Good RollOffs Make Good Neighbors

Good RollOffs Make Good Neighbors
Monday, May 01, 2006

Instead of an eyesore, your rolloff can be a waste operation's positive advertisement.

By Janice Keating

Although the vehicles serve much the same purpose, the public can perceive garbage trucks and rolloffs in vastly different ways. Perhaps the amount of time each unit is "in sight" creates this difference; a garbage truck, while not the most attractive vehicle on the road, is seen in one's neighborhood only on a certain day, and the load it carries is contained. On the other hand, a rolloff might sit in a neighbor's driveway for a week or more (catching the debris of a roofing or remodeling project, for example) or constantly be situated behind a local store. Because of its heavy-duty loads, a rolloff often is more banged up and worn-looking than a comparable garbage truck, and, until it's moved, the rolloff's load is usually visible.

As one's company name is usually emblazoned on a rolloff, the unit becomes a de facto billboard for the operating firm. Depending on the rolloff's condition, the message to the public can be "We're cleaning up the garbage business" or "Whaddaya expect? It's garbage!"

A Rolloff's Lifespan
It's not easy being a rolloff; the loads are heavy and messy, and the work's done in all sorts of weather. Life is short and unsweet.

"Ninety percent of rolloffs last between five and 12 years," says Ric Raines, president of Morganton, NC's Bakers Waste Equipment Co. (www.hci.net/~bakerswaste). "The lifespan varies greatly due to the loads hauled and the weather the rig must endure." Established in 1981, Bakers Waste was sold five years ago to Raines, who adds, "Most of the Baker family is still with us." The company usually sells within a 250-mile radius of its plant and repairs the rigs it sells, although "only those clients between 50 and 80 miles away will come in for repairs; farther than that, the traveling costs are prohibitive."

Bakers Waste suggests maintenance schedules for its rolloffs. "However, we prepare the container ahead of time," Raines says. "We find out what our customer will use it for; then we build it to a stronger spec, if need be. About half the units we build are specialized in some way—a thicker floor, for example." On average, the company's open-top rolloffs are made with three-sixteenths-inch-thick steel floors and 12-gauge sides. After fabrication, the rolloffs are cleaned, rust-inhibiting primer is applied, and then enamel topcoat is painted on once the customer chooses a color. "Even though a lot of rolloffs are built to order, our stock containers are given primer and then stored outside until a customer specifies a color. We have 20 standard colors, but if your company has an exotic color or two-tone theme, there's an extra charge."

Raines mentions that "self containers" are becoming more popular. "These are rolloffs that are welded solid, then tested, to ensure no leakage. The door contains a special gasket so it ratchets down tight. With EPA requirements getting stricter, more people are buying this kind of rolloff."

Maintenance is fairly regular. "Containers have some fittings that need grease once a quarter, usually around hinges. Of course, when a container starts to rust, the owner must get rid of that rust and paint it before it spreads." Water isn't always the only culprit in rust damage. "Something, or someone, bends the metal, and the paint comes off—that's usually where the rust starts."

A Rolloff for Every Need
Jerry Samson, vice president of sales and marketing for Beechwood, OH's Wastequip (www.wastequip.com), concurs. "We put primer on our rolloffs, which will help reduce rust; we try to give the units the best coverage we can—but no matter how good a coating we put on it, the first time metal bangs against metal you have the chance for rust."

Wastequip, the nation's largest rolloff manufacturer, produces 20-, 30-, and 40-yard rolloffs. "But we will make any size you like," says Samson. "Because we sell nationwide, we have 28 facilities across the country. We'll paint them about any color customers want. Our rolloffs will go about six to eight years before they need repairs."

Open-top rolloffs will vary, depending on what equipment will haul them. Explains Samson, "There are hoists of different styles, so we have to know what kind of truck customers will use with their new rolloff. We also have to meet requirements from US and state DOTs, such as safety features, to make sure the rolloff sits properly on the hoist."

Cover Up for Safety
When the rolloff must be moved and emptied, most states now require that a tarp cover and secure the load. "Tarping systems first started making their sales push before states mandated tarp use," explains O'Brian Tarping Systems (www.obriantarping.com) President Sean O'Brian. "For example, we'd point out that a tarp would allow you to load more into a rolloff, and a bigger load saves the operator money per trip."

The Wilson, NC–based O'Brian offers a variety of tarping systems. The economical Skyhook armless tarping system rises 14 feet over the truck chassis, pulling the tarp over the load much like a window shade. "That's high enough to pull the tarp over the trash, not through it," O'Brian points out. The multi-cylinder gantry, which operates Skyhook, is situated between the truck cab and the front of the container. This entry-level unit, which drivers fasten to the container by hand, works better for crowded urban areas. Some tarp systems flip over the load, with a mousetrap-type (spring-operated) action; some tarps are operated by pneumatic or hydraulic power. Drivers control O'Brian's high-end Magnum tarping system with a joystick. "We do offer in-cab controls, but most customers prefer that the driver step outside the cab to operate the tarping system, so he knows the tarp won't run into power lines, et cetera, when it rises up to install. As well as saving trips, tarping systems also save time; hand-attached tarps take about 15 minutes to secure, which a tarping system can do in less than 30 seconds. A tarping system can pay for itself in a year with the faster, extra full loads hauled per day.

"States now say you have to cover rolloffs when moving them," O'Brian goes on. "This not only keeps passenger car drivers safe from flying debris, but it also lowers a hauling company's insurance and liability costs. Haulers get lower workman's comp costs if drivers don't have to climb all over containers to fasten tarps down."

O'Brian tarps are usually sold through the rolloff dealer. "We prefer to sell them that way, because if you have problems, the local vendor is right there to fix them, where we are based in North Carolina, perhaps thousands of miles from a buyer. Some dealers keep our parts and equipment in stock. But we have no problem selling direct—in fact, all of our tarps are UPS-able. One hundred and eight inches is the maximum width for a tarping system, and UPS won't take packages larger than that, so we make our tarps 107.5 inches. If you have a failure of some sort, I can at least get the parts to you. There's between a one- to five-day turnaround if we have to ship from our plant."

1300-denier PVC coated mesh is the primary material for O'Brian tarps. To illustrate a tarp's heft/weave, in an inch square, 11 fibers run vertically and 11 run horizontally; imagine a window screen or sunshade material. "Most people like black tarps, but we can also get multi-colors. The vinyl reinforcements can be black, orange, green—whatever we get our hands on. Depending on how much experience you have, it takes 12 to 24 hours to put a tarp system on a roll-off." How long will those tarps last? "It depends on the driver, and what he's hauling. An 'entry-level' tarp used in garbage hauling might last two or three months. With the 'upscale' tarps, the average life is six to nine months, although careful users can stretch that to 12 to 18 months," O'Brian says.

It's Been Three Months—Do You Know How Your Tarp Is?
"Tarp life depends on the user," states Division Manager Scot Fuhrman of Stuart, FL's Donovan Enterprises (www.donovan-ent.com). "What they haul, the shape of the container they're using, how well they treat the equipment. In our product instructions, we tell customers to check the tarp weekly; regular inspections catch problems early, so you can decide whether to repair or replace. Yet tarps still need replacing at one time or another; a steel scrap hauler, for example, might get only three to six months' use from a tarp."

In business since 1977, Donovan makes its tarps, along with the mechanisms that automate them: the Hy-Tower, the Mantis, and the Quick Flip. "Now, the mechanism itself should last as long as the truck," Fuhrman says, going on to explain how a properly operating mechanism might damage the tarp: "Auto mechanisms have pivot arms on the side, and they're driven by hydraulic cylinders. If the tarp gets caught on something, such as part of the load, the arms will just keep going, possibly ripping the tarp. Also, if the tarp roller is not resting on the end of the rolloff, the whole system bounces around as it moves down the street and rubs on the tarp, tearing it. We stress to our customers that they must teach the driver how to take care of the tarp system and operate it properly."

Measures to protect the tarp are built into Donovan's Mantis system. "Here's something only we do: Regardless of the size of a rolloff, operators can always rest the tarp roller so it prevents the system's pivot arms from bouncing. Our tarp system is installed on the truck, just behind the cab, and it has to stretch over variously sized rolloffs. The Mantis spring-loaded automatic tarp system has extra range of motion so it can be attached properly, no matter what size rolloff," Fuhrman explains.

About nine years ago, Donovan developed an armless, telescoping gantry called the Hy-Tower. "This rises 15 feet above the truck frame, and the rolled tarp is attached to the top. The driver then pulls a rope, and the tarp is deployed over the load, much like a window shade. When the tarp is pulled across the load, the Hy-Tower is retracted, for a tight fit. "Hy-Tower tarps often last one or two years because the driver can adjust the load for the tarp if needed. When you think about it, it's almost a 'lower-tech' solution than a hydraulic system—but it can work better."

PVC-coated mesh is the standard tarp material; Donovan calls its fabric Mighty Mesh. "It's a high-burst-strength material; we haven't yet found anything that's stronger," Fuhrman says. "Mighty Mesh tarps last twice as long as regular tarps—six months to a year. It's multi-colored because it's made with different fabrics."

Container as "Billboard"
When it's your company's name on the rolloff, you have to make sure its condition reflects pride in your business. Rumpke Inc. (www.rumpke.com) of Cincinnati strives to ensure its "rolling billboards" leave a good impression with the public.

"We own the garbage trucks and containers; customers lease containers and rolloffs from us, although we collect and dump them," says Amanda Pratt, communications officer. "There's a certain life to a rolloff—of course that depends on the usage and location and how it's loaded, what's going in. Some of our oldest rolloffs are up to 10 years old."

The right coloring makes a rolloff look better longer: "Although our residential garbage truck are red and white, we went with brown for rolloffs because it's pleasing for most customers and hides dirt, dents, and rust. Of course, we don't like to send out a rolloff unless it's aesthetically pleasing. We paint whenever necessary, and when you repair you have to repaint."

Rumpke instructs customers on proper rolloff use. "We tell them to make sure there's a plywood container base, so it won't harm concrete or asphalt," Pratt goes on. "Notice stickers on the container warn people, 'This is a private container; don't play on or around it,' and they also note how to fill a container—what you can and can't put in it. Grocery stores get containers that secure liquids—'self-contained units' with a sealable tailgate, which features gaskets and adjustable ratchets, to secure the liquids inside. We're very mindful of noise ordinances, delivering containers only during business hours." While the container is quietly doing its job 24/7, its sides and front and rear corners are marked with USDOT red and white reflective tape, which makes them very visible at night.

When unloading the containers at Cincinnati's famous "Mt. Rumpke," the company makes sure the trash stays where it belongs: "We always tarp rolloffs when transporting a full load, and we have an automated truck and wheel wash so we don't drag landfill dirt into the city," Pratt explains. As its rolloffs sport a decal on each side with Rumpke's logo, phone number, and Web site, onlookers always know whom to call if there's ever a problem with the container. However, a company logo can also sometimes shift blame.

"Our tarps have an 18-inch by 18-inch company logo, so when it's deployed front to rear you can see it," says Sean O'Brian. "Sometimes people will call us because the tarps were torn—and we have to explain it's not our fault—get the number on
the truck!"

Janis Keating is a frequent contributor to Forester publications.

MSW - May/June 2006

A Good Tarping System Makes Life Easier For Trash Haulers And Open Back Vehicles

A Good Tarping System Makes Life Easier For Trash Haulers And Open Back Vehicles
Friday, March 21, 2008

By Michael Chase

It's a fact most states require truckers to secure their loads. The best way to achieve this is to secure loose loads with a tarping system. A good tarping system is durable, waterproof and has a hydraulic or electric wind up system that makes covering a load a snap.It's the law! Dump trucks, trailers, trash haulers and any truck with an open cargo area are required to contain the load with tarps. A simple tarp with bungee cords may serve the purpose; the better way to do the job is with a permanently mounted tarping system.

These systems are available for truck bodies and trailers ranging in size from 12 feet through 38 feet in length. You have a choice of manual, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic operating systems depending upon tarp size and application. When fully operational the load is safely contained and there is never a risk of material flying out of the truck while it is on the road, causing possible accidents and death.

Retractable covering systems are usually manufactured using polished rust-free aluminum, galvanized steel or mild steel components. The vinyl mesh coverings are high quality 18 oz. or 22 oz. vinyl to provide semi-waterproof or waterproof coverage depending on the requirements. Many different colors are available, but the most popular are blue and black. If an anti-pollution screen is required a mesh material can be ordered from the supplier with a variety of weave strengths including the tarp industry leaders; mighty mesh and multi-mesh. All of our covering systems are guaranteed and built to last under extreme hauling conditions. Our tarp systems meet State requirements for load covering!

Tarp manufacturing has come a long way in recent years as new advances had been made in the industry with stronger and more durable tarps. Durable blue poly tarps with weather resistant polyethylene are the most common types, but there are many special applications as well. Tarping systems can be used for securing lumber, steel, rock, sand and debris, grain, or asphalt.

Wind up systems

There had been also advances made in how quickly and safely tarps can be secured to the trucks. Most high quality tarping systems have a spring loading mechanism to make tarping quicker, easier and safer than ever before. For the ultimate in convenience and speed choose electric or hydraulic winding system. All winding systems must also conform to most state, county and municipal laws requiring open trucks and trailers to contain their load securely. Among the many tarp wind up systems there are three main categories you can choose from; manual, hydraulic or electric wind up systems. The tarp wind up systems are usually powered by high torque 12VDC electric direct drive motors.

Quality and durability of the cover material is the key when it comes to tarps since the load these materials are subjected to can vary from application to application. The most common vinyl materials used for truck tarpings are classified by weight. The 14 oz vinyl coated polyester is the most popular as it's a lightweight vinyl that lends itself well for use on a wide variety of tarping system applications. The next category is the 18 oz vinyl coated polyester, which is most commonly used for over-the-road protective covers such as steel, lumber, or grain covers. This vinyl has a high tear strength and moderate to heavy abrasion resistance. The most durable and heaviest is the 22 oz vinyl coated polyester. It's about 25%-30% stronger than 18 oz vinyl. It's a perfect fit where the highest abrasion and tear resistance is needed.

Michael Chase is a freelance writer for VirgoFleet.com. Virgo fleet specializes in truck tarping system including the widest assortment of big rig accessories on the Internet. Virgo Fleet is the top retailer for custom dump truck tarping systems and many other quality truck parts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Chase

They’ve Got Waste Covered

They've Got Waste Covered
Saturday, September 01, 2007

Conscientious waste haulers utilize automatic tarping systems to keep garbage contained, off fellow travelers, and out of the environment.

By Diane McDilda

Nobody likes driving behind a truck that's got garbage flying out of the top. Whether it's a full jar of spaghetti sauce heading for your windshield or a shopping bag floating with abandon until it's snagged in shrubbery, there's really no reason for waste to escape its traveling confines. Tarps have been around for decades and used to control litter. They're not mandatory on a national level, but most states and municipalities do have laws on the books making them a legal part of hauling operations. Problem is, the law's not always enforced.

When tarps first came on the waste market, drivers had to risk life and limb climbing up and around the waste and scaling the containers to cover their loads. In some places this is still the case. More commonly, though, automatic tarp deployment-and-recovery systems are used that let drivers and operators cover their loads without risking injury.

Quick, Too
Besides safety and litter control, there are other benefits to using automatic systems. Most automatic tarps can be deployed or retracted in just a minute or two, if not less. Manual tarps can take half an hour to cover and 10 minutes to uncover. Over the course of a day, a lot of time can be saved and more trips made by making the change to an automatic system.

Carolyn Peck is the purchasing manager with Waste Industries USA Inc., a company that provides solid waste and recycling services in the Carolinas and other nearby states. Peck has been purchasing automatic tarps from O'Brian Tarping Systems out of Wilson, NC, a for over 30 years.

"It takes time to put on a manual cover," says Peck. "But more importantly are the safety reasons. Using automatic tarps avoids the potential for people to misstep trying to get over the trash. People can get injured from trash sticking up, and there are back injuries. But, absolutely, it's extremely important to be productive. Here, automatic tarps aren't really an issue—they're a given."

Improving safety and saving time translates to saving money. Donovan Enterprises Inc. in Stuart, FL, manufactures tarps for both transfer trailers and rolloff containers. "Most companies start using automatic tarps for safety," says Scot Furman, vice president and division manager with Donovan. "Then they realize the time they're saving and they see the cost savings."

And if you're saving time, you're saving money, too, whether you are hand-pulling a tarp or waiting for replacement parts. Even the best-quality and well-maintained tarping systems will need replacement parts at some time during their useful lives. When that happens, haulers expect to know that the parts they need to get back on the road are on the way. O'Brian Tarping Systems utilizes the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and believes this sets it apart from its competition. Systematic product numbering and tracking makes providing replacement parts easier. While locating the proper part is crucial, getting it to the customer in a timely and economical way is essential.

"Normally, parts are designed for tarping systems so we can ship them UPS," says Sean O'Brian, president of O'Brian Tarping Systems, the company his grandfather started over 40 years ago. "When a part is damaged, a truck might need to be taken out of service, and this costs money. Most of our parts can be sent UPS, not freight, so we can deliver quicker and with less downtime."

Choosing a Tarp
While automatic tarping systems may be a given, choosing the right one may not be so easy. It usually comes down to application: what will be hauled; what kind of containers they'll be using; whether sizes will vary or be the same; whether water resistance will be a concern; and, of course, how much money there is to spend. The selection can be wide and varied, making eeny-meeny-miny-moe seem like the easiest way to decide. But those looking to automate their tarps are best served by learning about the different systems available.

Systems can comprise different combinations of features including stationary or adjustable gantries (the tower behind the truck cab where the tarp spool attaches); arms that pull the tarp over the waste; and arms with knuckles or sliding pivots that can cover a variety of container sizes. Most automatic tarping systems range on the order of $2,000 for the more simple and straightforward designs that cover a single or very limited size container. On the higher end, you can expect to pay upwards of $7,000 or more if hauling a variety of sizes of containers using a more automated system.

The Basics
For those with a more minimalist approach to tarping there's the Tuff-Tarper series by Pioneer, a Wastequip company in North Oxford, MA. It's affordably priced at about $2,000 and is sized for single-axle trucks carrying 8–14-foot containers. On the Tuff-Tarper, the gantry is fixed as are the arms.

The Skyhook by O'Brian is another tarping system available to those with set container sizes and costs about $2,500. The Skyhook is armless and relies on the adjustable gantry to reach up over the load. This system comes in two sizes: one to fit 16-foot and one for 22-foot containers.

Donovan makes the armless Hy-Tower. It's semi-automatic, with an adjustable gantry, and is priced at about $4,000. After the gantry is raised, the tarp unfurls much like a window shade and is controlled manually by the operator. The simplistic system is virtually maintenance-free, and tarps will likely need replacing once a year. This type of design is well-suited for tight spaces.

"Sometimes, there's no room for arms. In Chicago, trucks need to drive into alleys without their arms being ripped off," explains Furman. Donovan also sells equipment in the United Kingdom, where older narrow streets aren't designed for today's bulky trucks.

Mid-Range Systems
Affordable mid-range systems include Donovan's Quick Flip II. It's an automatic tarping system for rolloffs ranging from 15 to 40 cubic yards and comes in at about $5,000. This system uses the truck's hydraulics to raise the gantry and a hydraulic direct-drive motor to move the arms.

Roll-Rite Corp. in Alger, MI, manufactures the Hooklift or Rolloff Tarp Systems that use an adjustable gantry. The arms rotate from fixed pivots. The price for this system is usually on the order of $5,000. "The adjustable tower and fixed pivot work well for haulers with one container size," says Erl Henry, regional sales manager with Roll-Rite. "The systems are set up for one size, usually 30 yards."

Pioneer's Econocover includes an adjustable hydraulic gantry, and the fixed arms don't extend. Brian Houston, sales manager for Pioneer, explains, "The arms are spring-loaded and flip to cover the waste. A hydraulic motor winds the tarp back up." If haulers need to the arms to extend, providing more flexibility in container length and height, the Boss Series, HR3500, would do the job. The arms are controlled by master/slave, or rephrasing, cylinders where one is set to go ahead of the other, making one side of the tarp move first and together move more smoothly.

The Cadillacs
If haulers are looking for a more sophisticated system, there are the O'Brian Diablo and Magnum models that run about $7,000 each. They have the ability to cover containers ranging from 10 to 40 cubic yards and have the option of a fixed or adjustable gantry. The arms rotate on the Diablo, using a rotary actuator enclosed in an oiled gear-pivot assembly, so monthly greasing isn't necessary. At 850 pounds, it's lightweight. The arms on the Magnum operate using cylinders. Both systems can be plumbed into the truck's hydraulics system.

Roll-Rite's Hooklift and Rolloff are standard models that can also be designed with a sliding pivot. The sliding pivot allows the base of the arms to slide forward and back, covering more distance and adding flexibility in the size containers they can cover. Extending the range from 10 cubic yards to 40 cubic yards will increase the cost of the standard model by a couple of thousand dollars to about $7,300.

Houston estimates that Pioneer's Strong Arm series covers about 80% of the tarping market. The going price for this system is about $7,000, and he believes its strong points are the arms and the gearing. "The patented gearing allows complete control of the unit. There's no free-falling. The tarp goes as far as next notch in the gearing wheel," says Houston. "The telescopic arms are also patented and allow you to cover different lengths and heights of containers."

Rantoul Truck Center in Illinois sells waste-handling equipment to municipalities and private haulers. The company uses the Strong Arm, SARG series on all its trucks. "We're very happy with the product," says Jeff Seegmiller, sales manager for Rantoul. "They also have excellent sales and support. If we're going to buy a product then the company has to give us support, and Pioneer does. It's a given that their systems are going to be on all the trucks we use."

Transfer Trailers
For transfer trailers, haulers are more likely to use side tarping systems that roll or flip. The longer length of the trailers, when compared to rolloffs, means tarps attached at only the front and back won't provide the coverage needed to keep waste from flying out from the sides, particularly when the truck is driving at higher speeds or the weather is windy. Front-to-back sliding tarps provide the coverage needed for the full length of a transfer trailer.

Donovan manufactures the Sidewinder, which is a fully automatic, single flip-topper that pivots on side-mounted hinges attached to the trailer. Mountain Tarp, Pioneer's sister company, is headquartered in Middlesboro, KY. It offers a side tarp for transfer trailers, aptly called the Side Flip, that runs about $3,950. But rather than having the tarp connected to a bar running alongside the top of the trailer, it's attached to a flexible cable, helping bring the weight of the system down to about 275 pounds.

Roll-Rite also manufactures the TarpStretcher, a side-to-side tarp rolled on a spiral torsion spring. The arm has a knuckle-pivot and rolls the tarp across the top of the waste. The axle that holds the tarp can span larger trailers.

Cramaro Tarpaulin Systems offers a variety of tarping systems throughout the US, Canada, and Australia and is known in the industry for inventing the front-to-back cable system for transfer trailers. Bows, or ribs, are sewn into the tarps and provide stability along the length of the trailer. The Slide-n-Go system was specifically designed for trash trailers and uses cables to move the tarp along the top of the trailer. The system can be designed for any length container and costs about $2,000. The cables are usually operated manually using a hand crank. Electric motors are available but rare, as most haulers prefer the hand crank.

Cramaro's Lift-n-Load system comprises a single flip-top that runs along an axle on the container. It comes in at just under $4,500 and adjusts to different widths and can fit trailers up to 53 feet long. It's an easy one-button operation for the hauler.

When it comes to comparing the Lift-n-Load to the Slide-n-Go and choosing a system, Ernie Dempsey, vice president with Cramaro, admits it's up to the hauler. "It's convenience and time versus money."

Pulltarps Manufacturing, out of El Cajon, CA, offers a cable system that can range from as low as $800 for a shorter system up to $3,000 for a longer one. Pulltarps's Super Slider front-to-back systems come with either single or twin cables. The twin offers independent movement on both sides.

Pulltarps is the only company to manufacture the single continuous cable that avoids the potential for jamming that's sometimes experienced with the twin-cable systems. With the appropriate tarp selected, the system can be water resistant.

Most important is that the majority of manufacturers work with their clients to design a system, combining different options, that suits their purpose and is affordable.

Tarps
While there's much ado about automatic tarp deployment systems, one shouldn't forget about the actual tarps. Even with all the bells and whistles of flipping and sliding, deploying and retracting, if the tarp doesn't hold up, the system isn't doing its job.

"We all get focused on the mechanics," says Furman, speaking of Donovan's Mighty Mesh material. "A lot of times fabric can affect the operation of the equipment. People get excited about engineering the mechanics, but forget to engineer the tarps. We started with tarps and try to keep it simple."

John Beckwith is with RDK Truck Sales, a distributor of tarping systems in Tampa, FL. He agrees with Furman. "The Mighty Mesh is resistant and puncture-proof. They last two to three times longer than other tarps. We sell a lot of Mighty Mesh tarps as replacements for other systems."

Controls
Controls are used for tarping systems that rely on electric motors to raise and lower gantries or move the arms. They are usually located on the outside of the cab, behind the driver. This allows haulers to be outside the cab, where they can watch the system as it deploys or retracts, but it often limits their view of the process.

Stan Chesson is the owner of Power Waste Systems LLC in Alabama and uses Pioneer's Rack-n-Pinion model tarp, which includes an adjustable gantry and telescoping arms. Chesson believes that deploying the tarps isn't difficult but operators do have to take the time to learn the process. Standard controls for an adjustable gantry-and-arm system include three levers: one to raise and lower the gantry; one to extend and retract the arms; and one to unroll and roll up the tarp.

"When covering a load, first the arms have to be extended a little before you raise the gantry. If you raise the gantry too soon the tarp can fall under it. So you have to roll the tarp out and extend the arms as you raise the gantry," says Chesson.

Because controllers are usually mounted behind the cab on the driver's side of the gantry system, operators must take extra care to watch the tarp as it rolls out. "While extending the arms, if something hangs up on the passenger side, the driver can't see it. If one arm gets caught and doesn't extend, it puts pressure on the other arm," Chesson explains.

Roll-Rite offers a wireless control system that allows drivers to walk the entire perimeter of the truck while the tarp is deploying. "The custom relay is made for our systems," says Cindy Cook, marketing manager for Roll-Rite. "They've been on the market longer for the agriculture industry, but for solid waste they came out about one and a half to two years ago. So far, we're getting good feedback on them."

The Roll-Rite relay control box has been revamped from its original design and now comes prewired with a key fob. The electric-over-hydraulic power pack means it can easily work with tarps that are not connected to a truck's hydraulic system. By walking around the truck during deployment, haulers can catch a problem well before any damage is done.

Installation and Care
Tarp manufacturers such as Donovan and Roll-Rite prefer to work solely with retailers and not sell directly to customers. Others, such as O'Brian, Pulltarps, and Cramaro, sell direct and use dealers as well, and may or may not provide installation. O'Brian manufactures all its own tarping systems, sewing tarps and fabricating hoses at its facility in Wilson, NC. The only exceptions are the Italian-made valves.

O'Brian ships its systems to local dealers who can install tarps for clients or, depending on the proximity, will send a crew out to take care of it. Those handy with a welding torch can install the systems themselves. Terdik and his team usually install the tarps they purchase from O'Brian. "The last tarp we purchased, we had it installed at the factory, but I can install one in less than a day by myself. If you know how to weld, you can do it," says Terdik.

And like any piece of equipment after it's installed, maintenance is a big part of how it operates and how long it lasts. "Drivers have a lot to do with how long a tarp lasts," says O'Brian. "They need to be educated on how to operate in a safe manner and on maintenance. If the system starts running sloppy or if bolts are loose, they need to take it to maintenance. Once a driver gets used to an automatic system, he won't want to go back to hand-tarping. One company makes drivers go back to using their hand tarp if they damaged their automatic system." A day hand-tarping probably does the trick.

The best way to avoid having to repair a system is to do routine inspection and maintenance. "We primarily use the O'Brian Magnum system or the Autocover II," says David Peck, who is fleet manager with Waste Industries and is responsible for maintaining the company's trucks and tarps. "We check every truck when it comes back in the yard. The driver does an end-of-the-day check, and every two weeks the trucks are lubed and inspected. And every 45 days the trucks are inspected and the fluids are changed. We have a 147-point safety and maintenance checklist that includes the tarping system."

Chesson has found that a weekly inspection is adequate to keep his company's tarps in good operating condition. "We run out on a weekly basis and grease the frame and all pivot points and extend the cover." This ensures that his trucks will stay on the road and out of the shop.

Diane McDilda is an environmental engineer and technical writer in Gainesville, FL.

MSW - September/October 2007

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