San Antonio - Help With Handling Tarps

Of course the experts will have better answers for you,but I think the customer will put the rolled tarp on your flatbed with his forklift.You just roll it up put it on the forks and he'll put it on your flatbed.Once you get the hang of it flatbed is routine.I did it for 3 months yrs ago.Don't you have to go out with a trainer first before doing the exam test?

 

you can try with some carpet rolled up with some weights inside,its best to pick up fingers under tarp then with knees bent pick up to wast lift one knee to give that help to make it up to deck if not making it all the way up on top you can trap it by pushing it with chest up to rub rail then gitting hands under tarp and finishing by rolling it up on deck, if your a shorter person its hard to start by picking it up by top of roll. Look for a shipper that tarps all loads and watch drivers tarp some loads.some co. like horandy will make driver lift tarps up on trailer just so you wont leave them behind when forklift leaves then on ground and locks gate?

 

Go to harbor freight get a 7x9 tarp and bungie straps, go to the hardware store get some sand and get 4 sand bags. Fill the sand bags about 1/2 full of sand plop them in the tarp and roll it up and bungee strap. The finished product should be about 80-90# and about 15-18" in diameter and about 3' long, if not those dimensions get some rags or old coats or something to bulk it up to those dimensions.

 

Some places put them on top, nowadays some don't because of the 'insurance jargon' some places have machines you hook the D rings up to and it will pull the tarp up and over the load for you.
You'll learn easy ways, and hard ways, I used to watch some try to do it the hard way and bearhug this thing and put it on the trailer, which with my fifth wheel height the trailer was shoulder high to me at 5'11, I'd roll the tarp up, drag it to the catwalk and flip it up onto the truck, climb up and flip it on the trailer, and I'd be done and not be out of breath while doing all the 'manual' labor. Most times, you'd have the tarps rolled up and off to the side when the forklift finally gets you unloaded they'll let you put it on the forks and place on trailer, but again some will not.
When you get your bungees, be sure to bend the hook some on the side of the hook with the bungee towards, and put the hook away from tarp, seen alot of guys who don't and the wind resistance will rub the hook against tarp, and rub a hole into your tarp, hooks outward, just common sense stuff which you'll see, it'll come to you as second nature after a few loads.
OH, and of course you have to 'tarp it backwards' or you'll look like a hot air ballon going down the road, which I've seen a few times over the years, Tarp back to front, untarp Front to back..
No need trying to do it all now, it's easy enough, and you'll get plenty of time to get used to it flatbedding, especially in winter, seems every load is tarped, atleast it was for me.

 

If you can lift 100 lbs 5ft in air , you got this. The tarps arent difficult and your learn hold to fold them in no time. Pay attention to the securement.

 

This pretty much sums it up. and 100#'s is really heavier then a "half" of a good quality lumber tarp set (8' drop) truly is. A properly rolled tarp allows you to grab the "ends" on the outer layers and makes for a relatively comfortable and manageable grip. It's not like trying to pick up a 80# round log off the ground. I suppose some places may use some extra heavy (thick) tarps, but good quality tarps (half of a set) really aren't that heavy. Yes, you still have to be able to move them from the trailer box or trailer deck, or from the back of the tractor, or wherever they are stored, somewhere. Every flatbed/load setup is different, but in a testing scenario, they will probably use ground level and 5 foot trailer level to see what you can do.

I can't see why any test would want you to maneuver the roll onto your shoulder. I've always handled tarps as if I was handling a bale of hay. Using legs to help maneuver the tarp from the ground, to a 54inch height. if you've hauled hay, (could still handle hay bales), you'll be fine. Or, If you can pick up an 80# bag of concrete at Lowes or Home Depot off the ground and lift up to a 4 foot or higher platform, you'll be fine. A sack of concrete is a lot harder to handle (grip) then a properly rolled tarp.

Tarping is hardest on the coldest days of winter. That's the worst thing about flatbed ... securing and tarping loads when it's below zero with 30 MPH winds and there is no cover. It's not like you can wait for it to "warm up"

 

Yes you can simulate; use a sand vest, begin w/40lb doing squats, @ 440 rep's up the weight to 80lb sand vest, (ur rep's will drop to approx 140) get up to 440 rep's, then begin using 120lb sand vest. be a man!!!

 

I'm not sure how you can simulate it without the real thing. I can lift my 100 pound tarp up because it's rolled up and with bungee cords. I can grab the edges or the bungee cords. Tarps are pretty rigid.

My tarps are rolled up and are 5' long with 3 sets of bungee cords. This way I can lean them up against the trailer, pick up the bottom and flip them onto the trailer. I NEVER have to lift them. There is always someone with a fork lift.