarp flapping from a snapped bungee.
Just a few examples of the way I go about it. I could write a book on my methods lol.
You're going about things the way an experienced and a smart driver would, keep at it driver.
LoicenseToGirth@reddit
Nah I just always do the 150mi/3hr rule stuff. If it's tall I drive slower around corners, but thats about it.
I've had wallboard make it the whole 400 mile trip without coming loose. I've also had some need to be tightened every 100mi. Same with lumber.
Lowes loads I am a bit more sketched out about though. Their dispatch centers load things like they're blind monkeys who've never seen a trailer