Truck Tarpaulin vs Tautliner: What's the Difference?
Both cover a load, but they solve different operational problems. Choose based on how you load and what you carry.
The practical difference
A tarpaulin is a loose cover thrown or strapped over a load on a flatbed or dropside body. A tautliner curtain is a permanent, tensioned side curtain running on a rail as part of the vehicle body.
Tarpaulins suit variable and oversized loads. Tautliners suit palletised freight with high loading frequency.
Cost and turnaround
A tarpaulin is cheaper, faster to produce and easy to replace. A tautliner curtain is a higher investment with a longer service life and a much faster load/unload cycle.
Which do most Gauteng operators use?
Mixed fleets commonly run both: tautliners for distribution work between Johannesburg, Pretoria and the East Rand, and flatbed tarpaulins for machinery, steel and abnormal loads.
Get pricing for your requirement
Send dimensions, application details and photographs for a fast quotation.