I’ve been forced to try this when on general haulage early 2000s and sent to military depots. Used to pull curtainsiders then one day arrived 0300 in yard to start week and behind the unit was a flatbed, sheets scrunched up, ropes and straps. Got it sorted after many frustrating hours swearing, enough to get it where it needed to go but it was far from neat. I never had to do it again.
That run bothered me as I didnt get the chance to have it explained and crack it; no driver at the yard knew either (old buggers included). It was clear it’s one of those things you need to see, words and text don’t explain it. To this day I’d still like to know how to do it. Are there any vids or links to methods with pics to satisfy my curiosity? I know the principle of laying the sheets in the correct order and how to tie a dolly but I couldn’t get how you get the edge of the sheet to match the level of the trailer edge so perfectly without appearing scrunched up. The load in question was up and down at different levels and not very high and the sheets massive, maybe too big.
I can do it, I spent three or four years doing it back in the day but I would never do a job where I had to rope and sheet nowadays, any more than I would buy a house with gas lighting and an outside lavatory.
The only way I can describe the neat edge is achieved without confusing folks, is to say the sheet is rolled up on the inside (tucked under) and you just ease it down to suit the load height at that point. Easy when you know how, but not easy to explain without physically showing someone truckside.
LIBERTY_GUY:
The only way I can describe the neat edge is achieved without confusing folks, is to say the sheet is rolled up on the inside (tucked under) and you just ease it down to suit the load height at that point. Easy when you know how, but not easy to explain without physically showing someone truckside.
Agreed. As much as I’d like to help, the only way is practise and experience. General guidelines, back sheet on first to stop the wind getting under, keep sheets as taut as possible, make sure rope ends are tied off, re-fold sheets tidily to make them easier to carry…and learn by doing
Cheers for that. I didn’t know if the edge was raised by ropes pulling it up on eyelets. The inside rolling thing makes sense. Cheers for vid link. It does look really impressive when you see how neat some drivers get it. Appeals to my OCD!
It’s a difficult one to put into words, but here’s an idea for practice to get your head around it without the immediate trailer! Practice with a sheet(s) over a bed at home put some kit on the bed to make up a load ( more realistic),folding it the way it would be for the trailer & putting it over the bed in the same way as on the trailer, if you can get some roll of bale string from the local farmer, you can practice roping & dolly knots too. Oh , & beware the mrs may be annoyed to find her ironed bed sheets straying!!
bonnie lass:
It’s a difficult one to put into words, but here’s an idea for practice to get your head around it without the immediate trailer! Practice with a sheet(s) over a bed at home put some kit on the bed to make up a load ( more realistic),folding it the way it would be for the trailer & putting it over the bed in the same way as on the trailer, if you can get some roll of bale string from the local farmer, you can practice roping & dolly knots too. Oh , & beware the mrs may be annoyed to find her ironed bed sheets straying!!
you could how ever practice roping the mrs to the bed
Main thing to remember is that the sheets hold the load and the ropes hold the sheets.
First thing is to get the sheets tight on front and rear corners and then the ropes pull them even tighter.
Once saw a sheeted load go over and it was still fastened to the trailer (raw cotton bales)they righted the trailer and the load was still sat square on the trailer bed.No bloody curtain sider could ever do that.And it was a four sheet load.Believe it was a Mcburney truck.
If I walked in at the start of my shift and had to do that, I’d be needing a WTD break before I could leave the yard lol
I’d love to know how to do it though
I started at 18 on a flatbed transit then just progressed to 7.5t then artic same principle just like everything things are just biggeR
as long as you know what your doing a full load start to finish on a good day would take about 30 to 45 min on a bad day and depending what sort of load it was , anything up to 1.5hrs
Years ago I was on oil & Pickle the steel was so thin I generally couldn’t use chains even If I did it stall had to be double sheeted.
So oil & pickle is steel that’s been in an acid bath (pickled) then oiled as it will start to rust within minutes, so flat sheets of steel as smooth as can be then oiled lay on bearers on a trailer and how do you hold them on the trailer = you learn to rope & sheet really really well, 2 tarp’s as you can not allow the rain in at all, plus the steel cuts through the first tarp.
The packs of steel are as slippery as ice.
So to all you newbies if you want a job for life learn to rope & sheet and do 2 years accident free on oil & pickle and every company out there will employ you.
I once drove from Birmingham to Norwich with a carton of milk on the bumper (forgot I’d put it their) so yep I think I’m a pretty steady driver.
When I take a potential new employee out in a truck I always put a cup of coffee on the dash if they spill it there done for.
Freight Dog:
I’ve been forced to try this when on general haulage early 2000s and sent to military depots. Used to pull curtainsiders then one day arrived 0300 in yard to start week and behind the unit was a flatbed, sheets scrunched up, ropes and straps. Got it sorted after many frustrating hours swearing, enough to get it where it needed to go but it was far from neat. I never had to do it again.
That run bothered me as I didnt get the chance to have it explained and crack it; no driver at the yard knew either (old buggers included). It was clear it’s one of those things you need to see, words and text don’t explain it. To this day I’d still like to know how to do it. Are there any vids or links to methods with pics to satisfy my curiosity? I know the principle of laying the sheets in the correct order and how to tie a dolly but I couldn’t get how you get the edge of the sheet to match the level of the trailer edge so perfectly without appearing scrunched up. The load in question was up and down at different levels and not very high and the sheets massive, maybe too big.
Basics of roping and sheeting are simple enough. (1)Make sure the sheets are folded properly, Lay your sheets out flat on the ground and fold it 3/4 over and back both edges and then roll them up,that way its easier to unfold over the load careful getting them on the top of your load,suggest if possible put them on top as your loading progresss along the trailer etc.
(2) Depending on the size of your “bed” or load will determine how many sheets you need.
Always start from the rear end of the load,and work forward ensure you have sufficient sheet covering the load and not obscuring your tail light
(3) If your using 2-3 sheets each sheet should overlap each other down the trailer towards the rear,to prevent any wind getting underneath as your going along.
(4) At the front and back of the load make sure you take each corner across to the opposite side of the trailer tie down and the pull the centre out creating a “flap” then again tie down over the “cross overs”
(5) Tuck any loose ends up under the sheets,then start roping.
(6)Start from the front and work down the trailer starting with a cross coming from the top corners of the load on each side and then one straight across the sheet to hold the front "flap"down. same at the rear when you get there.
Unfortunately doing a “dolly” is more difficult to explain as its something you really need to be shown “on the job” but be prepared to have a bruised backside a few times as until you get the hang of it your liable to have the “dolly” slip when you pull on the rope.
When throwing your rope over from one side to the other its easier to throw with the wind
I have been driving for thirty years and I would still do a job where you had to rope and sheet today
I always think flat work gives you a bit of a challenge and the different types of loads you carry can be really varied
I was the same as you matey till about 9/ 10 months ago I found my self an old boy that new how to rope and sheet that was willing to teach and we stoped there untill I could do it, it’s a dieing trade withing drivers, it’s hard work some times and that’s what I think puts drivers off
If you have the time to trawl through this thread, it will tell you as much as guys are able to, but there’s no substitute for getting on with it practically.
I miss the days of roping and sheeting, there was certainly a lot of pride in a smartly roped and sheeted load, but it takes time to learn and there is no time today, or old hands to guide you.
Maybe I could start up a skills business teaching the younger drivers the art, but there’s not enough of it about these days, it is, specialised trade, not as it was viewed back in the day when every driver had to do it!.
It used to be common practice to carry everything on flat, including foodstuffs. I remember loading tinned food from Bartletts of Bridgewater on a flat. Can you imagine the scene at a modern Tesco RDC , with all the drivers out in the yard, rolling sheets up!
sayersy:
It used to be common practice to carry everything on flat, including foodstuffs. I remember loading tinned food from Bartletts of Bridgewater on a flat. Can you imagine the scene at a modern Tesco RDC , with all the drivers out in the yard, rolling sheets up!
J West out of a w/house in Liverpool had to sheet it as you loaded or the locals had tinned salmon for the next week the delivered it to what was then Western Freights Keynsham
lolipop:
Unfortunately doing a “dolly” is more difficult to explain as its something you really need to be shown “on the job” but be prepared to have a bruised backside a few times as until you get the hang of it your liable to have the “dolly” slip when you pull on the rope.
that’s what coasters with the tea towel under it is for 
