I used to like helping Dad unroll and tie the sheet on his lorry when carrying stone (didn’t have to sheet sand and gravel). This method had long gone when I started on the same firm, replaced with the “Easysheet” (pull over from one side with a guide rope, ratchet straps on and tie off the guide rope). Many of our drivers didn’t care how it looked, some holding it down with just the rope or the front ratchet strap, sheet over but on the pee. I took pride in having the sheet tight, buckled and rope tied off tidily, although the auto sheet’s made this a memory. Quick, but doesn’t look as tidy or keep the load dry.
Kerbdog:
Any firm now still roping and sheeting should be closed down. Buy a euroliner with sliding roof for crying out loud
not always possible to use euroliners although its a nice thought could be a bit tricky when your loading pallets out (20 high) and wide steel plates back that said we are supposed to be getting a couple for the steel loads most of our drivers have’nt got the skills and the gaffer needs to make it as easy as possible for them 
Not a Tautliner in site !! 
Did a bit of it when I worked for Owens; I wouldn’t claim to be even remotely a master of the craft but I never had a load shift or lost a sheet. Like crash boxes I’m glad I learned how to do it but I’m also glad I don’t have to on a daily basis. One sure way to ensure a stiff breeze on a flat calm day is to roll your sheets up when there’s no bugger to help you! Bloody murder if you’ve got an early tip in the middle of winter too, when your load’s been parked up all night and the sheets are frozen stiff.
It does look good when it’s done right though. I learned from a BRS driver at Langley Mill back in the 80’s when I was shunting there; he used to come down from John West’s in Liverpool every night with a sheeted flat, done absolutely perfect with every dolly at the same height and length, looked an absolute treat.
Well, I just think its a hell of a responsibility to hold a heavy load on with chains or rope n sheet and its certainly not recognised by the wages paid.
A few old stalwarts giving nods of approval going the other way doesn`t pay the bills, so as I said, they can keep it.
Don’t quite see the logic in that, so it takes less responsibility to have something else holding heavy loads, such as straps for instance, you young chaps put an awful lot of faith into those things, is that why we often see them lying in the side of the road, it seems some don’t even know how to use or fit them properly.
Drivers for flat trailers are becoming an endangered species. 90% of our work is on flats; structural steelwork, precast concrete sections, etc. some sheeting with a fly sheet for return loads, most loads need chaining and /or strapping. At the moment I have 4 vacancies, two drivers have quit today saying it’s not their type of work. I have placed driver wanted adverts three times in the last 12 months and on each occasion had over 60 enquiries, but finding experenced flat trailer drivers is now becoming very difficult and the younger drivers don’t want to learn.
I help out at harvest time for a local farmer and it’s all roping and sheeting for fertiliser bags on a flat. Must admit my sheeting doesn’t always look the best but nothings fallen off, and I do stop and check it all 'cos the bags do settle a bit and the ropes tend to loosen slightly. Takes me half an hour to make it look half decent as I watch the curtainsiders drive off in five
I always found it highly amusing when I was involved in the industry and Curtainsiders started to become more popular that for some reason a flat load would be sheeted and roped with care,yet the driver of a C/sider would bang the same load on,close the curtains and assume the load would stay in situ !!! It seemed that having a set of curtains was safer than ropes and sheets and therefore load restraint wasn’t required,magic!!! Cheers Bewick.
gingerfold:
Drivers for flat trailers are becoming an endangered species. 90% of our work is on flats; structural steelwork, precast concrete sections, etc. some sheeting with a fly sheet for return loads, most loads need chaining and /or strapping. At the moment I have 4 vacancies, two drivers have quit today saying it’s not their type of work.
I preferred those types of loads on a flat than paper reels etc.But as in some of the arguments in the 15 hour spread topic.It wasn’t the type of loads and roping/chaining/strapping it all down it was the fact that they were multi drop/collection part loads going relatively short distances.
If it’s a case of it being all full loads run long distance I can’t see what their problem is.However,if as in my case when I did general for a while,it was those type of loads needing to be collected on a multiple part load basis around the Midlands for example and then being delivered on a multiple part load basis in and around London,all expected to be done in a day and then back to the yard empty ready for another early start next day.In which case not surprisingly after a few arguments,related to hours,I decided to tell the guvnor exactly the same thing as those drivers have said.
Bewick:
I always found it highly amusing when I was involved in the industry and Curtainsiders started to become more popular that for some reason a flat load would be sheeted and roped with care,yet the driver of a C/sider would bang the same load on,close the curtains and assume the load would stay in situ !!! It seemed that having a set of curtains was safer than ropes and sheets and therefore load restraint wasn’t required,magic!!! Cheers Bewick.
They still do Mr Grace 
Wheel Nut:
Bewick:
I always found it highly amusing when I was involved in the industry and Curtainsiders started to become more popular that for some reason a flat load would be sheeted and roped with care,yet the driver of a C/sider would bang the same load on,close the curtains and assume the load would stay in situ !!! It seemed that having a set of curtains was safer than ropes and sheets and therefore load restraint wasn’t required,magic!!! Cheers Bewick.They still do Mr Grace
It’s actually “Young Mr. Grace” Rodders you cheeky Whipper snapper !!! Dennis.
Some of us are still pls skool in every way!.this picture was taken by ian payne, who also is the man who sheeted it, picture taken november 2011
gingerfold:
Drivers for flat trailers are becoming an endangered species. 90% of our work is on flats; structural steelwork, precast concrete sections, etc. some sheeting with a fly sheet for return loads, most loads need chaining and /or strapping. At the moment I have 4 vacancies, two drivers have quit today saying it’s not their type of work. I have placed driver wanted adverts three times in the last 12 months and on each occasion had over 60 enquiries, but finding experenced flat trailer drivers is now becoming very difficult and the younger drivers don’t want to learn.
Where are you based?
thelorryist:
gingerfold:
Drivers for flat trailers are becoming an endangered species. 90% of our work is on flats; structural steelwork, precast concrete sections, etc. some sheeting with a fly sheet for return loads, most loads need chaining and /or strapping. At the moment I have 4 vacancies, two drivers have quit today saying it’s not their type of work. I have placed driver wanted adverts three times in the last 12 months and on each occasion had over 60 enquiries, but finding experenced flat trailer drivers is now becoming very difficult and the younger drivers don’t want to learn.Where are you based?
Bolton. A lot of our work is into London / South East, Drivers must be able to be away all week.
cheekymonkey:
In anticipation of a witty response…the sheet blew off just as I unrolled it. NOT as I was on the A1!!!
Drat 
gingerfold:
thelorryist:
gingerfold:
Drivers for flat trailers are becoming an endangered species. 90% of our work is on flats; structural steelwork, precast concrete sections, etc. some sheeting with a fly sheet for return loads, most loads need chaining and /or strapping. At the moment I have 4 vacancies, two drivers have quit today saying it’s not their type of work. I have placed driver wanted adverts three times in the last 12 months and on each occasion had over 60 enquiries, but finding experenced flat trailer drivers is now becoming very difficult and the younger drivers don’t want to learn.Where are you based?
Bolton. A lot of our work is into London / South East, Drivers must be able to be away all week.
Are you still rotored into every other saturday ?
gonzothejaffa1:
gingerfold:
thelorryist:
gingerfold:
Drivers for flat trailers are becoming an endangered species. 90% of our work is on flats; structural steelwork, precast concrete sections, etc. some sheeting with a fly sheet for return loads, most loads need chaining and /or strapping. At the moment I have 4 vacancies, two drivers have quit today saying it’s not their type of work. I have placed driver wanted adverts three times in the last 12 months and on each occasion had over 60 enquiries, but finding experenced flat trailer drivers is now becoming very difficult and the younger drivers don’t want to learn.Where are you based?
Bolton. A lot of our work is into London / South East, Drivers must be able to be away all week.
Are you still rotored into every other saturday ?
No, Saturday or Sunday running is on a “as required” voluntary basis.
Kerbdog:
Any firm now still roping and sheeting should be closed down. Buy a euroliner with sliding roof for crying out loud
what a remark to make on here have a word with yourself.