How To Strap A Load on a Flatbed for Dummies

It's time to learn how to properly strap a load on your truck!
In this video, Dean shares his favourite tools he keeps with him on the road at all times, as well as his best tips for strapping and securing a load safely and efficiently.
Do you have any tips to share? Leave a comment down below, we'd love to hear what you think!
What else would you like to see from us? Leave a comment below with your video suggestions, and we'll bring them to life!
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#Flatbed #Trucking #Trucker
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:09 Essential tools for on the road flatbed driver
02:59 Always use bungee cords to secure loose straps
03:28 Using a paint pole to add corners
03:56 Throwing straps flatbed demonstration
04:50 Properly holding the straps for throwing
05:17 Always yell a warning to the other side before throwing straps
06:09 How to secure a strap through a rub rail on flatbed
07:20 Tightening up load straps on flatbed demonstration
07:34 Self winding straps flatbed load trick
08:18 How to undo a strap on a flatbed load
09:18 How to roll the strap back up flatbed load
10:48 How to use a ratchet strap flatbed load
12:21 Use zip ties to secure the strap slack flatbed load

[@yukongoatslayer7383]

I'm not a fan of leaving my straps permanently attached to the winches. I prefer to remove them from the trailer and store them in the tool box or headache rack when not in use. The zip tie method worked well. I'll usually wrap a couple of bungee straps around the rolled up slack and pin it to the portable ratchet. I just find that makes it a bit easier and more efficient if I have to tighten it up on the road. Other types of edge protectors could be cut up sections of old strap, pieces of carpet or pieces of ¼ inch thick rubber. The rubber is my go to edge protection. Always keep 3 inch screws and a screw gun with you. You want to screw dunnage directly to the trailer to prevent movement. A hammer and nails will also work. Always inspect your snipe bar for hairline cracks. If it snaps while you are torquing on it, it will break your jaw. Keep a hand choked up on it near the winch. That choked up hand should catch it, if it breaks. Never pull on it with both hands near the bottom.

[@cbylsma626]

We have "toss-n-tie" for high loads, you toss this rubber ball that has rope tied to it clip the Caribaner to your strap chain and pull the strap over! Takes a little more time but saves on your shoulder throwing your strap that high! For me, when I'm throwing my straps, I hang my excess strap in my right hand, allowing the strap to feed out as it goes over the load (less likely for me to get caught in the excess strap, or step on it as I throw). When I reel up my straps, I have a cordless drill and a 3/8" Allen key in the end, I feed the strap like you do, pull it out, then hook the Allen key in the ratchet and drill, in reverse, the strap up! great pointers, its not necessary to be concerned about time it takes when your securing the load, the load securement is more important, thanks Dean!

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Hell yeah man great ideas. I have thought about the drill a bunch of times lol I just can’t kick the old school outta me yet lol.

[@aldenbackensto3858]

You basically do it the way I do but I always love to see other people's way of doing it and if I see something useful that I can use then it's been a good day because if you think you know it all that's when you get into trouble

[@dirtyjobs3995]

Thanks for the pro tips, my son just passed his class one licence and we will be doing some flatbed work this coming summer so I just forwarded this to him.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Hey awesome and congrats to him. Hope these tips help save some agony 👍

[@RCRCustoms]

Always enjoy what you bring to the channel Dean 👍👍 I have a few different things I do that I think you’d enjoy. Always keep your gear lubed like you said, I keep a can of Wurth Film in the truck for that. Also carry a wire brush for cleaning the road grim out of the ratchet binders. I keep the majority of my straps under the bunk in the side box and out of the weather myself, it’s not as fast but it keeps things cleaner and out of harms way. I’m also one of the guys that puts the hook on and throws the soft end of the strap over. With the hand ratchets like your 2” there, if you pull the strap straight through and out the bottom when you go to release it if you open the handle straight up into the locked position you can yank the tail end down and it’ll open right up for you. No fighting required. Then when you’re tightening it up rather than using the zip ties, if you roll it up the same way you do but instead of zip ties tuck it under the strap between it and the rub rail then finish tightening it up it’ll hold it together. Bonus if it ever did come loose the tail end will come out like a flag and let you know something isn’t right. Keep the great content coming Brother, the new people need all the help we can share with them 👍👍

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Hey thanks brother, I actually do some of that as well. Lol vids are only so long lol but I love that you left that for others to read, I do appreciate it man. And thx for the nice comment 👍👍keep on rocking it out there bro, see ya on the big roads😎

[@user-pv4io3rx5j]

Flatbeds are a new things for me this year and I just solved a couple problems I was facing everyday just watching this video! Many thanks !

[@guitarguy210ce]

One twist in the strap on each side for air not to loosen them so much. You can also secure the extra in between the hook and the strap on the ratchet side, give your self a little slack, and tighten to lock it in.

[@questionablehumor2800]

when i was driving the flatbed ford at my lumber yard job, i would use the tail off the ratchet strap to add another strap over the load. and then tie it in a/several knot(s) to swallow the remaining tail that isn't binding the load.

[@deluxetransport3208]

I fold up my ratchet strap tail thick enough to lock it in the ratchet. Yes you need to squeeze it hard and lock it.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Awesome tip yeah that’s another good way brother👍

[@victorgarrido9481]

Great video!!! Thank you!!! Be safe !!!

[@aramdonatossian7959]

Thank you informative, simple, great idea about the painter's long roller handle to put up the plastic load/strap protectors

[@moffett.flatbed.training]

Some good tips. Learned a couple new tricks I'm gonna try out

[@mitchelgonzales86]

thanks for the video excellent job. thanks and stay safe.

[@lor487]

Great Tips Thank You😊 Im totally new to this, so Im grateful for the professional advise. There are so many things to think about. I believe your videos are very important, because it comes across more skilled, than you trying to be popular on youtube. That right there is what will make you popular, More importantly you offer Wisdom that creates Professionals. You are Awesome!!

[@r0ckworthy]

FANTASTIC video thank you! Your tips you've learned from countless hours of doing this stuff is very helpful to me as a total noob.

[@tacticaltradingpennystocks7206]

Definitely thinking of jumping over to flatbed. Great video

[@efraingarfias7856]

Thank you very much. So helpful video very good 💯

[@467inc]

Amazing teacher

[@dansanderson4427]

Excellent. Much appreciated

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Thx brother 👍

[@voltanzapata8024]

Thanks for the video I’d like to add there’s a lot of physics involved and the load naturally wants to come off.

[@Gohan_Fanboi]

I know next to nothing about flatbed hauling and straping the load on em (dry van driver) but absolutely curious and would like to know in the case I do go that route. Very much appreciated.

[@dustindalke7979]

Velcro works. We use metal clamps with rubber ends to protect the strap. Works fantastic

[@beerandgasolinemagazine5581]

lol...some dude was trying to teach me how to tie that 2" straps up and I never got the hang of it. All week I've been thinking why not just use tie wraps or something similar and be done? Great video, very informative and fun to watch. Thanks Dean.

[@TheBostonTrucker]

I learned a lot! Thanks

[@HarlockG]

Hey guys! Love your content, it's great! I was wondering if you have some opinions and some data on duals vs super singles. I'd love to hear about that.

[@Skusty]

I use bike chain oil for my ratchet binders, the oil is really sticky, I also screw in the ends when not using them.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Awesome tips man. Yeah I will screw them in for really long trips if I’m not using them. Another good thing I do is when the ratchet binder is hanging on my headache rack, I loop a chain in the hook of it to prevent the hook from vibrating around and popping out.

[@CaptainKaveman79]

Thank you

[@deluxetransport3208]

In the USA, a flatbed lady driver was told by dot it's not legal to throw the hook or chain side of the strap anymore. Safety reasons. Always throw the strap over. So the roll up strap is the way they want it done.

[@codyway7424]

Funny

[@UhYeahWhateverDude]

Yup. And if you can't grenade-toss a strap over a load you don't need to be flat-bedding anyway.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Interesting, I have never heard off such a rule. I will have to look further into this, thx for the input

[@joshuas3282]

Exactly what i was about to say. You cannot throw a hook/chain over the load in the USA. Massive OSHA violation because some jackass wasnt wearing a hardhat and got hit in the head.

[@rodderick1983]

If it's not mentioned already the only concern I have is leaving straps on the roller where they get wet, dirt and rusty causing less life in the strap. If possible it's best to place in the side box.

[@sdthudfnh]

I use a gavese tool with a paint pole, it work amazing, I pay like $35 for it but worth every single penny

[@randeepsandhu6457]

Awesome 👌

[@SILKYG00SE]

Keep it simple, I like it

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Thx brother 👍

[@bobby9623]

This is definitely my favorite video.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Hey thanks brother glad it was helpful 👍

[@bobby9623]

@@lifedrivefitness9123 it was I think because I used to haul machines on landolls and drop deck so I knew what all the binders did . Just you showing how loads like that were done and where to hang the chain grabbers. Shoot, I’m going to flatbed .

[@blauer2551]

I use a cordless drill with a 1/2” Allen wrench inserted to roll up the straps. I do multiple loads per day with 11 straps and your forearms get sore.

[@loriwerle4895]

Thank you for taking the time to show how it's done. Now, I know straps are weight rated and you have to place straps at certain length from the front? I'm new to this.

[@gratch6638]

Excellent content Dean. Definitely need to get myself an extendable roller. I am a noob and yesterday I had two drops of drywall (same trailer) I needed to untarp, unload the rear then retarp and strap down the second drop. It was painful. And of course I wanted to keep the slippery plastic under the tarp so getting up there and positioning the corners was not ideal. The roller would have been valuable. Definitely getting one 👍. Thanks bud!

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Hey awesome brother I am happy it helped. You will love it once you get the hang of it. I don’t miss tarps lol . Thx for the awesome work man👍

[@angoor101]

Retired 5 years ago and want to get out of the house. I’m preparing to start a CDL hotshot business. Some say I’m too old at 63 but if I were to listen to naysayers I’d still be washing dishes at Denny’s back in 1980. Well, I’m learning bit by bit, though you’re a semi trucker, but what you taught in this video applies to a 40’ trailer pulled by a Dodge 5500. What you say? Am I too old for the job?

[@NorthAmerican-Trucking-News]

Are you kidding? We've met a lot of older truckers we love em! As long as you're physically capable, I say go for it!

[@MarkBerg-tk8js]

I’m 85 still flat bed, for 66 of my 85 years. Load and unload trailers in northern mn ND , WI, home nightly. We keep straps dry and non frozen in a combos.

[@mcjasper]

Say no to zip ties. Throwing away money and time. Fold tech sweet. Snug ratchet. Place excess under/in-between strap attached to rub rail. Tighten ratchet so that tension will hold excess in place.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

That is one of the best ways for sure I totally agree but not always an option. Thx for adding that brother I appreciate it👍

[@dwenman8774]

Interesting 🤔 I haven't used the chain straps before I only use regular straps for my loads but thanks for the tip

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

My pleasure. Honestly once you have that technique down you will love it.👍

[@UhYeahWhateverDude]

Please do not do it that way. Most respectable companies don't allow it anyway. And if you throw a chain-end my direction prepare to get a winch bar in the teeth.

[@Joran_DR]

Absolutely love it, in Europe it's almost only rattlestraps but it's nice to see it the American way XD.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Would love to see how you guys do it out there.

[@Joran_DR]

@@lifedrivefitness9123 Check out this guy called: EURO TRUCKER, on youtube kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5W2oqaXas1sl5I&ab_channel=EUROTRUCKER at 1:15 he starts loading and at 7:50 unloading.

[@Joran_DR]

Also interesting is this video how we Europeans do timber transport: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqWcn56ibNmnpJI&ab_channel=GaumePix%27s

[@frederickknapp5340]

I hate throwing the heavy end over a load. Never know when someone is walking by, yelling usually doesn't help

[@miked8241]

Whats up Dean! Iam totally new to flat bed work and i have question about the 2×4 that are used for hauling rolls of wire. What keeps the 2×4 from moving

[@jariban]

My Favorite Canadians 😂

[@onebadapple83]

Ya know what I really hate? Shippers will load bundles of steel bars or something and not against each other. Three bundles on the top layer and not touching? That middle one is just loose……waiting to come through the headache rack. Ok, you asked other ways? 1. Never understood the piece of chain at the end of the strap. Why not the flat steel J-hook and throw the “soft” end over? 2. Six inch diameter roll of strap tightening vs a two or three inch on the winch? Two or three times tighter with same or less effort. 3. Leaving the winches rolled up on the trailer? Soak every bit of road chemical out there or, worse yet, freeze into a round brick with no chemicals. Good safety advice, by the way!!!!!!

[@Croix9389]

For the middle bundles you can use weave strap technique .Under the bundles that has straps and over the middle bundles.Hope that helps.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

For the middle yes I do a full loop and lock everything in together. Keep in mind the videos are only so long so we focus on the basics. I personally am not a fan of the J hooks but everyone is different. I find personally I can throw the chains with little to no effort in comparison. If you have the option of removing all the straps then obviously in the winter months that is a good way to go. Thx for the comment

[@onebadapple83]

@@lifedrivefitness9123 That will work if there’s blocks between the three top bundles otherwise they will work their way together and cut the straps.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

@@onebadapple83 well I would always suggest using strap protection of some sort. Gotta use your best judgment. I never have a problem with cutting straps for that reason

[@onebadapple83]

@@lifedrivefitness9123 I haven’t either because I never put straps between anything not separated with a block. However, they have wiggled together which would have cut the strap!

[@douglasneat9147]

Awesome video! Wish this had been around when I started driving. I never had a problem with other drivers showing me how to strap stuff when I wasn't sure about it. The only l trouble I noticed was that your long nose can't get that great a mileage lol.

[@ColtonRMagby]

Retractable ratchet straps take up less space than normal ones. Never hurts to have some in case you need them.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Amen my brother. Thx for the tip

[@bumsmodified98xj]

Awesome tutorial I knew I wasn't crazy I like to keep my straps straight as well, some people I noticed they twist them and they claim that's the professional way they also claim it keeps the straps from flapping going down the road but my experience a flapping strap is a loose strap so I keep my straps straight all the way through any sign of flapping that's a loose strap. Twisting the straps to keep them from flapping you have no clue if the straps loose or not keep your straps nice and tight nice and straight.

[@deluxetransport3208]

A flat strap vibrates and causes it to fray. Twist you straps. And a loose strap will still appear loose.

[@MrEGThug]

On some loads you cant tighten the strap completely but twists in the straps will help going through the prairie wind otherwise the wind will loosen all ur a Straps

[@bumsmodified98xj]

SMH🤦 me as a person is only giving a opinion. But in this game common Sense wins over opinions

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Yeah I have heard that one as well but I find the same as you, keep them tight and they don’t flap. Thx for the comment brother

[@UhYeahWhateverDude]

Vibration will cut your strap. If a twisted strap is loose, you will still know just the same.

[@jonathanrabbitt]

Get rid of underslung winches and normal rachets and then get yourself some reverse action rachets. Leaving your load restraint gear exposed to the road environment even when you're not using it is dumb.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Great tips. I agree the best option is to remove them but it’s not always an option. Many of our trailers are left with them attached and we have a bunch that aren’t.

[@TheBigOrangePumpkin]

I don't like to keep the straps on the trailer when I'm not using

[@v_five_v8861]

👍🏾💯

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Thx for the comment 👍

[@timoshi119]

In a few weeks I'm going to flatbed school after 2 years of being a door swinger I decided to go to the dark side.

[@n.h.professor1993]

Best way I seen, make me want to work for you instead

[@WagnerAndSons]

Don’t get caught throwing that hook. Most shippers will kick you out.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Hmmm never run into a problem but I will definitely keep it in mind. Thanks for that.

[@n5ifi]

FYI....Some companies will ban you from their property for throwing the weighted end of the strap.

[@onurozdamar6568]

Thanks you so much. You have teacher skill

[@spercwolf2985]

I know leaving the whole strap wrapped within the winch looks good, but dont do this ever. It will loosen and NEVER throw the end of your stap that has any metal on it. It is dangerous to people as well as your load. Take the extra time, throw the rolled strap over your load and pull it all thru before tightening down on your winch. Tuck the excess strap neatly under your load if your are tarping or behind your strap when you tighten down. Heck, zip tie it up out of the way but do NOT roll the whole strap on your winch. It will loosen.

[@DJSTOEK]

😷🙂

[@mikezunker]

Holly cow. I've never been so happy to not be a Canadian. Throwing hunks of steel over a load while talking about being safe.

[@wukilla8ee]

You can show these idiots all you want, a lot of the time each load is different & requires you to actually think about what your doing. Something this new generation lacks

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Haha yeah there is definitely a lot where you have to think on the spot. Hopefully it helps a few lol👍

[@Jesus.Eternal]

Do you ever feel like you’re all alone and no one cares about you? I want you to know something: you’re not alone. God cares about you. God loves you, and you don’t have to ever be lonely again. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". (john 3:16) For Jesus says "we are worth more than sparrows" (Luke 12:7). Now, in order to remove this pain and emptiness we need to follow Jesus... and he’s just a prayer away. You can just pray a prayer like this: 'Father God, I want you to come into my life. Forgive me of my sins. I want to start this relationship with you now. Amen'.. If you’ll pray a prayer like that, God will hear it.

[@lifedrivefitness9123]

Thx man👍

[@newschooltruckin3943]

U lost me wen u said snap binders don’t get as tight

[@kellendavis8638]

I have a scar on my head from an idiot throwing straps hook end first. If you were too lazy to take your straps off of the winch and roll them up and store them in the side box of that $200,000 truck so they don't get weather rotted, do the rest of people around trucks a favor and just go pull van or reefer. If you've been paying attention and reading signs at all the different shippers you go to, you would realize how many places have signs that say do not throw strap hooks!!!

[@Venom-nk8nd]

🇵🇬,.,.

[@newschooltruckin3943]

U lost me wen u said snap binders don’t get as tight