Ladder placement

I had that happen with my foldable ladder. Hard to trust it over like 7ft .. think ill strap it down if i need to extend it all the way out

 

Last load i got, forklift driver wanted me to ride on the end of his forks to lift me up top to throw tarps.. no thanks bro i got a ladder. Lol id rather not die today

 

Here's what you should pick up for yourself, to meet most of your current and future needs.
Werner 18 ft 1AA Multi-Ladder
This will hold up to 375 pounds. Now you may think this is overkill, but you may put on weight, regardless of the work in flatbed. I went out at 264, lost weight orginally because of inexperience and running around with my head cut off, but by the time I stopped, I had moved up closer to 300 lbs. Muscle at the time, but weight nonetheless. If you're saying that you currently are close too the max of the current ladder, assuming it's good to 250 lbs, then add a tarp, say 80-100 lbs and now, you're at 330 - 350. Any weight gain by you as you learn your trade and don't have to work as hard as when you started, and that weight requirement will go up.

Additionally, unless you're way overheight hauling, 18 ft will give you plenty of overhead. Ladder lean ratio is every 4 feet up, 1 ft lean away from wall (trailer in this case) so at the max height of 'normal' freight (13'6"), that will give you plenty of lean. 12' requires 4', that's 16' of ladder total, leaving you 2' extra.over freight for handhold and ability to get on freight from 2 rungs below max height.

The cost, comparable to most other options, about $260.00, which is cheap insurance to safely do your job.

Storage will be a different issue at that folded height of 9'6", but if you use it constantly, strapping it standing up to one of the doors on or below the catwalk, would be the best option other than laying down on the trailer or freight if it's conducive to it.

Hope this helps.

 

Little Gaint Ladders ....
Why not place it under your deck between the supports.
Did that and put a couple of chains on trailer with hooks
Easy off and easy on out of the way.
No snow here may be a problem up North.

 

There seems to be a misunderstanding of how ladder lengths are advertised. They are all marked by "Reach" height not actual length. That reach height is usually 3-4 feet less than actual length. They are assuming that you are standing 3 rungs from the top with your arms stretched out on an average size American man which is about 5'10".

If you want a ladder that actually goes all the way to the top of a legal height load at a reasonably safe angle you'll need one advertised as 20ft+

Carrying tarps up a ladder especially 8ft drops is a good way to injure your back or lose your balance and fall. When the shipper loads your truck they can set the tarps on top. Any facility loading any type of truck 100% has a forklift somewhere on the property.

If they don't want to help put the tarps on top of the load then the load won't be getting tarped. I'd rather sit around for 10-15 minutes waiting for a forklift before I destroy my back trying to wrestle 100lbs of tarp up a ladder.

 

Aint no doubt about that. I never carried a tarp up a ladder. First, i am not strong enough . 2nd very dangerous.. i will put them on the deck and drag them up a short height load no problem.. anything taller than waist level, the propane jockey will be putting them up there... I have fallen off the trailer once trying to wrestle a tarp instead of asking for help... It hurts like a some ##### let me tell you that.. i quickly learned why they call it a headache rack. I had one for about 2 weeks after smashing my head off of it and then fell on the apu right into my ribs. How i didnt break or smash my face open on anything was a miracle..

 

I used my ladder for chocking pipe.
Lot of places and company forbid you to climb on trailer.

 

The problem that you’re going to run into is the road salt and grime getting into places that will seize the joints of the fold up ladder. Be sure to keep everything lubed.