How long does it take to Tarp a Load?

Found out the more u doin it, the quicker I come up with my own method, which is a little of everything I've been taught....the faster it goes....practice makes practice....oh yeah and convincing my self I love doing something I hate makes it a lot better

 

Course in a few more months that "convincing" goes to a whole new level in sub-zero temps with a strong wind. Luckily I keep my Therapist on year-round retainer..Or is that my lawyer? Nevermind.I believe both..

 

For or me, it's not a love/hate thing when it comes to tarping, it's a pride thing. The whole job is about taking pride in the craft. Loading, axle weights, securement, customer service and tarping. It's like those largecar drivers, rubbing down the truck, polishing and waxing every time they stop. Pride in that ride.

 

It takes me no time at all.... I don't tarp loads or own a tarp.

 

Wow... I need to jump in here... havent read through all post... but, I am a female and basically pulling flatbed..
I say basically because I am running the menards dedicated account, so I dont tarp the loads, just untarp for the most part, and retarp if needed... back in 2010 when I first started driving I puleed flarbed and we did a lot of tarping...

Now, the guy who trained me and pulled flatbed and heavy equipment for many years... and he always said he would take a driver with brains over a driver with muscle.... which is why he never believed and never let me either that as 5'2" 135lb woman I could do this job as good as any muscle bound man... and he never cut me slack .. if there was a light tarp and a heavy tarp on the gound, he would grab the light one and tell me to get the other... at first I thought he was being a jerk, but now in hindsight I am very grateful... he was an O/O and when I first met him, one of the first things I expressed was I was worrired that my size and being a woman and being able to do this job.. I was hoping he would say something encouraging... but he just grumbled a hmmf and said lets roll.. then we pull into the strip mall and says come on... we head to this dojo.. no kidding a martial arts place... turns out his son runs it, he goes talks to him, then two people come to the mat.. a tall big adult and a kid... he says to me, rigbt now with your thinking you think the big man has the advantage... but, it is actually the small kid who has the advantage... cause he is going to use the mans weight... well, this little kid flips the man around some on the mat.. then then bow to each other..
He says to me... thats how you need to approach flatbed.. lets roll...

I aint gonna lie, I started really wo dering what the heck I was I for.. and if this grumpy old man was ever gonna warm up.. I was with him for six months and I learned a lot...


Everyone thinks flatbedding is about muscle and hard work... and you can do it that way.. or, you can work smarter not harder.. leverage and letting the weight of the tarp do the work...

In tarping... the main thing is develop a systematic way... and it starts with how you fold and roll your tarps.. I knew just where to put my tarp on the load so that when I unrolled it and deployed it the weight of the tarp did most of the work...

I have used both cord and bungies.... and the top D rings are out of reach, but, I can do it easily as quickly with the aid of my 5th wheel puller.. which I prefer over a step ladder which has to be moved often...

Once you get your routine and system down, the speed comes... I think as newbies and as women we tend to want to prove ourselves and sometimes get in a hurry, which then leads to us having to do more steps, or going from this side to that side too much.... when you get your system and rhythm going.. you actually dont need as much back and forth... when you cut out exgra steps (walking steps) you cut your time as well...

Watch other drivers when the fold their tarps... you will see those who keep going back and forth, back and forth,.. then you will see the experienced one who does it in far fewer steps, no back and forth, always working from where he is... never counted the steps, but for example driver A takes 2000 steps, whild driver B does it with only 1200...

I think it is important to realize to that some days, or some loads will just be more of a challenge.. dont get frustrated... just do your best and be proud of yourself... dont beat yourself up if you find yourself fighting with the tarps... just keep at it... cause there are also, even if far and few between when it all just rolls out perfectly.. and you have to slap youself to make sure you havent fallen asleep and are dreaming....

I hope more women come to flatbed... it really is far more rewarding and personally satisfying than van or reefer..

 

Hey there,
I just came across your posts about women and flatbeds. I am looking at getting my CDL this month with ROEHL. I am in AZ and the fleet they have available are flatbeds. I was excited until they were telling me about tarping my own loads. I am a bit intimidated so I have been frantically looking for other women flatbed drivers-YES they are scarce.
THE last thing I want is to be "that" girl that asks guys for help (unless its a safety issue)
How do you like the job so far-beside the tarping time??

 

Hey there,
I just came across your posts about women and flatbeds. I am looking at getting my CDL this month with ROEHL. I am in AZ and the fleet they have available are flatbeds. I was excited until they were telling me about tarping my own loads. I am a bit intimidated so I have been frantically looking for other women flatbed drivers-YES they are scarce.
THE last thing I want is to be "that" girl that asks guys for help (unless its a safety issue)
How do you like the job so far-beside the tarping time??

 

This is VERY encouraging!! Thank you for this!!