Tarps

Didnt TMC used to have a tip line that actually paid you to call in on their drivers when their tarp job looks like crap? Or is that just trucker bs.

 

That isnt trucker BS. A lot of companies do that to get people to rat out others, CRST is one . Its usually for something bad but you know how ppl get carried away for what they think is bad when others dont.

 

I had a CRST driver try to sell me his tarps and sidekit off his truck a few weeks ago. It was a really good price but I can't put a sidekit on this brand of trailer.

 

Due to liability costs, more and more shippers are requiring the load to be tarped, but it must be done OFF of their property. I used to write a note on the bill of lading saying, "Per shipper, not allowed to tarp load on their property." And then I would make them sign it.

Now I ask up front, if it needs to be tarped, where is their tarping area. If they tell me "not on our property" then the load either doesn't get tarped, or it doesn't get loaded on me. I understand the high costs of liability insurance, and even the costs of "safe tarping stations" but who will call 911 for me if I should fall off the top of the load while tarping in a safe haven? I don't mind taping one bit, but I no longer take these types of loads......."must be tarped, but not here" that's just wrong.

 

I'd rather tarp it myself off their property than have them tarp it or deal with a tarp station. It's easier to tarp it right the first time than to try and fix a sloppy job.

 

IF they send me off their property...chances of it getting tarped are slim.

 

Werner would pay $50. Not sure if that's still true or not.

In any case, as OpenRoadDreamer posted: Cover your butt.

 

Ive gone to a few places that said no tarping there. Georgia Pacific being one of them. Another place said I couldnt tarp there. Asked the guy about it. He said it had to be tarped before I got there. So I said "So as long as I tarp it sometime before I arrive"... He didnt like that. I tarped it though. Still dont know why it needed to be tarped. If its sitting OUTSIDE when I get there, why do I have to tarp it? Its already wet... Picked up a metal building from MBCI, the box was full of water. Supposed to be tarped....

 

That is just terrible they would not let you tarp a load there. Ive yet to be to a place that told me NOT to tarp the load on their property. I would as you suggest tho, except I would not tarp the load at all. From that point the load is a "no tarp needed" load and if the receiver did not like it then they can see the bills and call the shipper to discuss it.