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Decking 101

Learn what we do everyday. Here are the steps in decking a truck.

Step 1.  Road drivers pick their load up at an ATT terminal which is located at one of these manufacturing plants...
  • Cleveland, NC - Freightliner
  • Dublin, VA - Mack
  • Macungie, PA - Mack
  • St. Thomas, ON - Sterling
  • Portland, OR - Freightliner
  • Garland, TX - International
  • Laredo, TX - Freightliner, Ford, International
  • Springfield, OH - International
Step 2.  The terminals modify the trucks so that they can be decked. When a driver is assigned to a load, the trucks are decked and ready to roll. 

Typical modifications done to the trucks for decking include the following.
  • An air hose is rigged from the pull truck to ensure each axle on the ground has brakes.
  • A light bar is mounted at the rear and a light cord is rigged from the pull truck for tail lights and turn signals.
  • The exhaust stack is removed from certain styles of trucks.
  • Axle shafts are removed from the rear end that's on the ground so it can be freewheel.
Step 3.  When the load is delivered, the driver is responsible for the undecking and putting the trucks back in order for the customer. The driver unbolts the saddle mount along with other decking equipment accumulated through this process and places it where the customer requests and the company will pick it up later. Drivers carry tools with them to re-assemble trucks upon delivery which consist of simple hand tools. The undecking process takes two to three hours on average (for 3 or 4-way loads).

Step 4.   After successful delivery, Central Support will secure travel and send the driver either back to their home terminal or to another terminal for a backhaul. 

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