Spotted this on the M6, south of junc 15 last friday, during that big snarl up due to a lorry fire.
Just wondered what you guys thought about the security of the load?
As far as I could see there’s two planks of wood placed between the top and bottom tower, and four straps.
Not one I’d fancy taking out!
I think part of the load might be just above the headboard…
There probably isn’t a lot of weight there, so I’d say it looks ok to me.
it might be enough but i’d chuck on a couple more to make it ‘look’ right.
I would probably strap both sides back and forth to the red crosses, and also over the top, making sure the ladders were secure
dew:
There probably isn’t a lot of weight there, so I’d say it looks ok to me.
Do you honestly think that looks OK?
The straps in use are simple frictional/over lashings. They rely on the friction between the two parts of the load and the top part of the load and the straps. The load isn’t against the headboard and regardless of weight I don’t believe those straps would stop any forward movement under hard braking. There is also no side restraint at all. Everything just depends on the priction between the two parts of the load or whatever bits of wood they are resting on
This kind of load needs a direct lashing where the lashing is anchored to the product and to the trailer pulling diagonally front to back. Possibly some kind of loop lashing to anchor the load in place.
Not so safe in my opinion
shep532:
dew:
There probably isn’t a lot of weight there, so I’d say it looks ok to me.Do you honestly think that looks OK?
The straps in use are simple frictional/over lashings. They rely on the friction between the two parts of the load and the top part of the load and the straps. The load isn’t against the headboard and regardless of weight I don’t believe those straps would stop any forward movement under hard braking. There is also no side restraint at all. Everything just depends on the priction between the two parts of the load or whatever bits of wood they are resting on
This kind of load needs a direct lashing where the lashing is anchored to the product and to the trailer pulling diagonally front to back. Possibly some kind of loop lashing to anchor the load in place.
Not so safe in my opinion
I would be happy to use the straps like my diagram, it would take 10 straps or less with diverter rings.
It’s ok…hes not going to brake.
I don’t see that the straps need to go that high. They only need to go over the lower section of the top frame and (as in the diagram) be pulling back & forwards also.
They could be threaded through before it was craned on.
Driveroneuk:
I don’t see that the straps need to go that high. They only need to go over the lower section of the top frame and (as in the diagram) be pulling back & forwards also.
They could be threaded through before it was craned on.
I agree, it was more for demonstration purposes.
Would you trust the tack welding and those two straps or are they ropes? 
Difficult to tell. The bars look like they could be specially made for the job.
But hey, if you can run where there is so little traffic, don’t matter much if they fall off 
The load is above the height of headboard 
truck driving is not a hard job but some of on this site seem to struggle!
Hence the ammount of drivers who would have taken this load out!
Rolling eyes smiley is not aimed at the op but at everyone else 
chester:
The load is above the height of headboardHence the ammount of drivers who would have taken this load out!
Rolling eyes smiley is not aimed at the op but at everyone else
The headboard is not some all securing safety device, on the last picture with 8 fore and aft restraints, that will negate the need for a headboard. There is one thing, my straps are tested, your headboard probably isn’t!
From your precious manual, which incidentally, I have read from cover to cover, have you?
3.11 If practicable, and noting the requirements of 3.9, the load should be placed in contact with a
headboard. Where this is not practicable then additional means of securing must be used.
Possible methods include:
a. Effectively moving the headboard rearwards, i.e. fitting an obstacle across the vehicle
platform which should be firmly attached to the chassis frame;
b. Blocks, scotches, bolsters or wedges to prevent individual items of a load moving in any
direction. Care must be taken to ensure that these are adequately secured to the vehicle
platform;
c. Additional lashing.
d. In the case of a van, straps secured to the vehicle body should be used.
There are many trailers that are not fitted with a headboard capable of withstanding half the rated payload as the manual suggests.
4.8 A headboard should be capable of withstanding a horizontal force uniformly distributed over its
vertical area equal to at least half the rated payload of the vehicle. IMPORTANT see Section 7
paragraph 1 for factors that reduce effectiveness. The design must be such that the whole
body and vehicle structure will withstand the forces imposed on it when the headboard is
loaded as described above.
7.1 In view of the wide diversity of general loads it is not possible to suggest loading methods for
all the types of load likely to be encountered. However, the basic precautions outlined in
section 6 will always be applicable. Vehicles equipped with headboards, tailboards or
sideboards, or van bodies will provide some restraint. Additional load restraint will be required
under any of the following conditions:
a. If there is a risk that the load may break through the walls, sideboards or tailboard of the
vehicle;
b. When the load is higher than the headboard, sideboards or tailboard of the vehicle;
c. If the load is liable to be damaged should it move during transit.
d. If there is a risk of the load being blown off, or bouncing out of the vehicle.
Wheel Nut:
4.8 A headboard should be capable of withstanding a horizontal force uniformly distributed over its
vertical area equal to at least half the rated payload of the vehicle. IMPORTANT see Section 7
paragraph 1 for factors that reduce effectiveness. The design must be such that the whole
body and vehicle structure will withstand the forces imposed on it when the headboard is
loaded as described above.
I believe with the headboard - EN 12642XL does refer to the headbaord withstanding at least half the payload but I believe to a maximum of 5t. I can’t find my documents at the moment but I certainly have this 5t limit stuck in my head. In the same way the rear has a maximum of 3.6t - from memory.
I suppose the biggest problem is when the load takes a run up before hitting the headboard, which will increase the loading significantly.
it is also worth remembering the load capacity of the bit above the headboard … you know, the CAB
shep532:
Wheel Nut:
4.8 A headboard should be capable of withstanding a horizontal force uniformly distributed over its
vertical area equal to at least half the rated payload of the vehicle. IMPORTANT see Section 7
paragraph 1 for factors that reduce effectiveness. The design must be such that the whole
body and vehicle structure will withstand the forces imposed on it when the headboard is
loaded as described above.I believe with the headboard - EN 12642XL does refer to the headbaord withstanding at least half the payload but I believe to a maximum of 5t. I can’t find my documents at the moment but I certainly have this 5t limit stuck in my head. In the same way the rear has a maximum of 3.6t - from memory.
I suppose the biggest problem is when the load takes a run up before hitting the headboard, which will increase the loading significantly.
it is also worth remembering the load capacity of the bit above the headboard … you know, the CAB
EN 12642L states 5tonne or 5,000daN
EN 12642XL states 50% of payload
Taken from my Corus / TATA rulebook
I wonder what vosa would say to this load. Loaded in Leeds in March this year. The bottom pallets were all loaded drums which I strapped down and all the others were loose drums loaded on the top and behind. Obviously they’d never in a month on sundays go anywhere but they are technically unsecured and undoubetedly fall foul of the new bible (matrix)?
Blimey your a windy lot on here, half of you must fill your cabs with straps, just in case! I agree the positioning of the straps on the OP isn’t exactly the way others would do it, but just going off a picture we know very little about the load, it may be very light, the ladders may be fixed anyway to the structure and what do you guys think a headboard is going to stop, its not the Hulk’s right hand. That load has got more chance of the top section moving sideways than going forward, I have to say though its typical of the load securing we see today and I’d hazard a guess the driver isn’t that experienced otherwise the straps would have been around the top section lower beam. Again its a case of straps overseeing any other securing device, I and others would have had two chains over front and rear in a position to stop forward and rearward movement and hold the lot still. That sort of load would have been considered a doddle back in the day. How many super straps would you have put on this below or would it have never left the yard!
Frankydobo:
Blimey your a windy lot on here, half of you must fill your cabs with straps, just in case! I agree the positioning of the straps on the OP isn’t exactly the way others would do it, but just going off a picture we know very little about the load, it may be very light, the ladders may be fixed anyway to the structure and what do you guys think a headboard is going to stop, its not the Hulk’s right hand. That load has got more chance of the top section moving sideways than going forward, I have to say though its typical of the load securing we see today and I’d hazard a guess the driver isn’t that experienced otherwise the straps would have been around the top section lower beam. Again its a case of straps overseeing any other securing device, I and others would have had two chains over front and rear in a position to stop forward and rearward movement and hold the lot still. That sort of load would have been considered a doddle back in the day. How many super straps would you have put on this below or would it have never left the yard!
0
well said frankie
markwill:
Frankydobo:
Blimey your a windy lot on here, half of you must fill your cabs with straps, just in case! I agree the positioning of the straps on the OP isn’t exactly the way others would do it, but just going off a picture we know very little about the load, it may be very light, the ladders may be fixed anyway to the structure and what do you guys think a headboard is going to stop, its not the Hulk’s right hand. That load has got more chance of the top section moving sideways than going forward, I have to say though its typical of the load securing we see today and I’d hazard a guess the driver isn’t that experienced otherwise the straps would have been around the top section lower beam. Again its a case of straps overseeing any other securing device, I and others would have had two chains over front and rear in a position to stop forward and rearward movement and hold the lot still. That sort of load would have been considered a doddle back in the day. How many super straps would you have put on this below or would it have never left the yard!
0well said frankie
and if you blow picture up you will actually see that two of the straps dont go over the top of the tower they actually through the structure to stop the load moving back or foward, in my opinion the driver has done a good job