TMC and tarps

Go to mavericks threads. Look up dolly lama. She is a little bitty thing and she tosses tarps.

 

I have the fork lift operator put my tarps up on top of the lumber loads.
If they won't, then they are not going to get tarped!
The steel tarps are not a problem!
You can always unroll them to a point that you can manage and then put that portion on the load...
But there is no way I am ever going to carry a tarp up a ladder!
That is not safe and no load is worth me getting hurt!
Maybe you should consider Maverick!

 

I looked on TMC's website and I dont see anything about having to carry a tarp up a ladder.

All you need to do is be able to climb a ladder to the top of the load. In addition, you need to be able to pick up a rolled tarp from the ground and put it on to the trailer. If you can't lift 120lbs to your shoulder, then I can't imagine that flatbedding is the route you want to take.

 

I'm a little guy, 5'7", 155 lbs. I attended TMC's orientation right after graduating and getting my CDL. The second week of orientation begins with a test about lifting/carrying the tarps. Basically, you pick the lumber tarp up from the floor and lift it to your shoulder, carry it around to the side of the trailer and toss it up on the deck. Then you grab the side of the trailer and jump up onto the trailer, pick up the tarp again and toss it onto a six foot tall steel coil. Then you carefully walk around the coil and pull the tarp down onto the deck and push it over to the side. Then you walk to the back of the trailer and CLIMB down (If you jump off the trailer at any time you'll be going home.), then go back around the side and lift the tarp back onto your shoulder to carry it around to the back where you started.

It took every ounce of everything I had to do that, but I did it. I'm not one to back down from a challenge and I wasn't going to quit.

Like the others have said, from my short time with TMC, the shippers will usually place your tarps on top of the loads for you, then you just have to unroll it. One of the things that I have seen that is almost harder than carrying around that heavy tarp is actually pulling it off the loads when you're unloading. You don't just give it a tug and watch it slide off. It's more like a tug-of-war with an elephant.

I'm not afraid of a little hard work, but I'm actually glad my trainer got me fired from his truck. I'm pulling a dry van now and so far I couldn't be happier.

 

Does All flatbed companies use tarps that weigh greater than 80 lbs? It seems that alot of them require that their drivers must be able to pick up a rolled up tarp weighing greater than 100 lbs and carry it up on their shoulder. I have used steel tarps before that weighed around 65-70 lbs and they were heavy, but not impossible for me to carry. However I have found that 80 lbs is about my limit for picking up these things. I have mainly hauled fabricated steel components and often used a covered wagon to do so. So I'm trying to figure out if I can still do flatbed or if I should just drive for a dry van company. Just looking for a few more commits, thanks.

 

Yup, thats right. No carrying it up the ladder. Most places youll go the forklift ops will get it up on the load. Tarp tug of war can be fun, the trick is find the sweet spot to start pulling from, usually one of the corners. One guy in my class was around 5'4" and maybe 140lbs and got it. Lift with your legs, not your back. 6 years of delivering horse feed loading and unloading one 50lbs bag at a time trust me, your back will thank you.

 

There are tons of good threads on TMC's orientation. This is mine and it covers every aspect of training from day 1 to day 14.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/tmc/143385-start-orientation-5-9-a.html

 

Thought this was going to be about the $50 they pay you if you take a picture of a bad tarp job going down the road.

 

Sending you home for jumping off a trailer (really) lol.