There's not much left in trucking that I haven't tried. Dry vans, reefers, gasoline tankers, doubles, hotshots, car haulers and now step deck. I decided to sell my 2000 Cottrell car hauler a few months ago because of a drop in demand for auto transport and higher cost of maintenance on an older trailer with so many moving parts. I pulled dry vans for most of November and December helping a major retailer get ready for Christmas. Finally in January, I picked up my 53' all alu
minum step deck.
For the last few weeks, I've hauled primarily lumber which is usually flatbed freight, but can sometimes be loaded on a step deck if the dimensions are right. My trailer has a 44' bottom deck and a 9' top deck which gives me a lot of versatility. I also have heavy duty ramps, two tarps, load levelers and enough chains, binders and straps to secure about anything.
I received some good hands on training from a friend of mine who owns a small flatbed company. I followed him around for a couple of days hauling lumber from the same mills as he taught me how to tarp and checked my load securement. I tried to pay him for his time, but he wouldn't accept anything but allowing me to buy his breakfast one morning.
As I said in the beginning, I have a new respect for anyone who tarps a load. I didn't realize how much work that was until I did it for myself. First off, the tarps weigh 
anywhere from 75 to 100 pounds and moving them to the top of your load is no easy task! I have a friend who broke his neck by falling off the top of a flatbed while trying to tarp it so the risk is very high in this business. I thought being up high on a car carrier was scary, but at least you can grab something. On top of a load of lumber, there isn't anything to grab on so each step you take must be carefully planned. The picture to the right is of the first load that I tarped by myself. It was very sloppy, but it stayed on!