Flatbed nonsense why??

And another post that sums it all up. Let's see if the sniveling about tarping stops.

 

because the one paying the freight bill wants it tarped. And since he is paying he gets to have it his way.

 

From where I stand, it looks like sniveling and growling are part of the job too.. I think I would at times I do that now usually in silence

 

As far as lumber and some steel is concerned, I've seen them load both in the rain and then had me tarp it. I've also watched them unload it and set it down, uncovered in the rain and snow. It didn't make sense until an old hand explained it to me.
The lumber is going to be cut when it gets to wherever it's going. The wet isn't as big a deal as the road grime. There is dirt and oil and other contaminants in road grime and the dirt (or sand, or whatever) plays hell on the cutting blades of whatever equipment will be used to turn the lumber into the final product, whether it be saws, planers, etc. Oils and other contaminants will stain the wood.
The steel is also going to be welded or cut or drilled/machined and the road grime also wreaks havoc with the equipment used in those cases, as well.
In short, they have reasons for wanting the load tarped. You don't have to agree with it, you just have to do it.
Or don't. There are plenty of companies with vans constantly looking for drivers if you aren't up to the task. Griping about it isn't going to make them change their minds.

 

Or you could be the one who paid the freight bill and searched high and low for a Conestoga, finally got your "must stay dry" shipment unloaded onto a parking lot and had it go from clear skies to downpour all in about 15 minutes. I never saw guys scurry so fast in my life looking for tarps. Thats something to whine about.

 

I pull a reefer, at the moment. I'm stuck doing so for another year and a half, until my truck is paid off, the I'll go back to open-deck freight, which is what I've done for most of my career. I'll take tarping over grocery warehouses and meat plants any day.

 

I'm interested to hear why you have to pull a reefer until your truck is paid off Joetro.

 

Stupid automatic spam filter flagged my reply.

I was leased to a friend of mine, dragging an RGN. He wouldn't get me home (every 2-3 months got to be too much) and when I did get home, I'd barely set the brakes before he was calling and asking when I'd be ready to roll out again. Anyway, I gave his trailer back, parked my truck ( a paid for 2001 Columbia) and hauled cars with my brother for a month (two big guys in a 379 with a 48" bunk isn't anywhere near comfortable), trying to get the financing together for a high-mount trailer for me. When we couldn't get the finances together for a trailer we figured I'd better get my truck doing something and found my current company, a reefer outfit. They sounded okay, so I thought I'd give them a shot. Well my truck was old (1.3 million miles on her) and the head mechanic here talked me into putting myself on the hook for a newer truck. Enter my 2007 T-600. Best decision I've made in awhile. She's a great truck. Cat reman about 190000 miles before I got her, along with new clutch and other stuff. Only 44 Grand, and that included my Stage 1 PDI upgrade. Thing is; I bought her from my company and have to keep her here as long as she's financed. No big deal, really, since they treat me well here and keep me moving. It's a good company, I just don't like reefers. Haven't since I pulled my first one in 1989.

 

That makes sense Joetro. Thanks.

 

A customer has a load to be tarped. They send a driver who want's to know why and makes it clear they're not happy. I show up, "tarp ?, no problem !". Who get's hired next time ? Maybe even if the bid is a bit higher ? Service, people, you like going into a gas station and having the person working the register complaining about their schedule ? You like getting an oil change and have the guy being PO'd because it interrupts his Candy Crush Saga ?

Well what do you think the customer thinks of you when you show up complaining about your dispatcher or having to tarp, not making it home, etc... ? IDK, guess it was an honest question by the OP, just kind of hit a nerve with me. For all I know, you tarped it up and acted happy about it and just asked here later. if so, that's cool. The honest answer is rain is only one concern, it may be something else they wanted protected. Heck, it may be some guy in a cubicle that had a big debacle over a load showing up covered with mud once and just decided to have every load tarped whether it makes sense or not. Doesn't really matter, if you drive for someone else that's their problem, all you have to do is tarp the load and be happy about it.