Flatbed Securement · Commodity GuideHow to Secure Steel Coils on a FlatbedThe federal rules under FMCSA §393.120 and §393.106 — eye vertical, crosswise, and lengthwise — plus the working-load-limit math that actually keeps y…
From the Seat · Flatbed SecurementTop 10 Cargo Securement Mistakes I've Seen Steel Haulers MakeNone of these drivers were bad at their jobs. Most just got comfortable — or were taught wrong by someone else. Here's what to watch for.
From the Seat · Cargo ControlChains vs. Straps: Which Tiedown for Your Load?There's no single right answer — there's the right tool for the freight. Steel gets chains. Lumber gets straps. Knowing the difference is what makes y…
From the Seat · InspectionsSurviving a Level I DOT InspectionThe most thorough inspection on the road, from the driver's side of the window. If you've done your job at the dock, there's no reason to sweat the sc…
From the Seat · Gear GuideThe Flatbed Gear I Actually CarryNot a catalog dump — the real securement kit I keep on the truck, why each piece is there, and the specs that matter before you spend a dime.
From the Seat · On the RoadA Good Truck GPS Is Worth Every PennyAfter twenty years and one road atlas too many, why a truck-specific GPS earns its place on the dash — truck routing, low-bridge warnings, weigh stations, fuel and parking — plus the two Garmin units I'd run today.
From the Seat · Cargo ControlGrade 70 Transport Chain: 3/8 vs 1/2, WLL & What to BuyHardware-store chain hazards, 3/8 vs 1/2 inch, combined working load limit, the 4-corner rules — and what's actually worth buying.
From the Seat · Cargo ControlRatchet vs. Lever Chain Binders: Which to BuyWhy I run ratchet binders for control, where lever binders still fit, the safety habits that keep your knuckles, and what to buy.
From the Seat · Cargo ControlRatchet Straps: The Right Tool at the Right TimeFlat hooks vs. S-hooks, when straps beat chains, inspecting webbing and ratchets, edge protection, and the straps worth carrying.
From the Seat · Steel TarpsBest Steel Tarps for Flatbed: A Driver's Honest PicksWhy steel tarps are worth the money, protecting your back when throwing them, what a 3-tarp set costs, and the tarps I'd run today.
From the Seat · TarpsBest Lumber Tarps: Sizes, Flaps & Sets Worth BuyingWhy end flaps matter, why 14oz fits lumber but not steel, how to make tarps last, and the sets that are actually worth buying.
From the Seat · Steel HaulingCoil Racks, Bunks & Cradles: What to Buy & How Many to CarryWhy cheap wood fails under a coil, how many racks to carry, what to inspect before every load, and the racks I'd actually buy.
From the Seat · Cargo ControlEdge Protectors, Blankets, and Coil MatsThe small, cheap gear that saves expensive freight — steel and plastic corner protectors, moving blankets, coil mats, and what I'd buy.
From the Seat · A Hard LessonFlatbed Load Height: Measure Every TimeThe New Jersey bridge strike that taught me the lesson — why height is always the driver's responsibility, and how to measure every load.