A lot of places have "tarp stations". They'll put your tarps up there for you and then you harness up and do what you gotta do. Some even have a system for placing the tarp on the load for you. If they don't have a ladder, I won't tarp it. Same if they won't put the tarps up there for me.
And no. I won't climb on it. Roll the tarp out behind the trailer. Strap a 12 ft long 2x4 to the forks and hook a few bunjees from the tarp to the 2x4. Use the fork lift to drape it over the load.
I’m not a flatbedder or even an actual trucker yet, but I’ve seen a lot of truckers that’ll strap the load up first and then tarp over the straps and then a couple with the straps over the tarp like in the picture above. I always assumed you were supposed to tarp over the straps and then bungee the tarp down and not put the straps over the tarp. Does it matter which way you do it? Or is it just a matter of preference?
Real simple. Those that own their equipment try to never strap over the tarps. Because it tears tarps up. Tarps cost money. Lots of it.
Up top you go. Rolls with you. Hefty upsydaisy. Get it up there. Never fall off. Unroll them and then let them curtain down. Climb down toss a couple straps quick so the wind does not take it into the next state (And probably strip the load from the deck doing it...)