It’s All Flatbeds and Lumber Tarps in Bitterroot

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As the sun comes up on the Bitterroot National Forest in Montana, the trucks are already lining up on one of several logging roads now active in the forest. Those trucks, and their drivers, are waiting for loads of lumber to be carried to a sawmill in Seeley Lake and other logging towns nearby. Up to 10 trailers haul between 40 and 45 logs out of the forest every day. It’s all flatbeds and lumber tarps in Bitterroot, as it has been for decades.

The section of forest being worked at the time this blog post was written covers 165 acres of ponderosa pine. It is but a drop in the bucket when you consider the more than 1.58 million total acres the forest covers. Every one of those acres is systematically thinned as part of the federal government’s forestry management strategy. By the time the entire forest is thinned appropriately, it will be time to turn around and start all over again.

lumber-tarps

Forestry management is an important part of keeping the trees in the Bitterroot National Forest healthy and productive. All trees need plenty of sunshine and nutrient-rich soil, but ponderosa pine is especially needful. When forests are not properly managed, overly-dense pine groves can fall victim to insects, disease, and lack of enough sunlight due to the thick forest canopy. And, of course, forests that are not properly managed are always prone to devastating fires as a result of lightning storms.

Every trailer of logs and lumber tarps represents another acre of forest land properly managed by thinning. It is a way of life that not a lot of people understand. For the professional trucker, driving a truck along the quiet and narrow logging roads of Montana is quite a bit different from hauling a dry goods trailer down the interstate. There is nothing quite like it to those who do it.

Hauling Lumber Not Easy

Hauling cargo such as machinery and steel coil is comparatively easy next to lumber taken directly from a place like Bitterroot. In terms of the former, you simply hook up your trailer and go once your cargo has been properly secured and covered. Hauling lumber is decidedly different.

Preparing for the journey is pretty straightforward: Secure your lumber tarps, do your pre-trip inspection, and make sure any necessary paperwork is in order. That’s the easy part. The real adventure is bringing your rig out of the forest and onto the main highway. The thing about lumber hauling is that the logging roads truckers must navigate are not always straight and flat. In fact, rarely are they so.

It takes a very skilled truck driver to successfully navigate logging roads without damaging equipment or the lumber itself. Once a rig makes it to the main highway, life does get easier. But that does not mean the trucker no longer has to pay attention. The section of Montana where the crews are now working is well known for dense fog and icy roads – especially during the morning hours. The trucker has to be at the top of his/her game until the sun comes up and melts away the fog and ice.

Indeed, it is all about flatbeds and lumber tarps in the Bitterroot National Forest these days. All across the forest regions of Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon there are logging crews and truck drivers working hard to harvest lumber as part of a responsible management program. At Mytee Products, we are proud to supply truckers with high-quality lumber tarps they need to keep things rolling.

Sources:

  • Missoulian – http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/hometowns/productive-ground-lake-como-logging-underway-in-area-first-cut/article_554a8b49-3004-5544-bc4b-beb72a1e6270.html

Start Thinking about Mesh Tarps for Next Spring

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In previous blog posts, we’ve talked about preparing for the onset of winter. Hopefully, your preparations have included everything from checking the wear on your Low Pro semi tires to inspecting all of your flatbed tarps for rips and tears. Being prepared for winter is the best way to make sure you get through without any major problems. Then you can start thinking about spring.

When spring does finally arrive just four months from now, flatbed truckers will begin to see more loads involving sod, trees, plants, and other sorts of exterior landscaping materials. These kinds of loads don’t do very well with the typical nylon tarp that can damage fragile leaf and stem systems. Some shippers won’t allow their loads to be covered with standard nylon or canvas. Instead, they expect drivers to use mesh tarps.

mesh-tarp

A standard mesh tarp is made of polyethylene material that is both breathable and durable. Mesh protects living cargo from the damage caused by wind and road debris during transit, yet it does not keep out the sun or rain. When applied correctly, a mesh tarp can provide all the protection live cargo needs without any of the damaging effects of a solid piece of nylon or canvas.

Choosing Mesh Tarps

We recommend you start thinking about mesh tarps during the winter so that you have plenty of time to research your options. Like all of your other tarps, the goal is to purchase mesh products that are durable enough to withstand the punishment of flatbed hauling yet not so expensive that they break the bank. You’ll be pleased to know that Mytee Products has a complete selection of mesh tarps that can be used on flatbeds or with covered trailers and tarping systems.

We offer more than a dozen different size options, from 6×8 all the way up to 50×50. Each one is made with heavy-duty 6-ounce polyethylene and fitted with durable #4 brass grommets every 2 inches. Seams are reinforced with 2-inch polyester webbing, as well.

Should you be in need of a mixed mesh product, we also carry a 10-ounce PVC-coated polyethylene mesh tarp in multiple size options. This is a stronger product better suited for loads where material strength is favored over shading. It is an excellent option for transporting sod in southern states where the sun can get pretty hot, even in the spring.

Protect Your Load and Your Paycheck

The arrival of winter means less than favorable driving conditions and a more challenging time tarping loads outdoors. Some drivers will already be looking forward to spring even before the new year arrives. In light of that, start planning now to purchase mesh tarps for your spring loads. Remember, protecting your load means protecting your paycheck at the same time.

Loads of sod and other landscaping materials do not necessarily require traveling hundreds of miles between shipper and receiver. Many of these loads tend to be local or regional. But wind and road debris can be just as damaging over 20 miles as it is over 100. Having the right kinds of flatbed tarps on hand guarantees you will be prepared to protect your load regardless of what it is you are carrying.

Mytee Products is your source for high-quality flatbed tarps, tarping systems and parts, truck tires, and so much more. We have been supplying America’s truckers with the supplies and equipment they need for more than 30 years. You can rely on us for great products, great prices, and our 30-day, money back guarantee.