tarping?

[scania]

Does anyone know of a link anywhere about proper way to tarp loads and fold tarps.

[Sealord]

Don't sweat it, companies have their own way they want it done. Wait for the company you go with to train you, you won't bring any misinformation or bad skills. BOL

[thebaldeagle655]

What is not covered in your training is common sense. Most everywhere I have loaded that needed tarped had another driver there tarping his load in front or behind me, I have never had a driver tell me he didn't have time to give advice on any securement or tarping I was doing, feel fee to ask. When in doubt, ask your loader, they have seen enough tarped to know what to do.

What is also not covered in training though is situations like I had last friday, 19 degree weather, 40 mph winds. FUN FUN FUN!!!

[devildice]

Does anyone know of a link anywhere about proper way to tarp loads and fold tarps.

there really isn't a "proper" way to do it persay other than what your company will require. The goal to tarping is to protect the load from the elements and help prevent spillage of the load (to an extent) onto the highways.

When I tarp, I look at it as a huge package and just "get-er-dun" :wink:

Sealord is right, don't sweat it.....wait for your company as they all have slight variations as to the way they want it done.

[dewercs2]

I'd like to add.... From what I was told...the way your cargo is tarped is in part a reflection of you . You want it to look real nice.....Make sure you tarp it right the first time, you don't want a loose tarp blowing anywhere or it'll cause a damage to the tarp. I was told by the company equiptment guy that he'd kill anyone of us that he heard of tarping and then using our straps to secure the load ontop of the tarp.

I always thougt I don't want to mess with this thing on the side of the highway at 4am in the rain/wind.

I have even pulled my vee boards out from under the trailer and bungie them together length wise to span a gap in the load. This made it easier to tarp and bungie. I even had rope that I threw over my tarps for the uneven loads. I'd tie oneside to the rub rail and then bungie the other side. Just remember to pad your corners. Like Sealord and DevilDice wrote above. Just wait till you get with the company.
Also...I took my watch off after the 2-3 time doing it.... and your going to get dirty but I found as I get better at it I don't get as dirty.

[DIESEL BEAST]

Does anyone know of a link anywhere about proper way to tarp loads and fold tarps.

Those tarps can sometimes weight 100lbs. or more especially in rainy,ice or snow situations. You will carry two tarps on your trailer. About 95% of the time the forklift operator will pick your tarps up and place them on the trailer after you have rolled them up.

If and when you lift the tarps yourself, be careful because it could really cause back injuries if not properly lifted. If you can invest in a back brace.

[carlos64030]

Does anyone know of a link anywhere about proper way to tarp loads and fold tarps.

Those tarps can sometimes weight 100lbs. or more especially in rainy,ice or snow situations. You will carry two tarps on your trailer. About 95% of the time the forklift operator will pick your tarps up and place them on the trailer after you have rolled them up.

If and when you lift the tarps yourself, be careful because it could really cause back injuries if not properly lifted. If you can invest in a back brace.

Back braces are devices made to play tricks on your mind.

[Icky_]

Well I've tarp'd a few LD's well driving this Skateboard around lets say IT"S AN ART if u can tarp a LD w/out havin it bubble anywhere but I will say the more bungee's u use the better it get's after a while u find urself trying to out do the last tarp job you did! :? <--IF that makes sences any1 agree??

[xroofer]

just remember to start from the back when tarping. back tarp first front tarp second. the tarps i use weight between 150and 180 lbs. i wish for 100lbs. tarps. everybody has there own way of folding tarps. some fold in thirds some fold in half. just take your time when starting the more you tarp the faster you will get. good luck.

[Root]

...but I will say the more bungee's u use the better it get's after a while u find urself trying to out do the last tarp job you did! :? <--IF that makes sences any1 agree??

I'll sure agree - and sweeten the pot a little...

It's a mean pride in some o us goodolboys, 'bout that tarped load and what it says about the driver pullin' it.
I don't care if it's a brand spankin' new rig or a Beater, if it goes flyin' by ya with the tarp(s) a'flappin' and rips all in it - you just can't help thinkin' "there goes one sorry feller," and while the reasons a load isn't tarped properly are many.. the vast majority o those reasons can be remedied.
It's getting to the point where I feel the same way about loads going out of a plant untarped or half tarped where you know the BOL states "Must Tarp Load" or it's a Securement Issue load or the weather's lookin' foul or....
Sure, I've had Hot Loads in good weather at short enough distance that I've flown out of somewhere nekkid but... If it's on the BOL or I know the client requires it for whatever reason, I'm gonna rein it in and tarp the sucker.

Back on Topic - Yes, the more bungies the better - but only if they're really performing a needed 'pull' at the right spots. My CO provides bungies but only the 21" ones. I found out real quick that running 15" and 31" made the job Easier, Faster and by far a more professional job of it even tho' I have to buy those myself. It's an investment I make in myself as a professional. Same with the "Veeboards.com" plastic edge protectors I've built up over time and paychecks... They've paid for themselves many times over.

And Hell Yeah, ICKY, every load is a learning experience and I've sure gotten into the habit o "goin' it one better" each time I tarp one up - especially those Gypsy Cart/ Tinker Wagon Lowes loads where that $500 ladder they "spined" on top and straight down the middle may wind up being 'secured' to the load by the tarps n bungies alone....
While I often get "pre-tarped" drop trailers, (jus' draped), if I have any spare time available - (or if they threw a Ripper Tarp over it) - I'll yank that tarp down, roll it up and strap the load FIRST. Then tarp it. There's few things in life, besides ladders, barbed wire n rebar, that'll tear up a tarp worse than throwin' those straps right over it and crankin' down. Sometimes we have to - a "throw n Go". But I hate it. Edge protectors over the tarp and under the strap help only if you have an edge to work with... but I carry Spare Mudflaps bungied down on the catwalk and I've used Those many a time on the more 'rounded' spots.
If it's a pallet o Barbed Wire, you Betcha those spare mudflaps (or even chunks of a damaged mudflap you find everywhere) will be under the strap or the tarp.

It's Work.
Work won't kill ya...

Somebody else said, "think of it as a Package you're delivering", and you're well on your way at least by philosophy.
Me, hell, I'm Santa Clause - it's 10 gears instead o reindeer - and I'm Gift wrappin' this load for all my good little clients out there. OK, whether they're been good or not, LOL ... but never forget this: Attitude Is Everything.
People can't help but SEE you wherever you go.
They can't always see what rags you're wearin' up in that cab, but baby - that trailer load followin' you around back there jus' sticks out like a sore thumb!
What it "says" out there is up to You.
What it says about you is a lot more than you think - no matter whose name's on the door o that cab.


My 2 cents jus' run out - see y'all out there.... :mrgreen:

[Windwalker]

What is also not covered in training though is situations like I had last friday, 19 degree weather, 40 mph winds. FUN FUN FUN!!!

The fun gets even better when you're UN-TARPING in a 40 mph wind. You leave a few bungees in place on the up-wind side, and while you're up on top of the load, one of the customer's guys decides to get helpful... He removes the bungees from the up-wind side, you find yourself suddenly in the dark, and when you bounce a couple of times and finally find yourself back in daylight, you realize you've just gotten a MAGIC CARPET RIDE over the top of another trailer parked on your down-wind side. Your free ride has taken you from the top of a 7 foot height, over the top of a 13' 6" object, and down the other side. Just exactly how to guide that magic carpet so that you don't bang your knee and sprain your wrist is also not covered in training.

Can't say that I worried much about just how the tarps were folded and rolled up after that.

But, there seems to be as many ways of folding and rolling tarps as there are drivers doing it. You want them small enough to fit where you have to store them. And, in this weather, they don't like to get small.

[terrylamar]

While we are on the topic of tarping, someone explain to me why it is a bad idea to throw your straps over the tarped load. I do this sometimes intentionally. We pick up pretarped loads with the tarps already on the load, I wouldn't untarp to throw the straps then retarp. Other times, especially when it is a irregular load, the tarp with straps over it secures the load, for example when you don't have V-boards. It also holds down the tarp so you don't have to use as many bungies. On the down side it might take a little longer to throw your straps because you can't see the load for proper placement of the straps.

[Icky_]

B/c if u strap over ur tarps then the LD isnt as secure as it could be. I do strap under all my tarped LD's but then I'll throw a few 2 incher's over the tarps just so it stays pretty :twisted:

[terrylamar]

B/c if u strap over ur tarps then the LD isnt as secure as it could be. I do strap under all my tarped LD's but then I'll throw a few 2 incher's over the tarps just so it stays pretty :twisted:

How can a load be less secure with the straps over the tarp? All loads would be just as secure, some even more secure.

[Darin Younce]

terrylamar

How can a load be less secure with the straps over the tarp? All loads would be just as secure, some even more secure.

all loads, how bout a coil?

[terrylamar]

terrylamar

How can a load be less secure with the straps over the tarp? All loads would be just as secure, some even more secure.

all loads, how bout a coil?

Assuming it a small coil that is strapped and not chained I still don't see that it matters whether the straps are inside or outside the tarp. If I am missing something, tell me.

[special k]

I don't think it a load securement issue but you are pinching the tarp so any little thing under the tarp can damage it. I liked putting the straps under in the winter because the straps stayed clean and dry and rolled. up nicer. I used to fold the first end in 4 feet or so to make a flap. That way when you rolled out the tarp on a load you didn't have to drag the whole tarp back to cover the back of the load down to the trailer.

[chuck3507]

terrylamar

How can a load be less secure with the straps over the tarp? All loads would be just as secure, some even more secure.

all loads, how bout a coil?

I don't think it makes any difference on load securement as long as you take time to make sure the straps are in the right place, and don't guess at it just because you can't see. Get up on the load and feel if you have to. As far as a coil goes COIL+STRAPS=FATALITY!!

[terrylamar]

terrylamar

How can a load be less secure with the straps over the tarp? All loads would be just as secure, some even more secure.

all loads, how bout a coil?

I don't think it makes any difference on load securement as long as you take time to make sure the straps are in the right place, and don't guess at it just because you can't see. Get up on the load and feel if you have to. As far as a coil goes COIL+STRAPS=FATALITY!!

How else are you going to secure small coils on pallets eye to the sky?

[chuck3507]

[How else are you going to secure small coils on pallets eye to the sky?

Small coils on pallets thats alright. I just get the impression he was talking about big coils.