Just remember that if you stop suddenly, that 20 tonne coil will want to keep going. The only things holding it back from wiping out the cab on its way to the road in front, are the chains you used to tie it down.
Wheel Nut:
coiler:
As my username suggests we do coils all the time. I gave drivers some top tips for loading heavy coils, the worst ones are the 29 toners coming out of Liverpool currently. We have to calculate the position of the coil using a formula so no axles are overloaded.
We must be doing it right as I’ve had 2 trucks weighted at switch island recently by vosa and not had any problems.The formula is in David Lowes book.
Measure between the kingpin and the centre of the rear trailer axle.
Is that the first axle you come too or the last axle or the middle axle?
Santa ---- your full of Christmas Cheer arn’t you ?
Don’t forget that a chain (or two) over the top of a coil won’t stop the thing if it decides to move.
Either the whole lump wil slide out from under the chain & turn itself into a 25+ tonne bullet, or the thing will “telescope”, ie. the centre of the coil will shoot out leaving a few outer coils in it’s original position.
The steel bands used at the steelworks/factory are only suitable for keeping the coil in shape while it’s sitting comfortably on the floor of their warehouse. When the lorry driver starts moving it around the country on his vehicle, the load becomes “dynamic” and is a different kettle of fish altogether.
The “official” method of stopping the coils moving forward, either as a complete unit, or due to telescoping, is to use stacks of dunnage between the coil and the reinforced headboard but in 50 years in the industry I have never found an employer who was willing to a) buy dunnage material or more importantly b) waste a couple of tonnes of payload capacity carrying a load of dunnage around the country for nothing.
The best advice I had was to treat all steel, paticularly if it was heavily oiled, as a Dangerous Load.
Retired Old ■■■■:
Don’t forget that a chain (or two) over the top of a coil won’t stop the thing if it decides to move.
Either the whole lump wil slide out from under the chain & turn itself into a 25+ tonne bullet, or the thing will “telescope”, ie. the centre of the coil will shoot out leaving a few outer coils in it’s original position.
The steel bands used at the steelworks/factory are only suitable for keeping the coil in shape while it’s sitting comfortably on the floor of their warehouse. When the lorry driver starts moving it around the country on his vehicle, the load becomes “dynamic” and is a different kettle of fish altogether.
The “official” method of stopping the coils moving forward, either as a complete unit, or due to telescoping, is to use stacks of dunnage between the coil and the reinforced headboard but in 50 years in the industry I have never found an employer who was willing to a) buy dunnage material or more importantly b) waste a couple of tonnes of payload capacity carrying a load of dunnage around the country for nothing.
The best advice I had was to treat all steel, paticularly if it was heavily oiled, as a Dangerous Load.
I used to put 2 chains through the centres one pulling forward one pulling to rear.
regards dave.
dafdave:
I used to put 2 chains through the centres one pulling forward one pulling to rear.
+1
After spending 15+ years working for a steel stockholders I can say that is the safest way if the coil goes across the vehicle
If the coil is in the well then I would use 2 chains - 1 pulling left and 1 pulling right
+2 But I have to confess that I did get hauled onto the carpet for damaging a coil with a chain. After that I made sure that I carried plenty of old sacks (remember sacks?!?!) to protect the goods from my over-tightened chains. In later years I used a doubled up spanset but the sacks were then used to protect the straps rather than the steel! The method was to use three lengths of strap per side- 2 pulling back, one pulling forward.
The firm’s insurance company insisted on all drivers attending a H&S refresher course every year and up until I retired the lecturer was still telling us to use dunnage when carrying high-density freight! He even had a slide show illustrating a trailer carrying a concrete fabrication loaded behind ten piles of empty pallets.
Retired Old ■■■■:
I did get hauled onto the carpet for damaging a coil with a chain
If the coils were not wrapped then we used what we called ‘corners’ which were smallish strips of metal to protect the coil edges from chain damage - old cut up truck tyres were another good way especially the ready made edges between the tread and sidewall
Do today’s drivers use initiative and common sense in the way that we used to, Rog? I recall regularly scrabbling around in rubbish bins and piles of scrap looking for something to get me out of trouble.
Retired Old ■■■■:
Do today’s drivers use initiative and common sense in the way that we used to, Rog? I recall regularly scrabbling around in rubbish bins and piles of scrap looking for something to get me out of trouble.
The problem we have ROF, is that most companies we go into have their own idea on how they want their stuff loading, so the customer can get if off at the other end, and the goods don’t get damaged… problem is most of the folks doing the “planning” have never moved more that their shopping trolley round Asda - and won’t let you load how you feel it is safe.
Your too frightned to argue half the time, as most folks, especially my ole man to me… just shouts… now he will let the other drivers tell them his concerns but i get all the loads they dont want to do and a row if i cause trouble
i am just glad i found this site !
Retired Old ■■■■:
Do today’s drivers use initiative and common sense in the way that we used to, Rog? I recall regularly scrabbling around in rubbish bins and piles of scrap looking for something to get me out of trouble.
I remember doing that too 
With the current situation I have no idea - it seems many companies insist it is done like this or that and if that is not possible then blame the driver and get another one to replace them
I daresay that most companies these days have “Method Statements” which are designed so that, if anything does go wrong, it will be the fault of the driver or his employer. They will be written by a chap with a university degree and no experience.
Retired Old ■■■■:
I daresay that most companies these days have “Method Statements” which are designed so that, if anything does go wrong, it will be the fault of the driver or his employer. They will be written by a chap with a university degree and no experience.
Very true mate im ret 11yrs so out of it but reading some posts on here about running proceadures r/regs etc.im glad to be well out of it.
regards dave.
I’m so glad I’m not setting out in the industry inthese times, Dave. Come to think of it, with the benefit of hindsight, I probably wouldn’t consider a career in the road transport industry anyway!
Fifty years of working twelve to eighteen hours a day, six days a week, going home covered in sh*t, too tired to do anything except eat & fall into the pit ready for another day of the same. All for a basic state pension, a bad back, arthritus & poor hearing (Gardner one side, open window the other!).
On the “plus” side, the nation got most of it’s needs supplied, thanks to us and our mates. Do you think they are gratefull? 
Jenson Button:
Wheel Nut:
coiler:
As my username suggests we do coils all the time. I gave drivers some top tips for loading heavy coils, the worst ones are the 29 toners coming out of Liverpool currently. We have to calculate the position of the coil using a formula so no axles are overloaded.
We must be doing it right as I’ve had 2 trucks weighted at switch island recently by vosa and not had any problems.The formula is in David Lowes book.
Measure between the kingpin and the centre of the rear trailer axle.
Is that the first axle you come too or the last axle or the middle axle?
Santa ---- your full of Christmas Cheer arn’t you ?
The rear axle will be the one closest to the rear bumper 
Jenson Button:
Thanks lads - i hate doing general haulage… you never know what your going to have to load, you dont know half the time how to secure it properly, and if you do you end up with a bolloking at either the loading or the off loading place for being in the wrong place or “damaged”.Coiler what type of calculation do you use and is it different for each type of trailer… i would hate to carry 29 t in one lump - do you have goal posts and a coil well for that ?
If anyone is interested I’ll dig out the formula and post it on here. It will work for any trailer and for any load, not just coils.
We don’t use chains on coils, very eighties. Ratchet straps and loaded against posts and sockets in the well to stop forward movement. Anyone who chucks off a coil or shoots it in the well must be driving like a ■■■■ in my opinion.
stevieboy308:
stevieboy308:
Mike-C:
stevieboy308:
Wheel Nut:
Get your pen out and write to Santa. Get the 2013 Transport Managers Manual by David Lowe.Here is an explanation I gave for a 4 wheeler
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=62678&p=762304&hilit=axle+weights+lowe#p761260
sorry to confuse things further
but that diagram is wrong as it doesn’t take into account for the overhang
Are you sure ? Look again.
without a dimension for the overhang or a length of the load, it’s impossible to work out, unless it’s to scale and we measure it!!!
forget that!!
3480 on the front and 10020 on the rear!!
Having slept on it, I’m wrong! I’ve not done it yet, but when I work it our later I’ll get the same result as the diagram.
Butthe way I’m doing it is more complicated than it needs to be compared to the diagram version
I am so pleased you are happy with it now. David Lowe is my mentor and has been for than 25 years. I often worry about what I will do when he retires or worse. I find his explanations very simple and trust him implicitly.
I have just ordered my 2013 manual today with a nice 30% discount from the publisher
Saaamon:
Carried coilers once and didnt like, wasnt sure myself how to load them properly and didnt trust the people at the company that i loaded from.
He used chains and ratchets straps, plenty of protection for straps and goods. Then used some more chains and straps just to be doubly sure he didn’t make a mistake in the first securing session.
Seeing a picture on this post of what one actually looks like, yes I would be paranoid of my driving style would upset a coil or someone else would cause me to let one loose 
They don’t look like they’d be friendly if they joined you in a cab if you had to drop the anchors quickly!
coiler:
If anyone is interested I’ll dig out the formula and post it on here. It will work for any trailer and for any load, not just coils.
I’d be very interested in that coiler. Even if everyone else knows how to do it, I don’t trust myself yet, without having stuff like this to double check myself on to make sure I don’t slip up spectactularly!
Many thanks if you can post it.
C
Retired Old ■■■■:
I’m so glad I’m not setting out in the industry inthese times, Dave. Come to think of it, with the benefit of hindsight, I probably wouldn’t consider a career in the road transport industry anyway!
Fifty years of working twelve to eighteen hours a day, six days a week, going home covered in sh*t, too tired to do anything except eat & fall into the pit ready for another day of the same. All for a basic state pension, a bad back, arthritus & poor hearing
+1
Wheel Nut:
stevieboy308:
stevieboy308:
Mike-C:
stevieboy308:
Wheel Nut:
Get your pen out and write to Santa. Get the 2013 Transport Managers Manual by David Lowe.Here is an explanation I gave for a 4 wheeler
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=62678&p=762304&hilit=axle+weights+lowe#p761260
sorry to confuse things further
Are you sure ? Look again.
without a dimension for the overhang or a length of the load, it’s impossible to work out, unless it’s to scale and we measure it!!!
forget that!!
3480 on the front and 10020 on the rear!!
Having slept on it, I’m wrong! I’ve not done it yet, but when I work it our later I’ll get the same result as the diagram.
Butthe way I’m doing it is more complicated than it needs to be compared to the diagram version
I am so pleased you are happy with it now. David Lowe is my mentor and has been for than 25 years. I often worry about what I will do when he retires or worse. I find his explanations very simple and trust him implicitly.
I have just ordered my 2013 manual today with a nice 30% discount from the publisher
I just need to sleep on the rear axle thing now!! I would’ve thought that you went off the centre of the middle axle? (On a tri axle with equal spacing) But I’ve been wrong before!!
stevieboy308:
I just need to sleep on the rear axle thing now!! I would’ve thought that you went off the centre of the middle axle? (On a tri axle with equal spacing) But I’ve been wrong before!!
The rear axle makes sense to me. You are trying to carry weight on the whole bogie but you still need some over the pin. I reckon if you take your measurement from the centre, that will put you over on the pin.
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Generally I have measured the load by pacing it out, then pace it from behind the rear axle forward to give me a clue as to where the load sits comfortably