Most trucks you see on the highway transporting cargo are enclosed trailers. For bigger cargo, you will see it being transferred on a flatbed truck. Flatbed trucking is not an easy job. It takes a lot of time, skill, and attention to detail to successfully secure cargo on a flatbed trailer.

As a new truck driver, it’s important for you to learn as much as you can before you start driving. New drivers don’t have any experience to help out on the road, unlike truck drivers who have been doing their jobs for years. Here are some tips and tricks every new truck driver should know.

Truck drivers do more than sit behind the wheel and ship goods all over the country. They operate some of the largest vehicles on the planet, while navigating through inclement weather and cities not designed for their weight or size. These drivers operate under a comprehensive regulatory regime managed by federal and state governments and insurance companies.

There is no precise guide for all truck drivers to follow when loading and unloading cargo off or on a flatbed truck. Despite this, a few comprehensive procedures can be followed to make these processes safer. The variety of loads transported on these trucks varies, so every truck driver should understand their own procedures. The following are four important safety measures that should be put in place when loading and unloading flatbed trailers.

Trailer ladders are relatively simple tools to use. However, more than 100,000 people a year are treated for injuries from falling off a ladder, according to The Consumer Product Safety Commission. With such alarming numbers, you cannot assume your workers are familiar with their safety ladders.

Tarping loads on a flatbed trailer is important for protecting them from the elements. Whether you work on your own or drive a truck for a large company, getting cargo delivered in perfect shape is vital. But, your safety is just as important. Tarping can be a dangerous job, so every driver should know how to tarp well AND safely.

The trucking industry is known to be dangerous, especially for truckers on the road. But, loading and unloading flatbed trailers presents a different set of risks. Large objects can crush truckers during loading if they slip. New and experienced drivers alike can slip and fall from their trailer while adjusting a load. This is why following safety procedures is so important.

Being a flatbed truck driver can be extremely dangerous at times. The job will expose you to a high risk level of getting injured, but the majority of mishaps can be avoided. In the past, trucking companies created a laundry list of safety reminders. These were often never enforced, which caused many truckers to become hurt and miss work.