Ok, so I had a bit of an argument with my transport manager about my load the other day.
It was cardboard bales and they were so wide they were touching the curtains, not just a little bit but bordering on the 12" limit for wide loads. I refused to take it but he told me that it was ok
Now, my curtains are not rated at all and it’s my understanding that the curtain is only there for weather protection only and a load much not touch it at all, not even a tiny bit. Now I’m pretty sure I’m right on this as I remember it on a couple of my CPC courses but the drivers at my crappy firm are split 50/50 on it so I thought I’d ask all your opinions
Thanks in advance. Any other info needed just ask. Cheers, Dave.
Well we do alot of waste.Ie cardboard and paper.And ours definitely touch the curtains and bulge out a bit to.Not as far as you say yours was though.But we do strap them.So I don’t see that as being a problem.
can i ask how long you’ve been in the industry . and even if the curtains are to protect the load from the elements and are not to touch the load does this mean when the winds blowing and the curtains touch the load you have to stop… think about it will you … your just making yourself look and sound silly… the point of the curtains not being load baring means the load will have to be secured as any load has to be.
There’s no law that says a load should not touch the curtains, as long as the load is properly secured and doesn’t exceed the sideways overhang limit of 305mm (without markers) each side I don’t see a problem.
I could be wrong, but from what you’ve said I get the impression that you’re currently relying on the curtains to secure the load, that will be a problem if you get stopped.
How am I making myself look silly? I’ve been in the industry for 14 years and carried all sorts so don’t give me that! It’s people like you that make this industry the craphole it’s getting into now. You think a question is silly so you jump all over a person for asking the question. Do one you gobby tool
I’ve asked the question, like I said in the post, because this is the stuff that’s been covered in my dcpc. If I’ve been told one thing by an industry expert then why wouldn’t I ask the question. Mouth
Anyway, thanks for the responses, I still think it’s dodgy as I couldn’t see the rear of my trailer and my view was restricted behind me as it was bulging that much. But if I’m in the wrong I’ll accept it and move on. Oh, and just for the one gobby tool, I’ve driven 80ft trailers with 55 tonne loads in the past that was very wide and needed escorts. So I have experience in driving abnormal loads. I’ve just got so many rules bouncing round my head that it’s hard to remember which ones to follow!
sw1ller:
Anyway, thanks for the responses, I still think it’s dodgy as I couldn’t see the rear of my trailer and my view was restricted behind me as it was bulging that much. But if I’m in the wrong I’ll accept it and move on.
I agree that a load like that is not ideal but it is legal, whether or not it’s acceptable by the drivers who work for the company is of course for all of you to decide.
sw1ller:
I’ve asked the question, like I said in the post, because this is the stuff that’s been covered in my dcpc. If I’ve been told one thing by an industry expert then why wouldn’t I ask the question
DCPC “teachers” are NOT industry experts, do not take what they tell you as gospel.
How did we ever manage before the DCPC. I spent ten years carting palletised bags of spuds, the curtains contained the bags better than the internall straps. Before that of course it was sheets, and a nice taught drip sheet did the job grand. Who remembers clambering about on top of load trying to cover up with straw to protect from frost
How am I making myself look silly? I’ve been in the industry for 14 years and carried all sorts so don’t give me that! It’s people like you that make this industry the craphole it’s getting into now. You think a question is silly so you jump all over a person for asking the question. Do one you gobby tool
I’ve asked the question, like I said in the post, because this is the stuff that’s been covered in my dcpc. If I’ve been told one thing by an industry expert then why wouldn’t I ask the question. Mouth
Anyway, thanks for the responses, I still think it’s dodgy as I couldn’t see the rear of my trailer and my view was restricted behind me as it was bulging that much. But if I’m in the wrong I’ll accept it and move on. Oh, and just for the one gobby tool, I’ve driven 80ft trailers with 55 tonne loads in the past that was very wide and needed escorts . So I have experience in driving abnormal loads. I’ve just got so many rules bouncing round my head that it’s hard to remember which ones to follow!
whoopy ■■■ do been there done that an prob done more miles I reverse than you’ll ever see going forward lookin in your mirror as for the gobby I only asked the experience as you only had 6 previous posts … and you’d be amazed what a newbie would ask so forgive me for thinking that … but your the one that said about curtain touching the load I just pointed out that the win blows so the curtains will touch think about what an who you call gobby fella it don’t help you any just shows your attitude as you say you work for a CRAPPY firm it could be your CRAPPY attitude that prevents you from better employ … Good day old ■■■■
How am I making myself look silly? I’ve been in the industry for 14 years and carried all sorts so don’t give me that! It’s people like you that make this industry the craphole it’s getting into now. You think a question is silly so you jump all over a person for asking the question. Do one you gobby tool
I’ve asked the question, like I said in the post, because this is the stuff that’s been covered in my dcpc. If I’ve been told one thing by an industry expert then why wouldn’t I ask the question. Mouth
Anyway, thanks for the responses, I still think it’s dodgy as I couldn’t see the rear of my trailer and my view was restricted behind me as it was bulging that much. But if I’m in the wrong I’ll accept it and move on. Oh, and just for the one gobby tool, I’ve driven 80ft trailers with 55 tonne loads in the past that was very wide and needed escorts. So I have experience in driving abnormal loads. I’ve just got so many rules bouncing round my head that it’s hard to remember which ones to follow!
More mile in reverse… Get rammed. I hate that saying.
Yeah I agree about what did we do before cpc, it’s just, when someone puts something in your head that’s supposed to be “teaching” you how to do a job you’ve done for 13 odd years, you start to question what you know.
I think you may be getting confused between your trailer curtains and a tent. I can confirm that you shouldn’t touch the inside of the tent when it’s raining as that will then leak. Hth.
A load is actually more secure if it’s touching the curtains. Provided the bales are loaded so the edges of the pieces of card in the bale are pointing out along the side of the trailer you can stack them to the roof and they will never move sideways. I do strap them because it’s safe and straightforward to do but they do often work loose and cut through the bales when you tighten them.
I don’t use internals as we don’t fit them but in VOSA’s eyes they’re only good for 400kg so depending what bale size (mill ones tied with metal wire are generally 500kg) a few stacked will be over so it would need ratchet straps to satisfy them. Supermarkets have smaller twine tied bales and internals would probably be fine with those.
Did your CPC instructor tell you what the fine was per turn for not raising the landing legs?
Either this is a really poor attempt at trolling or you shouldn’t be doing the job you’re doing.
You can be up to 2.9m wide before being classed as a wide load. As someone with wide/heavy load experience I would have thought you’d be aware of this.
The way you spouted off at Nick makes his point about your attitude being the problem even more valid.
How am I making myself look silly? I’ve been in the industry for 14 years and carried all sorts so don’t give me that! It’s people like you that make this industry the craphole it’s getting into now. You think a question is silly so you jump all over a person for asking the question. Do one you gobby tool
I’ve asked the question, like I said in the post, because this is the stuff that’s been covered in my dcpc. If I’ve been told one thing by an industry expert then why wouldn’t I ask the question. Mouth
Anyway, thanks for the responses, I still think it’s dodgy as I couldn’t see the rear of my trailer and my view was restricted behind me as it was bulging that much. But if I’m in the wrong I’ll accept it and move on. Oh, and just for the one gobby tool, I’ve driven 80ft trailers with 55 tonne loads in the past that was very wide and needed escorts. So I have experience in driving abnormal loads. I’ve just got so many rules bouncing round my head that it’s hard to remember which ones to follow!
and there lays your problem
for bales of cardboard, you should be using ratchet straps, not internals
as far as the DVSA are concerned, internals are not a load bearing form of restraint for items of that nature, they are too heavy
sw1ller:
It was cardboard bales and they were so wide they were touching the curtains, not just a little bit but bordering on the 12" limit for wide loads.
i,m not being funny here but they were either just touching the curtains which means it would be just over 8ft wide
or
they were nearly as wide as a 12ft wide load which means you would have had almost 2ft over each side of the trailer and wouldnt have even got the curtains closed!
all seems a bit vague , as long as i can actually fasten the buckles on the curtain then its Ok to me
I only asked the experience as you only had 6 previous posts … and you’d be amazed what a newbie would ask so forgive me for thinking that … but your the one that said about curtain touching the load 
I just pointed out that the win blows so the curtains will touch 