Curtainside

I've been pulling curtainsides almost exclusively for about 3 years. What do you want to know?

There is a big difference between a curtainside and a roll-tarp in terms of the type of freight you can haul with each. There are plusses and minuses. I frequently wish I could get a regular flat bed job. Tarping builds character.

 

I have run curtainside and found it to be at about the same profit rate as out flatbeds (Small company) and our curtainside ran the same way as the one in the video.

There not bad to work with but i still like hand tarping a load.

Don

 

53' OR 48' Curtainside ?

 

I had a broker calling me for several weeks trying to get me to backhaul some boilers for him. I could fit them on a DD or a SD and they were legal width but they wanted a tarp. The shipper builds a wooden cage around them and then uses a staple gun to attach clear plastic to keep it dry. I am supposed to tarp over that to the plastic doesn't shred. I suggested I could give them a better rate if they used plywood instead of plastic and made a real crate out of it but they said no. I figure if they can't be bothered to screw plywood on there instead of plastic then I can't be bothered to tarp it. Finally had to tell him the only way I was interested was if I DH 185 miles with my curtain side.

 

I have to disagree with this statement. It's like a famous truism in golf, "Golf doesn't build character, it reveals it." Same with tarping...

 

yep, haul finished wood panels

 

Thank You! That is so true.

I actually got a job once because of my tarping skills. The co. I had been working for went out of business with no warning. My dispatcher called a competitor & asked them if they could use me, then told me to go apply. When I walked in to their office a couple of days later & introduced myself to the owner, his first words were; "Where the hell have you been? Eugenia says when you tarp a load it looks like a big Christmas present." He looked at my MVR & long form medical for about 30 seconds, handed me the paperwork for my drug screen & told me I was hired. Shortest interview I've ever had. That was my first curtain van job & I've been pulling them ever since.

The co. that went out of business paid $50 to tarp & it was all lumber, roofing & sheetrock. Tarping there was money in the bank.

 

I wouldn't own a curtain side for nothin. Every CS ive seen or used has to have side supports making them a total pita to use.

Rolling tarps r a much better value, but u better be willing to do lots of maintain. As the upkeep on them is considerable.

 

It all depend on your lanes/customers. You can't haul beverage loads with a conestoga. Wineries, breweries etc. want a solid roof and locking rear doors for their freight. Wine is some of my better paying freight. If you have light side poles that slide supported by straps, they are really a breeze. I don't like roll tarps because you can't load anything wide. My normal, get-me-home Weyco lumber load won't go on a conestoga. The units are a full 102" on the deck, maybe a fraction more.