WTI Transport, a flatbed carrier serving 26 states, recently opened a training facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where experienced over-the-road drivers can train to pull a flatbed. The facility, which welcomed its first class on Aug. 21, consists of a large, indoor classroom capable of holding up to 25 students.
Hands-on training is available outside using two trailers loaded with different types of freight; there, drivers learn to secure their loads properly by strapping and tarping. A tractor-trailer also is set up to allow drivers to review pre-trip inspections, and a skills course tests their ability to turn and maneuver. Several trainers teach every class, with each trainer handling the portion of the curriculum in which they specialize.
