Original Photos by walter coker Car carrier operators know that working the rig is a process fraught with risk, particularly when operators are improperly trained or the machinery is faulty. The preparation for transporting vehicles involves extreme effort and intense concentration. When loading a car carrier, the driver drags aluminum loading skids from a holding tray underneath the carrier and attaches them to the back of the truck.
Operators then drive vehicles onto the carrier, starting at the top, and filling front to back.
Once a vehicle is parked on the carrier, it must be chained into position. Chains are stretched under each wheel and wound around the drive shaft. This process takes an average of six pulls, each more difficult than the last. The act of loading up to a dozen vehicles onto a carrier is part ballet, part strongman competition. The operator must balance on the narrow tracks and be nimble enough to navigate between vehicles.