When they're being transported on a truck, trees need to be secured down by a tarp. If they aren't, they'll be blown by the wind while driving and may fall off the truck. While it may be tempting to purchase a tarp system that's secured manually because these systems are inexpensive, no-climb tarp systems have several benefits that make them the better choice for trucking companies that deliver trees and shrubs to nurseries.

Saving Time

No-climb tarp systems are often faster to take off when unloading and to put on when loading than manually secured systems because the taking-off and putting-on is partially done by tool or machine. Some no-climb tarp systems are faster to take off and put on than others, but all of them are faster than manually secured tarps because the driver doesn't need to climb onto the load to unfasten or fasten the tarp and then climb off of it when they're done.

Saving money

By saving time, you'll be able to save your company money.

If your company pays drivers hourly, reducing how long it takes to tarp and un-tarp a load can save your company a lot of money over time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average truck driver makes a mean hourly wage of $20.43. If a no-climb tarp system saved your driver just a half hour each load, and your driver delivered two loads to nurseries per day, investing in such a system would save your company $20.43 per day. Over the course of a year, the savings would total approximately $5,311.80 per driver.

If your company has multiple drivers, as most transportation companies do, these savings would be multiplied by the number of drivers you have. Even a relatively small tree delivery company that has just three drivers could save more than $15,000 per year by investing in no-climb tarp systems for their trucks.

Even if your company pays drivers per mile and per stop, rather than by the hour, you'll still be able to save your company money. Because taking the tarp off and on will take less time, drivers' stops will be shorter -- and you will be able to pay them less per stop because they aren't spending as much time loading and unloading.

Keeping Trees Unharmed

The nurseries your company serves will be happier with the products you deliver, because the trees and shrubs on your trucks won't be damaged during tarping. Since drivers don't need to climb on them to unsecure and secure the tarp, they won't be stepping on branches and breaking them. Your customers will complain less about damaged products, and they'll ask for fewer credits for trees that are significantly harmed

Preventing Injuries

Avoiding climbing on trees is also safer for your company's drivers. There is always a risk of falling when climbing on loads, but the risk is especially significant when climbing on unsteady things -- like trees and shrubs. Since your drivers will be able to take off and put on the tarp from the ground, without climbing on the load, there won't be any risk of them falling and being injured.

Since the risk of injury is significantly lowered, your company may also be able to save on worker's compensation insurance, which is designed to reimburse workers for lost wages and medical bills caused by work-related injuries and illnesses. Whether your company's insurer will reduce your company's premiums depends on many factors, but you may be able to convince them to give you a small price break because you've been proactive in reducing the risk of injuries to employees.