Lumber Tarps

Trucks are used to transport large loads of materials, including lumber. While dump trucks are used for asphalt, gravel, and other similar loose materials, lumber is most frequently transported on a flatbed truck. If uncovered, the wood is exposed to the elements. An open air flatbed can be a breeding ground for moisture. On a typical day, mild weather presents no complications, but what happens if a rain storm suddenly hits? Don't take a risk when transporting lumber. Instead, cover the material with lumber tarps. Crafted from large pieces of polyethylene, lumber tarps are strong and resistant to tearing. This strength comes from the denier count common to polyethylene tarps. It creates a wall that is resilient against pressure of any kind. The sharp edges of a lumber stack are no match at all, even with the jostling of the truck.

Lumber tarps are only used on flatbed trucks and must be applied after the load has already been placed on the truck bed. As lumber tarps are only applied manually, a worker needs to be on top of the load to roll the tarp out down the center and fold it out to both sides. Lumber tarps have D-rings in multiple locations, and as the sides of the load are covered, make sure that the D-rings are on the sides. As the tarp is applied over the full load, make sure that all corners are tucked in and that bungee straps are applied to prevent all sides from moving around. Like with dump truck tarps, lumber tarps may experience wind whip if wind gets under the material. Wind whip can potentially tear or weaken polyethylene. Wrap the tarp as tightly as possible around the lumber and flatten out any gaps. You may also want to cushion uneven areas with extra tarps if you're transporting a light load that's likely to move around in the flatbed. Once all sides are secured with bungee straps, fasten the tarped load to the flatbed on all sides. Any hooks through the D-rings must face outward. Otherwise, the hooks will tear into the polyethylene and form small holes along the side of the tarp. Lumber tarps are made out of heavy duty polyethylene and are necessary for preventing water damage. As a larger-size tarp, lumber tarps need to fully cover the load. Before you purchase a lumber tarp, measure the average size for a load and your flatbed, and choose a material that fully covers it.

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