I sure enjoy this thread, and I hope it continues. "Seeing what works" sounds simple, but I get the deep impression that this driver calculates everything very, very carefully when behind the wheel . . . and the only decent comparison is to a big truck (semi) since those loads being carried are a serious impediment to a casual attitude.
Mister, you are obviously good at loading that truck (I drove flatbed, steel coils, pipe and other), and you are obviously good at putting safety first. One cannot afford a single misstep. Economy flows from that, IMO, and the reason I really appreciate your sharing your experiences here is that
with all the fine skill improvements you've made as a businessman, and citizen, your taking it a step farther is inspiration to the rest of us.
That's no mean feat for a guy outside in all kinds of weather, with all kinds of loads. The physical tax (being tired) is enough to leave most men behind. No car driver is going to get what it takes just to keep all four wheels on the ground. Road, load, traffic & weather . . . none of it can be ignored, and bad combinations of them have wrecked many of us. Car drivers (four wheelers, in trucker parlance) can remain blithely ignorant of most calculations needed here.
Compared to you, I'm just a slogger. Never had to work my personal truck that hard. I give the truck what it wants, and nothing more. I spec'd it carefully (searching used vehicles) and used what skills I have to minimize ALL costs relative to a desired long, long life. As a company driver one wanted to do well in all aspects, but . . . only the miles counted, and insecure loads, questionable re-cap tires, etc, etc, keep many from staying on top of it all. Fuel economy was/is way down the scale in most operations for most non-owner drivers.
I've left out consideration of rules/laws in saying the above (a three ton bed load exceeds any one-ton manufacturer rating), but we've all done 15 mph across town with too much onboard and hope to never have to actually stop. The spirit of the law comes first.
Hope your trailer[s] are up to it (for others: towing isn't simple or straightforward, unfortunately, but the basics are sound; maintaining steer axle load is the gist of proper hitch rigging; PM me and I can send links if you want; my interest is in high fuel mileage for highway travel, not loading per se.)
Have you ever scaled the truck, no load (but fuel and usual tools) or did I miss it? Are tires/wheels stock size, and, what brand/load range of skins are on there?
Somehow I think you've made this a game (being complimentary here), as a way of keeping the mind sharp on a dusty, blistery set of loads. I salute it. I have an idea of what it costs, and I would enjoy riding with you on a workday as I'd be learnin', learnin'. That truck did a good job of choosing you.
(The adaptation of the tonneau cover on a rack is what prompts this, that was one cool "solution".)