Heavy Duty Tarps
There is absolutely one thing for sure when using heavy duty tarps for protecting freight on flatbeds and stepdecks and that is tarping a load is neither fun nor easy. But this is an informative article on tarping and not about complaining. So, instead of listing every commodity and the tarp required, that would be a long list, I’m going to discuss the more general aspects of tarping.
Why Tarp?
A tarp is generally used on platform equipment like flatbeds and stepdecks. Of course its common to have to protect the commodity from the rain, snow, road debris, wind, and thieves too. Lumber and Steel are two well known commodities that regularly need tarping so its not surprising that tarps come in two general types and they are called lumber tarps and steel tarps. Now a lumber tarp can be used to cover a machine like a press too, its just the size and style of the tarp is referred to as a lumber tarp.
Tarp Sizes
Lumber Tarps
Lumber tarps are manufactured and used primarily to protect lumber, however, they can be used to protect any number of other commodities as well. Lumber can be stacked allowing it to use most of the available volume of a flatbed trailer.
Lumber Tarp
Lumber tarps are general 24’x27′. Two lumber tarps can cover a full 48′ trailer stacked 8′ high. Lumber tarps also have a curtain that will cover the front of the load, while the second tarp can be turned around so the curtain will cover the rear of the load. A tarp 24′ x 27′ is also called 8′ drops. Which means 24′ when taken 8′ out to go across the trailer, or across the top of you load, then it will drop 8′ on each side as well. 8+8+8=24. Why does it take two tarps? Because one of these tarps can easily be over 100 lbs so to make one tarp that covers the entire load would be just too heavy to handle.
Steel Tarps
Steel Tarp
Steel tarps on the other hand are manufactured primarily for steel loads that don’t take up as much volume which means you don’t need as much tarp material. Steel tarps are general 16′ x 24′ or also called 4′ drops, 4+8+4=16.
You can again tarp all kinds of commodity, you just have to determine whether the size tarp required is a big lumber tarp or smaller steel tarp.
Smoke Tarps
Smoke tarps are a smaller tarp that is put over the front of the load to protect it from dust, smoke or soot. They are smaller tarps about 10’x12′ as they are only needed to protect the front of the load. Smoke tarps can also be used to replace the flap of a lumber tarp.
Smoke Tarp
Custom tarp sizes
So we spoke of 8′ drop tarps and 4′ drop tarps, but there are also 6′ drop tarps or 6+8+6=20. But if you have a specific need, tarps can be made to suite your situation.
Materials and Components
Professional heavy duty tarps are constructed out of rugged 18oz vinyl coated polyester with D-rings and grommets that allow for securement of tarps to the trailer with ropes and bungees.
I hope this article has given you an overview on tarping. If you have a comment please provide them below. I’ve included a video of a load of insulation tarped.
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My name is Travis Smith and I've been working in the trucking business since 1994 and with Heavy Haul Trucking since 2001. Our office knows about oversize, heavy and specialty loads and how to get your load exactly where you need it, safely and on time. I enjoy writing about Heavy Haul and if you're interested in learning more, please sign up for our free newsletter. If you need a shipping quote, just call (417) 312-2920 or visit our Free Freight Quote page for more details. Google+
