Crazy securement you have seen?

I loaded shingles in Philipsburg KS awhile back. Guy with a conestoga rolled it shut and headed down the road. No straps on the load.

 

Tarps aren't there to hide a lack of load securement, they are to protect the freight from weather and road debris.

Trust me, if tarps were outlawed, I don't think there would be many open deck drivers complaining.

 

I've heard DOT don't like getting drivers to untarp to check their securement. Not only does it upset the driver, but it's time-consuming enough to make it easier just to get a bunch of other, cheaper citations.

 

You spend an hour and a half in 90+ degree heat getting a tarp nice and tight, you'd complain too about taking it apart and having to redo it for some uniformed schmuck looking for "revenue enhancement".

 

DUH! but that is exactly what happens with some drivers. I know what the tarps are for.

 

Except to check the condition of the straps, there is absolutely no reason to untarp to check securement. It is easy to see if a proper amount of securement is used. It's also easy to tell if it is tensioned properly. Some people must not be familiar with flatbed procedures, or they'd know that.

 

I have a question I've been meaning to ask ( raises hand ).

Every now and again I see a skate board with some large object tarpped, but the back has come loose, or is loose flapping around, not where water looks like it could get in, but it sure looks like the tarp is taking a beating, and also seems like it would add a lot of drag on the truck.
Do you guys like a shout out on the CB in such circumstance, or just mind my own business door slammer?

 

I'd prefer a shout out. I try to tarp so that does not happen, but I'm not always successful. Yeah, those expensive tarps take a beating. All included, the average flatbed has around 3,500 bucks worth of equipment. I like to take care of it.

 

You can only call them a skateboard if there is a long haired tattood teenager with baggy pants and elbow pads standing up back there.

 

I hollar at them. Unfortunately the guys that normally do not secure their tarp properly are the same guys that don't run with the radio on.