Tarpaulin heating

The invention relates to a tarpaulin heater or a heated tarpaulin for trucks, trailers, semi-trailers, box bodies or tent roofs and the like, which enables targeted heating of the roof area of the tarpaulin and thus effective keeping of ice and snow free. For this purpose, a dimensionally stable tarpaulin (2) or tarp is provided, wherein an inner side of a ceiling surface (3) of the tarpaulin (2) is equipped with at least one heating element (4), which comprises an electrical conductor and a heat-conducting or heat-reflecting element that extends primarily transversely to the direction of travel.