Bewick:
Truckbling:
The number of drivers who claim to be able to rope and sheet is phenomenal. Throw a rope at them though and they think you want as tow.I folded a TIR cord up for a lad the other week and did it like a rope, I handed it to him by holding one strand and he said “what the eff is that” I said " you’ve obviously never roped before" he said " yes I have"…I mean how could he claim to have roped before yet he didn’t know what I was handing him, absolutely priceless.
Many claim to be able to Sheet and rope but only a few can make a tidy job of it,proper like
Cheers Bewick.
[/quote]Fair comment Mr Bewick, I can do it and have done it but, not doing it regularly, I’m the first to admit…they could (and should) have been a bit tidier.
ardennes:
Dont get so worked up VOLSCADAF no one is really saying if you can rope and sheet you are a better driver but remember which forum you are on and many older drivers like to reminisce . Still i bet many present day drivers would not be fit enough to do it any way.
Well put. As you say, many on here older blokes for whom roping and sheeting was part of the job and it should come as no suprise to the likes of VOLSCADAF that they like to compare notes with (and take the urine out of) each other. I’m no spring chicken myself (far too rapidly approaching my mid-50s) but after being away from the game for 18 years I recently landed myself a driving job where sheeting (tarping as they call it here) is a necessary part of the job. I learned how to do it years ago and I am wont to take a bit of pride in it even now - I am by no means the best there is but I still try to learn a wrinkle or two from others.
So, I know how to rope a load, how to use straps properly and how to sheet a load on a big flatbed, so I’ve got skills some others haven’t. Does that make me a better driver? Depends what you mean by “better”, but by and large I would say that someone who’s got those skills and is willing to learn is a much better prospect as an employee than someone who hasn’t and isn’t. Of course R&S takes time, and time is money (that’s not all it is but unfortunately accountants rule) and so tautliners are now the rule rather than the exception, and thus skills that were once commonplace are nowadays unused or never taught at all. Nonetheless there are always loads that won’t go on a tautliner so if you want to be a driver who will never run short of work, the more skills you’ve got under your belt the better.
ParkRoyal2100:
ardennes:
Dont get so worked up VOLSCADAF no one is really saying if you can rope and sheet you are a better driver but remember which forum you are on and many older drivers like to reminisce . Still i bet many present day drivers would not be fit enough to do it any way.Well put. As you say, many on here older blokes for whom roping and sheeting was part of the job and it should come as no suprise to the likes of VOLSCADAF that they like to compare notes with (and take the urine out of) each other. I’m no spring chicken myself (far too rapidly approaching my mid-50s) but after being away from the game for 18 years I recently landed myself a driving job where sheeting (tarping as they call it here) is a necessary part of the job. I learned how to do it years ago and I am wont to take a bit of pride in it even now - I am by no means the best there is but I still try to learn a wrinkle or two from others.
So, I know how to rope a load, how to use straps properly and how to sheet a load on a big flatbed, so I’ve got skills some others haven’t. Does that make me a better driver? Depends what you mean by “better”, but by and large I would say that someone who’s got those skills and is willing to learn is a much better prospect as an employee than someone who hasn’t and isn’t. Of course R&S takes time, and time is money (that’s not all it is but unfortunately accountants rule) and so tautliners are now the rule rather than the exception, and thus skills that were once commonplace are nowadays unused or never taught at all. Nonetheless there are always loads that won’t go on a tautliner so if you want to be a driver who will never run short of work, the more skills you’ve got under your belt the better.
see my previous post. Some of us are willing to learn
Danny_b:
ParkRoyal2100:
ardennes:
Dont get so worked up VOLSCADAF no one is really saying if you can rope and sheet you are a better driver but remember which forum you are on and many older drivers like to reminisce . Still i bet many present day drivers would not be fit enough to do it any way.Well put. As you say, many on here older blokes for whom roping and sheeting was part of the job and it should come as no suprise to the likes of VOLSCADAF that they like to compare notes with (and take the urine out of) each other. I’m no spring chicken myself (far too rapidly approaching my mid-50s) but after being away from the game for 18 years I recently landed myself a driving job where sheeting (tarping as they call it here) is a necessary part of the job. I learned how to do it years ago and I am wont to take a bit of pride in it even now - I am by no means the best there is but I still try to learn a wrinkle or two from others.
So, I know how to rope a load, how to use straps properly and how to sheet a load on a big flatbed, so I’ve got skills some others haven’t. Does that make me a better driver? Depends what you mean by “better”, but by and large I would say that someone who’s got those skills and is willing to learn is a much better prospect as an employee than someone who hasn’t and isn’t. Of course R&S takes time, and time is money (that’s not all it is but unfortunately accountants rule) and so tautliners are now the rule rather than the exception, and thus skills that were once commonplace are nowadays unused or never taught at all. Nonetheless there are always loads that won’t go on a tautliner so if you want to be a driver who will never run short of work, the more skills you’ve got under your belt the better.
see my previous post. Some of us are willing to learn
Good. The more the better. It’s a shame many employers these days appear to value bits of paper (CPC, OH&S tickets proving you know how to operate a hi-vis vest safely) over the right attitude.
harry_gill:
Suedehead:
geepir:
.Tailor made sheet perchance?
hiya,
That wouldn’t have been the easiest load to do it looks like the sheets
are brand spanking new, so wouldn’t be easy to work with.
thanks harry, long retired.
Quite correct “H” 
brand new set of sheets on a brand new trailer,I took that shot mainly because of the actual trailer which was one of a batch I had built to the same spec as a tri-axle but minus the front axle,although the chassis had a cross beam ready fitted for the 3rd axle which eventually I did have fitted back at the factory in ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ as for the comment another member made about “were the sheets made to measure”,thats a laugh,we were General hauliers and carried all shapes and sizes of loads ! The two blue main sheets were 30ft long x 24ft wide and the Fly was 12’ 6" wide X46ft long,honest “H” some of these lads haven’t got a clue where S&R is concerned eh! Not like Thee and me and many others from the “old school” on the site.Cheers Dennis. 
i saw 36x24 foot and imagined them wet through , i went all tired then and had to think of something else . i was remembering when it was ■■■■■■■ down , the forkie had gone for his dinner and the only option was to get them on your back and carry them up , it’s happened to me more than once . perhaps i chose the wrong time to call the forkie a (zb) . cheers , dave
remember loading bagged hydrated lime at buxton, it was winter and snowing.got loaded very late afternoon and it had gone dark, all around the loading bay as many of you may remember the area was inches deep in white sludge and trying to sheet and rope especially with huge bottle sheets was a challenge to say the least.The sheets came out of the fold and trailed in the sludge and the ropes where full of it.Nearly lost the top sheet and all the ties where flicking about on the ground, trying to stay clean was impossible at that place was not possible, still it was all part of the job and the same for every one.
Bewick:
harry_gill:
Suedehead:
geepir:
.Tailor made sheet perchance?
hiya,
That wouldn’t have been the easiest load to do it looks like the sheets
are brand spanking new, so wouldn’t be easy to work with.
thanks harry, long retired.Quite correct “H”
I was going to ask you about the trailer spec Dennis - was that a hedge-betting exercise when 38t came in? Tandem axle trailers on super singles are/were rare.
Regards, Tony
still no offers 
Here I was hoping there was a will to keep the old skills alive. I think I’ll be fine with sheeting to be honest as I used to sheet and rope inflatables (bouncy castles, bungee runs etc) but I’d still like a day on a master class.
geepir:
.
Scott & Fife from Tayport, that a name from the past, We used to deliver reels of paper to their factory, They were very wide reels & only one topped on our 41 ft trailer, This would be the 80/90s era, Regards Larry.
GCR2ERF:
Bewick:
harry_gill:
Suedehead:
geepir:
.Tailor made sheet perchance?
hiya,
That wouldn’t have been the easiest load to do it looks like the sheets
are brand spanking new, so wouldn’t be easy to work with.
thanks harry, long retired.Quite correct “H”
I was going to ask you about the trailer spec Dennis - was that a hedge-betting exercise when 38t came in? Tandem axle trailers on super singles are/were rare.
Regards, Tony
Hiya Tony,It was well after 38 ton came in that I specc’d those trailers,they were mainly aimed at a Mill we ran out of at Hele nr.Cullompton with the outward bound loads being lightweight and the inbound woodpulp was in parcels that didn’t matter wether they were divided up into 20ton or 25 ton loads,it was the same rate per ton.The tyres were 385’s,called mini super singles when they first appeared on the new tri axle trailers in '83.IIRC the bogies on that batch of trailers were rated at 18ton,or 9ton per axle which was OK for 32 ton GVW.The intial capital cost saving was £1200 per traier IIRC.However,the demand for 38tonners had them back at ■■■■■■■■■■■ within a couple of years to have the third axle fitted.Cheers Dennis.
Lawrence Dunbar:
geepir:
.Scott & Fife from Tayport, that a name from the past, We used to deliver reels of paper to their factory, They were very wide reels & only one topped on our 41 ft trailer, This would be the 80/90s era, Regards Larry.
Henry Cookes mill at Beetham used to send a lot of crepe reels to Scott&Fyffe and in the late 60’s/early '70’s a firm hauliers called Scotts of Claverhouse used to collect the loads then for some reason they stopped and Cookes own motors and one or two other hauliers delivered the paper.Then in 1974 we started doing the job which continued for many years until,IIRC,Scott & Fyffe closed.Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
Lawrence Dunbar:
geepir:
.Scott & Fife from Tayport, that a name from the past, We used to deliver reels of paper to their factory, They were very wide reels & only one topped on our 41 ft trailer, This would be the 80/90s era, Regards Larry.
Henry Cookes mill at Beetham used to send a lot of crepe reels to Scott&Fyffe and in the late 60’s/early '70’s a firm hauliers called Scotts of Claverhouse used to collect the loads then for some reason they stopped and Cookes own motors and one or two other hauliers delivered the paper.Then in 1974 we started doing the job which continued for many years until,IIRC,Scott & Fyffe closed.Cheers Dennis.
Just googled s&f and they appear to be still alive and well,links rd tayport.
regards dave.
harry_gill:
Suedehead:
geepir:
.Tailor made sheet perchance?
hiya,
That wouldn’t have been the easiest load to do it looks like the sheets
are brand spanking new, so wouldn’t be easy to work with.
thanks harry, long retired.
I was commenting on the pic of the load behind the R cab Renault,with the Murfitts in the background.
dafdave:
Bewick:
Lawrence Dunbar:
geepir:
.Scott & Fife from Tayport, that a name from the past, We used to deliver reels of paper to their factory, They were very wide reels & only one topped on our 41 ft trailer, This would be the 80/90s era, Regards Larry.
Henry Cookes mill at Beetham used to send a lot of crepe reels to Scott&Fyffe and in the late 60’s/early '70’s a firm hauliers called Scotts of Claverhouse used to collect the loads then for some reason they stopped and Cookes own motors and one or two other hauliers delivered the paper.Then in 1974 we started doing the job which continued for many years until,IIRC,Scott & Fyffe closed.Cheers Dennis.
Just googled s&f and they appear to be still alive and well,links rd tayport.
regards dave.
My mistake 
it was many years ago so I’ve been thinking of another firm that closed.Cheers Bewick.
A shot of a “non fly sheeted” load of bleached kraft reels for re-pulping ex Blythe Harbour,stood in the depot ready to be delivered to one of the mills we worked for.
Remember the kraft reels for Hartlepool out of Kent 4 on the bottom & 1 up top on the roll. Bet it was a laugh watching a short arse like me running a long the 4 to make a leap on the top one to spread the sheets, & then the sheets usualy went over the top of each other on the top reel ,so you had the game on trying to keep the back sheet inplace while you climbed down again, H&S
greek:
Remember the kraft reels for Hartlepool out of Kent 4 on the bottom & 1 up top on the roll. Bet it was a laugh watching a short arse like me running a long the 4 to make a leap on the top one to spread the sheets, & then the sheets usualy went over the top of each other on the top reel ,so you had the game on trying to keep the back sheet inplace while you climbed down again, H&S
Ha ha ive done some of that in my time mate with some reels out of lower Darwin p/mill for Belgium,one up and flysheeted as well,happy days eh.
regards dave.
Danny_b:
still no offers
Sorry Danny-b, would love to help but at wrong end of the country. I’m sure, like a lot of others, I’ve never had a problem with passing on the skills I’ve learnt over the years to lads starting out. Just take your time and try to learn from the things that WILL go wrong or you think you could have done better. I don’t think anyone of us was perfect from day one. I can still feel the shame I felt, in the days as a mate, when a tie down I’d rushed came undone. When R&S remember it takes as long as it takes. Don’t let anyone try to rush you or listen to those who say the loads as safe as houses so just do a quick job and get on your way…dave
Looks a good job to me, I bet not much pommy rain gets into that load.
Bewick:
