Maverick. Notarps4me u out there?

and be more then just a truck number.

 

Here is how I do it in that amount of time. I hang all my chains I'm going to use on the binders, that way you can reach all the chains from the ground. I keep the tarp straps (bungies) in 20 each bundles. Thats enough for one side of the tarp. Its like notarps4me said, You make every move count. At metal coaters, there is no scale where you load. Hope this helps

 

I have never pulled flatbed myself, but I have helped my dad, uncle, and Pawpa secure loads when they drove flatbeds and I rode with them. Each over the age of 60 at that point in time and just about anything they loaded they could have secured and tarped in less than an hour (in regular conditions). Now that being said they had been driving different rigs and hauling all kinds of freight (dry, reefer, flat, harvest) longer than many on these boards have been alive.

As Tarps and others have said it isn't about being the fastest it's about being the safest at securing a load, the town I used to live in has about 1-2x a month when US-84 west gets shutdown for several hours due to oversize load haulers who don't properly secure their loads or they get in too big a hurry and forget safety. The same happens with regular flatbedders, as was pointed out you boys aren't hauling a van so it requires more work.

Move as quickly as you can WHILE learning to be proficient, as time comes you will become quicker while remaining proficient. I hate seeing these loads going down the road that looks like they are hauling carnival balloons because somebody failed to do their job correctly.

 

Do you guys mostly help each other tarp or just do your own? My husband is new to Mav and he's having a rough time with tarping. Another Mav driver helped him with his first load (lumber out of Arkansas) he was soooo frustrated... it must have showed. He doesn't know whether to ask for help or just struggle on his own. Do you offer to help or only when asked?

 

It will vary from person to person...

Myself, I will only volunteer myself if I see a critical issue (safety concern, possible damage to freight, possible damage to equipment)...otherwise I'll mind my own business. But if anybody asks me for help (Maverick or not), I'm more than happy to give them the best advice I can.

Tell him its OK to ask for help...we've all had to do it at one time or another.

As far as everybody ganging up and helping each other...yes, it happens that way sometimes. I prefer to do mine all myself though...I'm just picky that way.

Struggling on your own as he is doing has its good points (sheer determination)...but it can make a hard job out of an easy one at times (I know that from experience, I was also too proud to ask for help a few times that I should have)

 

tell him to ask for help when he needs it, especially safety involved.
everyone else is tired and has their own stuff to do as well though, that is good/easy to remember.

on windy days he should help anyone and expect a bit of help to at least get it pinned.

also in the wind with lumber tarps;
if he wants he can try taking a couple binders and hook them through the eyelets on lumber tarps, drop them down and use for weight until he can get down and pin the tarp....careful not to hit anyone. one way of doing it until he gets better.