I'm too short to put the tarp on the flatbed

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Little trucker gal, Jan 20, 2025.

  1. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    We had steps on the tractor behind the fuel tank which I jockeyed the tarp up to the catwalk and then onto the trailer. Also I had a 8ft ladder which when layed horizontally with the top to the catwalk, you can roll the tarp up the ladder.
     
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  3. nextgentrucker

    nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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    Port Saint Lucie, Fl
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    I'm doing Flatbed now, most of the time, like 95% of the time, a forklift driver will put them on the trailer for you but just to pass the orientation and when you have to do it on your own, drop your drive axle airbag, this will lower the trailer a little bit ( make it easier ), then lift the tarp a little bit and put it on the first axle near the mudguard in front of the trailer, lift it and then push on the trailer. Do the same thing for the other tarp, lift your airbag ( Don't forget that ) then that's it.
     
  4. nextgentrucker

    nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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    WHOAH!! I didn't know an helicopter can fit on a flatbed trailer.
     
    broke down plumber Thanks this.
  5. nextgentrucker

    nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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    Please don't remind me... I want to get the hell out of that Flatbed stuff LMAO!!
     
    broke down plumber Thanks this.
  6. Wargames

    Wargames Captain Crusty

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    Insult removed by moderator , ha ha ha
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 21, 2025
    Reason for edit: removed insult
    austinmike Thanks this.
  7. broke down plumber

    broke down plumber Road Train Member

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    nextgentrucker and D.Tibbitt Thank this.
  8. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    Throw a ratchet strap over from the other side of the trailer and use it to pull the tarp up and over the rub rail onto the trailer deck. To hook up to the tarp you can run bungee cords from the tarp grommets to the ratchet strap hook, or you can unroll the tarp and re-roll it with a bungee cord running through the middle and out the ends (like how the chains go through the middle of a coil).
     
  9. Little trucker gal

    Little trucker gal Bobtail Member

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    Jan 20, 2025
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    Thank you to the people who actually offered positive suggestions to my dilemma. Which is what I asked for. What I didn't ask for is for all the negativity and comments telling me how I couldn't do it. How I'm not going to be able to handle tarping at all. Due to my size.. or weather.. or experience. Or any of the other reasons for me to not be able to do the job I was hired to do.
    So let me set the record strait.
    I was hired for this job because I do have experience tarping. Just never had any reason to have to pick one of those heavy ######## up and put it on the trailer. Always had a forklift to do it.. or someone was nice enough if a gentleman to do it for me. I have no problem climbing my ### on top of a load to do my tarps. Wind, rain, snow freezing cold whatever.
    Is it easy.? He'll no. Do I have a hard time with it? You bet. Does it take me longer than other drivers? Of course it does.. I'm a small woman. But you know what? I still get it done when the load says tarp. I put on my coveralls and bust my ### to make sure my load is secure... correctly and safely. Every single load I have hauled has arrived on time, intact and undamaged. I work just as hard as other drivers that are men. Some of those I can work circles around. So Don't tell me I need to go find an easier job. Not when I'm capable of doing the one I have. If I wanted an easy job I wouldn't be a truck driver.
    So to all you drivers that said I needed to just give up?? Glad I didn't read this before I went to orientation this morning. Otherwise I may not have walked in there confident and tried my ### off till I got it done. That's right.
    I DID IT. TWICE. JUST LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED TO. AND I'M SUPER PROUD OF MYSELF. Because now I know I can. Will I ever do it that way again? Not if I don't have to. It was brutal and it kicked my ###. But I didn't give up and got it done. Because I got heart.
     
  10. Chi Town Steers

    Chi Town Steers Road Train Member

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    Congratulations, may the winds be at your back, the road rise up to meet you, the sun shine warm upon your face, and the fortunes be ever in your favor.
     
    OldeSkool and austinmike Thank this.
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