When it comes to transporting cargo, one of the most essential tools a trucker can rely on is a high-quality truck tarp. Truck tarps provide crucial protection for goods, ensuring that they remain intact, secure, and shielded from the elements during transit. However, not all truck tarps are created equal, and different types of tarps are suited for specific kinds of loads. Below, we break down the top 5 types of truck tarps that every driver and transportation professional should be familiar with, including their best uses and applications.
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Flatbed tarps are the most common and versatile type of truck tarp. Designed to cover a wide range of cargo on flatbed trailers, they offer protection from rain, snow, and other environmental factors. These tarps are typically made from heavy-duty polyethylene or vinyl, ensuring durability and resistance to abrasions, punctures, and tearing.
Flatbed tarps are ideal for covering general freight, construction materials, and large machinery. Their ability to cover a wide surface area makes them perfect for loads of various shapes and sizes. Whether hauling lumber, steel pipes, or equipment, flatbed tarps offer a reliable way to keep cargo secure and weather-resistant. Additionally, flatbed tarps are often used in the transport of palletized goods, where a simple and quick tarp cover can provide the necessary protection without the need for complicated tie-downs.
Lumber tarps are specially designed for covering wood and timber cargo. These tarps are typically larger than flatbed tarps and feature extended flaps that cover both the top and the sides of the load. This design helps secure lumber while providing extra protection against weather and environmental elements.
Lumber tarps are tailored for wooden products such as lumber, plywood, and timber. Their extended sides help keep the load secure, reducing the risk of damage from the wind or rain. These tarps are commonly used in the transport of large construction materials and are often employed by companies specializing in timber, building supplies, or heavy equipment.
Steel tarps are heavy-duty tarps that are specifically designed to cover steel coils, steel beams, and other industrial materials. These tarps are constructed from thicker vinyl or PVC, offering superior protection against extreme weather conditions and damage from sharp-edged materials.
Steel tarps are ideal for transporting metal products, including steel plates, beams, and coils. Their heavy-duty construction helps protect these sharp-edged materials from being exposed to the elements, which could lead to rusting or other types of damage. Additionally, steel tarps are commonly used in industries like construction, metalworking, and manufacturing, where heavy materials are frequently transported.
Mesh tarps are made from woven polypropylene or polyester and are designed to offer protection while allowing air to circulate freely around the load. Unlike traditional solid tarps, mesh tarps feature a permeable fabric, which is perfect for loads that require ventilation during transit.
Mesh tarps are ideal for covering agricultural products, grain, and construction debris. These tarps are particularly beneficial for bulk items that need ventilation to prevent moisture buildup, which could lead to mold or spoilage. Mesh tarps are also commonly used in landscaping and demolition operations where airflow is necessary to maintain the integrity of the cargo.
For specialized cargo, custom tarps are often the best option. These tarps are made to fit the unique needs of specific loads, whether that involves oversized cargo, irregularly shaped items, or fragile products. Custom truck tarps are tailored for specific industries, offering precise coverage and added protection.
Custom tarps are essential for businesses involved in transporting oversized machinery, fragile goods, or temperature-sensitive items. For example, a company transporting refrigerated goods might opt for insulated tarps, while businesses moving large, delicate sculptures may use custom-fitted tarps to ensure the safety of their cargo.
Choosing the right truck tarp is essential for ensuring that cargo remains safe, secure, and protected during transit. Each type of tarp has its own set of advantages depending on the type of load being transported. From flatbed tarps for general use to steel tarps for heavy-duty industrial materials, and mesh tarps for breathable coverage, understanding the differences between each type is crucial for selecting the right option for your needs.
Whether you’re in the business of transporting lumber, steel, or oversized equipment, ensuring the right type of tarp is used will help prevent damage, reduce the risk of weather-related issues, and keep your cargo in optimal condition during its journey.
Truck drivers, truck owners, or those responsible for the protection of cargo will appreciate the value of utilizing Truck Tarps with your loads. These strong and versatile covers can shield your freight from the wind, rain, snow, dirt, and other hazards while in transit. There are many varieties and special types of Truck Tarps on the market, so it may get a little confusing to know exactly what is best for your needs. Within this article we will review the best uses matching a Truck Tarp and a specific requirement.
Job number one for a Truck Tarp is to guard the valuable cargo from the brutal elements. The tarpaulins are typically secured directly on or slightly above the load by confidently tying them down with the grommets (eyelets) and D-rings with the use of straps, cables, ropes, or chains. Cargo Tarps will shield freight from the wind, rain, snow, dirt, and debris. The durable material used in these truck covers will also aid in protecting the loads from the sunlight and its harmful UV rays.
Additionally, Truck Tarps protect freight from being damaged in route. The secure covers will help to keep the goods in transit or stored in the yard from obtaining scratches, nicks, dents, or other damage. A properly secured tarp will also help prevent loads from shifting around. Truck Tarps helps ensure that the cargo makes it to the final destination in the same condition as when it left.
Choosing the best Truck Tarp for the job can be challenging. The task is vital to select a cover that delivers on all of your requirements. When deciding on a Truck Tarp, which can include anything from pickup truck tarps to oversize loads, you will need to consider the type of load that you will be transporting, the possible weather conditions, and the challenges along the route. It is also important to make sure that the covers are compatible with your truck bed size and layout.
With nearly 38 million trucks registered for business purposes in this country, there are a lot of trucks on the road and a lot of freight to protect. The American Truck Association states that these registered trucks ship more than 10 billion tons of cargo every year. Goods hauled on trucks account for just slightly over 80 percent of the United States freight billing. These statistics help support the reason why close to 63 percent of the Tarp industry sales are attributed to the transportation industry. It is pretty obvious that that the protection of truck freight is important.
As you seek a reliable way to protect your freight on the road, a Truck Tarp is a priority. These covers are offered in a spectrum of products, materials, sizes, and features. Whatever your trucking need there is a Truck Tarp for that application.
Please continue reading to learn more about the materials, features, and specific Truck Tarp products that are available.
A huge selection of Heavy Duty Truck Tarps and Truck Covers are available for the diversity of the truck cargo that travels along our many roads. Made from durable and protective fabrics such vinyl, clear vinyl, and mesh, these Truck Tarps ensure the loads will safely reach their destinations. Many of the materials mentioned are also available in an array of colors for safety, company branding, identity, and for additional necessary requirements.
All of these Truck Tarp fabrics have their own characteristics and features in addition to a range of thicknesses and material weights. Many Semi Truck Tarps also have coatings, treatments, or additives that generate even additional critical protection such as being 100 percent waterproof or have fire and flame-retardant protection. To follow are some descriptions of the common effective fabrics used as Truck Tarps.
Vinyl
Vinyl Tarps help protect freight against damage caused wind rain, snow, dirt, sun, and many other hazards. This popular and very durable material is 100 percent waterproof. This vinyl PVC coated polyester fabric is available in a large selection of grades, material weights, colors, and sizes to find the ideal solution for your trucking needs. Additional features that viny tarps possess include heat sealed seams and strong rust resistant grommets along with UV ray, tear, wear, abrasion, rot, and mildew resistant. Another vital option offered on some vinyl products is fire retardancy for special freight and situations.
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Clear Vinyl
When you need to keep an eye on what is underneath your cover, Clear Vinyl Tarps are an effective product with crystal clear view through the material. In addition, these covers have the same characteristics of solid vinyl fabric being 100 percent well holding up well to all weather conditions. Clear Vinyl Tarps are also thick, strong, and help resist against UV rays, chemicals, grease, rot, and mildew delivering a reliable tarp in every situation.
Mesh
Mesh Tarps are a popular cover for numerous trucking applications where waterproof or water resistance is not required. These woven covers crafted from materials that include polyethylene, polypropylene, and vinyl are very lightweight and easy to handle yet strong while also guarding against tears, abrasion, oil grease, and are UV resistant. Mesh Tarps are popular with landscape related trucking, dump trucks, and transfer trailers. Mesh Tarps are available in a number of material weights, thicknesses, grades, colors, and shade factors that also determine the density of the weave.
The best driver driving a quality rig is going to matter little if the freight is delivered damaged or wet. Truck Tarps are created to help provide a high level of protection for steel, lumber, heavy equipment, temperature-sensitive asphalt, refuge, or whatever is being hauled. The quality covers that are summarized in this section stand up to the elements, tears, and the overall tough environments of the open road.
Flatbed Tarps / Steel Truck Tarps
A lot of freight that includes steel coil, steel plate, steel bar, and other metal commodities are hauled on flatbed trucks and trailers. Flatbed Tarps and Steel Tarps are available in a number of convenient sizes in an 18 oz heavy duty vinyl coated polyester material along with functional features that include being fitted with sturdy grommets and D-rings to help make sure that the flatbed tarping loads are tied down and secured helping keep the valuable freight protected, clean, and dry.
Lumber Truck Tarps
This is another tarp utilized for flatbed loads, primarily standard lumber products. Lumber Truck Tarps provide a valuable feature in shielding this important freight from the hazards of wind, rain, snow, dirt, dust, debris, and smoke. The Lumber Tarps / Flatbed Covers are provided in material weights of 16 oz and 18 oz in a selection of effective sizes to work with a variety of loads.
Coil Tarps
Coil Tarps helps make sure that steel coils and similar hauled items are protected while being carried on flatbed trucks. These Truck Tarps are designed and constructed with a layout of both grommets and D-rings for safe and secure tying down of the covers. Coil Tarps are made to guard the metal items and ship through the demands of traveling in extreme weather. These 18 oz durable vinyl covered polyester covers are rated for temperatures as low as -40° F. The Coil Tarps are available in in a common 6’ X 6’ X 6’ size.
Machinery Tarps / Truck Tarps
These covers are made with strong 18 oz vinyl PVC coated polyester material. Machinery Tarps / Truck Tarps are used for protecting and covering large and irregular shaped loads. They are commonly utilized with machinery, lumber, steel, and sheeting freight carried on flatbed trucks. These Semi Tarps are typically available in versatile 24’ X 24’ and 30’ X 30’ sizes.
Mesh Truck Tarps
Mesh Truck Tarps are a great way for securing a load when breathability is a primary requirement. Lightweight yet durable covers are offered in an assortment of fabrics, material weights, colors, thicknesses, sizes, and shade factors. These covers will not flap in the wind like other solid fabrics do as the wind will pass through the porous weave of the Mesh Tarps.
Nursery / Landscape Tarps
Nursery Tarps / Landscape Tarps are made with lightweight and extremely strong mesh fabrics that make sure that any tree nursery, landscaping, lawn care, gardening, planting, and other related loads are secure. Nursery Tarps / Landscape Tarps are offered in a vast selection of effective mesh and netting features.
Transfer Trailer Tarps
To help make the hauling more efficient and safe while transporting, Transfer Trailer Tarps and Refuse Trailer Tarps are offered and made with strong knitted polyester mesh and vinyl mesh material that will aid in holding down loads on the trailers. The hems of the Transfer Trailer Tarps and Refuse Trailer Tarps are reinforced and fitted with durable grommets to help ideally secure the loads keeping the stuff in the trailers and off the road.
Roll-Off Tarps
Roll-Off Tarps are designed to cover and keep hard to control, lightweight, and flyaway debris in the dumpsters at the worksite or in transit. They are available to fit containers from 2-yard up to 50-yard sizes.
Asphalt Truck Tarps
Asphalt Truck Tarps, or more commonly known as RFL (Resorcinol Formaldehyde Latex) Asphalt Truck Tarps are a tightly woven, ultra-durable material that possesses a high temperature rating to help handle the hot asphalt. Specially designed for Asphalt Tarps, these heavy tarps aid in preventing the asphalt from sticking to the covers. Asphalt Truck Tarps are not waterproof and are also commonly used as dump truck tarps and utilized in dump truck tarp systems.
Smoke Tarps
Smoke Truck Tarps, or Nose Tarps, are specialized covers that are designed to guard the front end of a load from dirt, dirt, soot, and smoke that is being hauled on a flatbed rig. These unique covers also aid in reducing noise generated from certain loads including pipes. Smoke Tarps are flat or fitted. The flat version is designed as a simple rectangle that can be folded over the edges of the freight. The fitted options have a boxed in top to help provide security around the edges of the load. The basic size is 8’ X 8’ X 2’ crafted from durable black 18 oz vinyl coated polyester.
General Tarps
For any application including Trucking, there is a vast assortment of Heavy Duty Tarps that are ideal for just about all truck freight. They are manufactured from effective materials such as vinyl, clear vinyl, canvas, and mesh with important selections that include size (ex: 6x6 tarp), thickness, material weight, and color along with optional features on many of the general products such as being being waterproof and fire retardant.
Custom Truck Tarps
Custom made to order Tarps for the popular materials such as vinyl, clear vinyl, and mesh, along with other feature specifications can be easily made to your exact dimensions. Custom Truck Tarps are manufactured to deliver your particular requirements since not all freight fits perfectly beneath those the stock sizes that are offered.
Truck Tarp Accessories
When hauling steel coil, lumber, heavy equipment, refuse, asphalt, or whatever, you need protection for your loads from the elements, dirt, and other hazards. You also will need the products to aid, assist, and repair these covers. A wide selection of Truck Tarp Accessories are available to make using your special covers that much easier. Truck Tarp Accessories include Rubber EDM Tarp Straps, Shock Cord, Tarp Cleaner, seam sealer, grommet kits, tarp tape, and tarp glue / tarp cement.
You buy a tarp for its protection and that is what you will get. As with anything of value, you do have to provide a little maintenance. With minimal care, your Truck Tarp Covers will do their job for many many hauls. It is critical to use them as they are intended and attempt not to abuse by stretching the covers or creating uneven tension that will contribute to grommet issues and premature material wear.
Keeping the Truck Tarps clean is important and an easy process. As dirt and grime builds up on the covers, it can start to limit the effectiveness and functionality. To clean your Truck Tarps, it is suggested to use mild dish soap and warm water. Sometimes water only will do the trick. It is imperative not to utilize detergents, many hash cleaners and scrubbing too hard can harm the covers as well as removing the protection of special features. Dedicated and safe to use Tarp Cleaners and Protectant are available. It is also recommended to dry the tarps after cleaning. This can easily be done by placing the tarps in the sun or thoroughly dry by hand with a soft towel before using again or and especially before placing in storage.
Another important task is to inspect the Truck Tarps every so often. While cleaning is always an ideal opportunity to look for any damage or other concerns. If you discover tears, rips, holes, abrasion, or worn areas it is best to repair with items such as Tarp Tape and Tarp Glue. For grommets issues such as damage or missing, it is highly recommended to replace these. Grommet Kits are available to easily accomplish the replacement. The kits contain the grommets and dedicated tools to perform the repairs. If the damage to a Truck Cover is substantial and cannot be repaired, it should be replaced.
Once again, it should be mentioned that Truck Tarps are to be completely dry before putting them in storage. It is also suggested that they be placed in cool, dry areas that are off the floor and are not in any direct sunlight or near high sources of heat.
As you look for your Truck Tarps, you will find everything that you need at Tarps Now. We have a complete line of general, flatbed, steel, coil, lumber, smoke, refuge, heavy equipment, and asphalt Trucking Tarps along with custom options. These heavy duty Truck Tarps are crafted from strong, reliable, and easy to handle materials that include vinyl, clear vinyl, and mesh. These covers are available in in a wide selection of common sizes. If you have a question or need help in finding the best Truck Tarp Cover solution for you loads and truck, please contact Tarps Now at (888) 800- or where one of our experienced, dedicated, and pleasant tarp team members located at our Michigan headquarters will be more than happy to speak with you.
Tarps Now was founded and continues to operate in St. Joseph, Michigan. Centrally and strategically located within the United States and North America, we focus on the distribution, manufacturing, consultation, and sales of a full line of Truck Bed Tarp Covers, General Tarps, and Curtains, along with Tarp Accessories. We also have the ability to make Custom Tarps. We are very proud to provide one of the largest selections of Tarps and Accessories directly from the factory along with our convenient, effective, and popular stock sizes that are used by truckers, trucking companies, corporations, and municipalities throughout the United States and North America.
Please do not hesitate to speak with our helpful and pleasant Michigan based customer service staff. They always look forward to working with you to find the best Semi Trailer Tarps, Pickup Truck Tarps, or General Tarps for your requirements. Feel free to check out our website and discover our large product lines and the protection provided through these covers.
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