What one improvement could you make that would minimize downtime on the road, prevent driver injuries and reduce driver turnover? That’s a no-brainer: eliminate tarping. In an industry that strives to enhance on-road efficiency and improve working conditions for drivers, the timeworn drudgery of tarping loads increasingly seems like a throwback to a bygone era. Back in the day of fewer options, the arduous, time-consuming process of covering large flatbed loads with tarps was accepted as business as usual. Today, however, the ever-increasing presence of curtain side trailers on the road openly refutes that outmoded assumption.
A Newer, Better Way
A curtain side trailer can morph from enclosed van to standard flatbed and back again to accommodate large and/or odd-sized loads that typically require the open deck of a flatbed. Simply retracting the full-length side curtains provides two-sided, full deck access from the ground for big stuff. Opening the standard dual rear door, conversely, facilitates standard dock loading of conventional loads. While regulations require securing curtainside loads inside with conventional straps, this is an easy, no-risk procedure completed in minutes. Sliding the curtains shut converts the accessible curtainside deck back into an enclosed trailer that offers all the protection from the elements and security of a conventional van. The only things missing are the delays and hazards of tarping. And, of course, the loss of prospective hires and the turnover of skilled employees to your competitors who, increasingly, are converting to curtainsides.
The Art of the Tarp
Tarping is an art. It has to be. To minimize non-driving time and get down the road, most flatbed drivers by necessity become proficient "tarpists." In the best-case scenario, however, this traditional, labor-intensive process still adds at least one extra hour to each stop. Another factor is safety hazards. Standing atop a canvas-covered load with no handholds, heaving heavy tarps and cinching straps creates a "perfect storm" scenario for slip-and-fall injuries. More than mere bruises, these injuries may mean lengthy hospitalization, long-term workers compensation claims and perhaps even permanent disability. Even without a fall, strains and muscular injuries like torn rotator cuffs are a common tarping hazard.
Losing the Numbers Game
The present truck driver shortage stands at about 50,000. Yet, given high turnover of qualified drivers, industry experts estimate that trucking companies will actually need to hire nearly 90,000 new drivers immediately to take up the slack. The future outlook doesn’t look bright, either: the largest driver age bracket is currently the group aged 45 to 54, while 20-something Millennials entering trucking make up less than 5 percent. Given present growth, just to keep the wheels rolling, the industry will need to recruit a staggering 900,000 new drivers by 2025.
Hire Them and Keep Them
The tarping requirement is a strong disincentive to both young prospective hires and valuable experienced drivers alike. Today, professional drivers interface with an array of technology in the cab and under the hood. A guy stuck by the side of the road manhandling wet tarps in the rain is generally not the image you want to promote to the new generation of tech-savvy prospective drivers you’ll need to attract to keep your fleet rolling. Meanwhile, as rigors and risk factors reach a tipping point, older, more experienced drivers tend to “age out” of tarping flatbeds long before they’re actually ready to leave the industry. Pulling a versatile, driver-friendly curtainside starts to look very attractive. In today’s job market, you can be sure that a skilled driver—or an enthusiastic potential new hire—won’t find any shortage of opportunities to make that switch.
Some other articles you may like:
- 3 Reasons to Turn Your Flatbed into a Curtain Side Trailer
- Comparing a curtain side trailer to flatbed tarp systems
See what real clients and their employees think about adding a curtain side trailer to their fleet's workflow.
