Thinking of trying out flatbed

Ok so I understand being worried about lifting tarps, but if you really can’t do it flatbed may not be for you. Pulling two 8 foot tarps off the load and folding and rolling them up is a whole lot more work than raising a tarp 4 foot just saying. Putting a bunch of bungees on the tarp and dragging an 8 foot ladder to bungee the back of the load is all things you have to do. It’s not a walk in the park. If you really want to do it you probably can but with a wishy washy attitude you have I think about the first time you tarp or untarp in a 10 mph wind with some gusts you’re gonna be done.

 

Find a company that has curtainwall, or sliding tarp systems.

 

That's about right.

 

Personally I don’t think it’s a good example.You’re not trying to balance 2 dog food bags you’re lifting 1 tarp.1 8 foot drop lumber tarp is heavy but IMO you really seem to be hung up on tarps.Where are you seeing flat bed guys that look like Hulk Hogan none of the guys or girls are throwing lumber tarps the lift trucks are putting them on top.Tarpping is a skill and after time is really easy.Now ask guys doing it the majority and me also do it will tell you they will never want to pull a dry van and deal with the customers they deal with again.As for curtain side I personally wouldn’t want to do as they do limit the freight you can haul and can be hard to check your load in transit I personally like to have plain site of something on the load that changes in route.I pulled a covered wagon (Side kit with a tarp you simply pull over from 1side) there great for steel but the disassemble for other freight is a pain.

 

The worst part of flatbed is appointment times. They cut into that 14 hr clock every time and if it's a multi-drop that really hurts. Tarps ain't so bad. Almost always there's a fork truck to lift em up. Keep enough moving blankets if you don't wanna replace them in 6 months though. Shippers don't care about those sharp edges.

I'm old enough to not like hoisting tarps, but I ain't getting fat in the drivers seat bumping docks either.

 

Next time you see a melton or any bigger company at the truck stop ,with a untarped load ..just tell the driver you want to try lifting tarp onto the bed.they will probably let you since they think they might get a recruitment bonus.at my orientation we had a couple really short guys who got them up.lifted it onto dot bumper then up onto bed.at 6ft 2 I had a little trouble because I am used to just manhandling things.they want us to lift using correct form and it felt awkward to me.