Conestoga vs Flatbed with Tarps: Open Deck Comparison

Conestoga's rolling tarp system provides van-like weather protection that can be deployed in minutes. Standard tarps provide adequate rain protection but are harder to make watertight, especially at the edges and seams. For moisture-sensitive flatbed freight, Conestoga provides significantly better protection and fewer damage claims.

Conestoga tarps can be rolled back in 5-10 minutes, giving full side access for loading. Standard tarps take 30-60 minutes to remove and re-install properly. Over hundreds of loads per year, the time savings from Conestoga's quick-deploy system translate to additional revenue hours that flatbed tarping loses.

Standard flatbed tarps cost $200-500 each and need replacement every 6-12 months. Tarp straps, bungees, and D-rings add additional costs. Conestoga's integrated system eliminates recurring tarp purchases and the physical wear and tear on tarps. The savings compound to $1,000-3,000+ annually in tarp replacement costs alone.

Standard flatbeds can haul oversized loads that would not fit in a Conestoga's curtain system. A flatbed without tarps has unlimited height and width clearance for machinery, steel structures, and irregular cargo. Conestoga's curtain walls limit cargo dimensions to what fits within the covered area, restricting some freight types.

Tarping a flatbed trailer is physically demanding, dangerous work. Climbing on loads, wrestling heavy tarps in wind, and working at height cause injuries every year. Conestoga eliminates virtually all tarping-related physical risk. For driver safety and preventing injuries, Conestoga is dramatically better.