Improving Road Safety with Transport Chains

The logging industry is a hazard-prone field, although its dangers are not necessarily unforeseeable or unavoidable. With proper precautions, loggers and truckers can very well prevent many accidents when transporting timber.

The transport chain is an extremely important trucking accessory for log and heavy equipment/product transporters. Any industry that handles heavy equipment and loads is subject to many road and transport hazards. For a logger, it is crucial to know how to properly use loading equipment to make sure that their cargo remains safe as they are transported to the pulp mill, plywood mill, or sawmill.

Cutting trees down is only the beginning of a wood-based product’s journey. Once felled, these trees must be properly loaded onto trucks so they can be transported to the proper destination where they can be further processed as a final product. Knowing how to use truck winch accessories and chains and binders for flatbed trucks is a critical skill for any trucker or logger tasked to transport timber. Mastering how to secure logs on a flatbed is an exercise in safety to avoid road hazards due to fallen or spilled loads. Truck cargo is best secured using a logging transport chain or the right type of tie down strap to ensure the highest level of safety on the road. Height and weight standards and guidelines, as set by the DOT, must also be kept in mind to ensure maximum safety.

Logging trucks are designed specifically with posts and cradles to ensure minimal slippage and shifting of loaded timber. However, even with these additional safety features, unpredictable road conditions can still make transporting heavy loads challenging. This is why it is important to find ways to use chains and binders for flatbed trucks more effectively to minimize the risk of accidents on the highway.

Losing a load on the road can be extremely problematic, especially as vehicles rush by full speed. Ensuring maximum stability of loaded timber is crucial to prevent cargo from shifting even as you encounter tough road conditions. Finding high quality transport chain, truck winch accessories, and binder equipment is important to help improve your cargo truck’s safety.

When loading log and timber for transport over long distances, exercising utmost care and caution is important, especially since you are sharing the road with other motorists and drivers, who themselves, are at risk should your load securement accessories fail.

At Tarps4Less, you’ll find the widest range of truck load securement accessories and tools at the best prices, providing you the most reliable equipment to ensure utmost safety on the road.

7 Tips to Help You Pick the Right Tarps

Some parts of the country require loads on flatbeds, dumps, and other hauling vehicles to be covered. While not all states have such a law in place, it’s always a good idea to properly cover the goods you are transporting wherever you might be going. A tarp for your dump truck will not just protect your load—it will also provide added protection for other motorists on the road as it prevents debris from flying off and causing accidents.

That said, not all heavy-duty truck tarps are the same. They come in different types and materials that are suitable for specific purposes. Matching the right heavy-duty tarp to the job is crucial for functionality and safety reasons. Here are some tips on figuring out what type of sheeting can best meet your requirements.

Choosing the right materials

Tarps have to withstand extreme weather and strong winds, so they have to be very strong. Don’t settle for a lower-quality product, even if it’s much cheaper. You will likely need to replace it after just a few uses, so it will end up costing you more.

Heavy-duty truck tarps can be made out of mesh, canvas, vinyl, and polyethylene. How do you know what to choose?

• Canvas is the weakest of these materials, but it has its uses. A heavy-duty canvas tarp can be used for transporting produce and products that need both airflow and sun protection. It’s not ideal for covering items with sharp edges, which can cause it to rip and tear.

• Mesh is usually used in the construction industry to cover loads of gravel, rock, and sand. These heavy-duty truck tarps are typically made of polyethylene, which can withstand the sharp and jagged edges. 

• Vinyl and poly are all-purpose truck tarps; it’s no wonder they are the most widely-used. These versatile coverings are not just waterproof—they are also resistant to UV, rot, and mildew. What’s more, they don’t tear in the wind. A heavy-duty tarp made of polyethylene or vinyl is perfect for transporting loads that need to be protected from the rain.

Automatic or manual placement

A dump truck tarp can be applied automatically or by hand. Here are some considerations when choosing a tarp system.

• Manual tarps are cheaper, but they have to be attached and unattached by hand so they won’t be as tight as a cover that has been applied automatically. If budget is an issue, manual is a good option.

• It might be worth getting a special attachment for automatic placement if you have the money for one. After all, truck tarps are heavy. An automatic cover mechanism can certainly come in handy if you don't have people to help you maneuver the sheet into position every time you need to cover a load.

Other considerations

There are other things to think about aside from material and placement. Here’s two of the most important:

• Strength and density are functions of the cover's weave count per square inch. You should also look at the denier—a measurement of the material’s thickness. In both cases, higher is better. 

• Colors have a larger role in tarp utility than you might think. In general, silver and black tarps can provide more cooling for the load, while white tarps allow some light to pass through. 

The key is to choose a durable tarp that is suitable for your load. A cover that rips after just one or two uses doesn’t just waste your money—it also puts you and your fellow motorists in danger.

Ready to shop? Tarps4Less is a great source for heavy-duty tarps for dump trucks. They carry a wide variety of products for all kinds of requirements. Visit the Tarps4Less website for quality products, great prices, and superb customer service.

Securing Your Load With Steel Tarps

Are you on the market for steel tarps for trucks? Don’t be misled—these tarps are not made of steel, despite their name. They are actually made of vinyl or heavy-duty mesh tarp materials that are typically used for protecting and securing short loads. The reason they are called ‘steel’ tarps is because they are primarily used for steel cables and sheet metal instead of longer loads (which use lumber tarps). Steel flatbed tarps are configured and sized to cover heavy, smaller height loads.

Steel tarps normally have D-rings or grommets for securing the tarp onto the bed of the truck. They often come in a ‘double drop’ design, which means that they have two rows of fastenings positioned about 1.5 feet apart. They help in securing the tarp over the cargo while providing extra protection.

These tarps are usually made of vinyl fabric or heavy-duty mesh. Both materials are known for their strength and durability. They are also relatively light. The key is to choose a material that is lightweight enough for easy handling, but strong enough for ensuring that the cargo stays securely in place. You also want some weather protection. Both mesh and vinyl provide a decent layer of protection from the sun and rain.

Prices of steel tarps for trucks vary depending on the size. The good thing is that you will only need one steel tarp to secure a load, so there’s no need for complicated cable knots and tarp overlaps (unlike lumber tarps).

If you want the best prices on high-quality steel tarps and other tarps for trucks then you should buy them from Tarps4Less.

We have 12ft-wide steel tarps with 1 row of grommets and 16ft-wide versions with 2 rows of grommets. The D-rings are evenly spaced to allow you to safely tarp even the shortest cargo and still properly place your bungees. This minimizes damage from wind whip and ultimately prolongs the life of the tarp.

Our steel tarps are available in multiple colors, with or without end flaps. We offer special winter tarps made of 18-ounce materials, designed to withstand the harshest weather. They are waterproof and can be used in -40°F conditions.

All our products are proudly American made. Order now—they are ready to ship. We also have many other kinds of tarps for trucks for different applications, plus other truck accessories that will keep you and your cargo safer on the road.

5 Tactics to Successfully Transport Dry Goods

Transporting heavy loads on the back of a truck can be challenging, especially when traveling long distances. For this, you need the right accessories and tools to ensure the safety and security of the goods you are carrying. Choosing the proper transport chain grade, length, and size is crucial to keep your truck’s load intact without damage to the cargo. Different chains and securement accessories also have varying breaking points, depending on their capacity to bear load. This is also critical to know if you want to make sure that your load remains safe to transport even on long and rough roads. Here are some tips and tactics to remember when transporting goods on a truck:

• Use the right transport chain for the job. It may seem okay to use any type of chain for general securement and/or lifting jobs, but always remember that there is a proper chain for every kind of task. Adding undue stress or load to the wrong type of chain may lead to accidents and grave damage to your load and truck.

• Inspect your truck winch accessories and transport chains before use. This will help ensure the safety of your assembly. Take a look at every detail of your chain binders, ratchet accessories and extensions, and look for any sign of wear or rusting to make sure that the safety of your cargo isn’t compromised.

• Keep firm footing when tying downloads to avoid injury and accidents, especially when dealing with exceptionally heavy loads or uneven surfaces. Use lightweight tarps when heavy-duty coverage isn’t necessary to avoid unnecessary difficulty in the tie-down process.  

• Check that your tailboard, tailgate, tarps, and doors are all secure and in good working condition before heading out. Walk around your truck to inspect for anything amiss.

• Pullover and check your load after every 50 miles to inspect your cargo for any loose ends or perhaps shifting of the load. This will help prevent your load from coming undone and causing an accident on the road.

Tarps4Less is your number one resource when it comes to tarping accessories, including transport chain assemblies, winch bars for truck, and truck winch accessories for safe and effective transport of various types of goods. Whether you need large tarps for trucks or other tarping peripherals, Tarps4Less can provide you with the best quality products to help secure your loads and ensure their protection in storage and on the road.

Top Reasons You’ll Need a Tarp This Winter

Tarps for trucks are extremely versatile pieces of material that can be used for a range of practical applications, including weather-proofing cargo and keeping equipment, tools, machines, and other objects protected. From mesh truck tarps and machinery tarps to general purpose tarps, you will find sheets of tarpaulin made out of a number of different materials, the most common of which includes vinyl, canvas, PVC, and polyester tarps. When winter-proofing objects, it is important to choose the right kind of tarps that can withstand the extreme cold to protect your items from the season’s bitter bite. Vinyl and polyester are great choices for combating cold, windy conditions, whereas canvas and mesh tarps and tarps made out of similar types of lightweight fabrics are not as effective in protecting against frost. The question remains: Why should you bother investing in good quality winter tarps? Here are the top reasons you need tarps for trucks during winter:

• Covering cargo and truck loads. When you are in the trucking business, having the right protective equipment for your cargo and heavy equipment is crucial to keep your investment secure. Winter-proofing truck loads and trucking equipment not only ensures protection for your cargo, but also for prolonging the lifespan of your trucking implements.
• Covering hay bales. Tarps are also useful for keeping hay bales safe from the rigors of the winter season, keeping them covered and protected from low temperatures, frost and snow.
• Covering sports fields and courts. Strong weather can disrupt field sports and cause damage even to the most well maintained courses. Tarps are great tools against the effects of the cold weather on various types of sports fields, courts and courses.
• Covering wood. Wood piles are prone to all kinds of damage and contamination. All year round, you can keep them protected from the elements by using the right type of tarp. 
• Covering plants in backyards and greenhouses. The cold weather can especially be harsh to certain types of plants. Tarps are also widely used to keep plants covered and protected from the harmful effects of cold weather.

Tarps4Less is your one stop shop for tarps for trucks and all kinds of machinery tarps, covers, and tie-down and securement implements, including rubber straps, transport chains, and winch accessories. The company has years of a solid track record in providing the highest quality products to help winter proof your machines, equipment, and cargo.