There was quite a simple reason why people rolled a sheet semi open on a flatbed loaded with empty pallets. Aerodynamics, simple as that. Dragging a semi sheeted load of pallets was a damn sight easier and way more fuel efficient that dragging bare pallets around.
By sheeted I don’t mean sheeted fully down the sides, only the front and top of the load needed it.
Would of been easier to load them in a tilt
Especially if you’d loaded a lot of cases! 
I see what you did there. 
If you had roped them properly remy they wouldn’t have moved ! 
If carting pallets any distance, I used to get the forkie toturn the stack 90⁰ on the bottom one.
I once went into the Adelaide PO DC to pickup 34 pallets on a B double, for Sydney. I was opening the curtain on the back trailer, when the forkie asked why I was doing so. I said there was supposed to be 34 pallets, he replied that there were, but they were all empty. They took up four pallet spaces, but I got paid for a full load. You have appreciate the rare, little wins.
More like Hillmans IIRC
Now here’s a unit I’d happily bang under a tilt and set off for anywhere south of Calais: Cummins / Fuller / Rockwell = bliss!
I believe that one had the NTE 320, Fuller RTX 11609 and Rockwell rear.
That’s a desirable piece of equipment. When I was gainfully employed I spent many hours in such a machine (happy hours) Now, old and creaky, I’d never be able to get mounted. 
Throughout my working life my MAIN diet was TS3 Commers, (just a lad starting out), AEC (Mk V), a Foden on occasions , and ERF’s
Oh, and never to be forgotten, Thornycroft 8 wheeler…what a machine. 
I think you’re probably right, Rowena. The trailer’s most likely only 30’.
Note how the cars only have a central tail light, be lucky if the trailer had one at all; it has no bumper, mudguards or mud flaps.
We’d help you up grumpy, you won’t need a hand dismounting, you’ll have gravity on your side.
Never thought of that, but it makes sense (if I’m picturing it right).
If only the bed was bigger and I’m not sure about the tilt, gimme a flat-top any day.
Yes, the sleeper is not huge but about average for its day. The later E-series with the SP4 cab was 11’ deeper, allowing more bed-room!
14 pallets with the tyne pockets aligned with the length os the trailer, sitting on the 15th, placed normally. Carting them like that, I would dog (the proper old fashioned over-centre type) and chain front and back stacks. The other eight stacks were roped.
Modern day rule makers and enforcers would have you believe our loads must have fallen off on every corner.
Did you ever have the ‘Olympic’ sleeper…or is that the SP4?
I’d have loved one of those Olympic cabs when I was running ERFs, they just got things right and then stopped trading…did ERF actually go under btw?
When was the last time you drove a truck btw Ro?
Anything reasonably ‘modern’ ?
You say about taking that E series over the water, yep cool motor proper spec, I too was an ERF fan, but given what is on the market today, hmmm not so sure I’d choose to drive a one now.
My high cab Renault (the Magnum replacement) is more than satisfactory for me today, it ticks all the ‘tramping boxes’…‘love’ it in fact.
Yes Hillmans 1946/47ish.
Western Star (Canadian) bought them initially and then in 2000 MAN (German) bought them
