So, just got a new job. Going to be hauling hay and straw. DAF CF85, 480 horses pulling a load of roughly 10 tonnes at a time 
45’ step frame trailer. looks like it’s going to be a decent job, but i’ve never transported hay or straw before. Mainly big round bales, 2 high on the neck of the trailer and 3 high on the rest, occasionally will carry the little bales. (idiot bales i believe they’re called!)
So, does anyone out there have any tips for me? Any advice gratefully recieved.
yeah could you net em up so i dont have too keep on blowing my nose when caught behind you HAYFEVER ATISSSSSHOOOOOOOO
crickrichard:
So, just got a new job. Going to be hauling hay and straw. DAF CF85, 480 horses pulling a load of roughly 10 tonnes at a time
So, does anyone out there have any tips for me? Any advice gratefully recieved.
Also helps if you don’t smoke heavily 
10 tonnes sounds like a small load 
I’ve had 12 tonnes on a rigid before 
and with a summer like this one the straw will have more moisture in it so will be heavier !
take it easy on roundabouts and bends as it can be a top heavy load ( depends on bale density ) 
you’ll be running near maximum height so watch for trees and bridges
Denis F:
10 tonnes sounds like a small loadtake it easy on roundabouts and bends as it can be a top heavy load ( depends on bale density )
But at least if it does fall off onto the verge you can just walk away whistling nonchalantly
Wozn’t me guv’nor
Denis F:
take it easy on roundabouts and bends as it can be a top heavy load
I see what you mean…
Don’t fall off the top when loading like my dad did back when we did hay and straw.
After about 5 miles, you’ll need to stop and retension the straps 
, go steady on the round-a-bouts, and a shower every night because you’ll itch to buggery 
.
As Denis said, round bales are a light load, small bales will weigh more as they’re more compacted and dense. If you end up doing the big square bales, look out for the ones they call mini hesstons, they’re about 33’’ wide and they fit three across the deck, and are deadly because they’re so unstable when stacked more than two high, if one of those lands on yer head a paracetamol is not going to help, in fact don’t trust any bales not secured, but especially those mini hesstons 
. Hope someones going to show you where to place the straps, have fun 
If your doing small bales ropes are better than straps can put dolly knots in them to tension them surprising how tight you can get them
I always wanted to know
Why do you have to sheet waste paper bales and not straw or hay
They can both catch alight and can both blow bits all over the place
Just a thought 
because the straw or hay is so high it is not safe to climb up and put a sheet on . When you load out of a field on some farm i doubt they will have a suitable sheeting gantry etc . You would not catch me 16ft in the air with a massive sheet blowing around .
when hauling the small the small bales, the middle front top bale has a tendency to lift up and fly away.always build from both ends and meet in the middle.keeps the rear and front vertical.best roped down as you get better tension with the dollies and 2 straps front to back.hestons easier as straps will do for them.watch the round bales going on as one soft one will cause you no amount of problems on the road,ie.the load will lie over to one side and will draw attention to you from the authorities.watch where you park in the services as people think its fun to flick ■■■ ends at the load.hope this helps
Long straps from front to back for Hestons and half hestons, as well as straps over every row.
Never throw a ■■■ end out of the window:)
Pat
bloodoodle:
Long straps from front to back for Hestons and half hestons, as well as straps over every row.Never throw a ■■■ end out of the window:)
Pat
Dont forget your manual handling device.
Hello fella, i used to work for richard write,essex hay n straw. was i good job and i really enjoyed it, as some one said, check your straps after about five miles, and i found it handy to check every time i stop,d (breaks) steady on the bends, sometimes your not alot of weight on,but she will lean hard if u go into the bends to hard, top heavy! i used to chuck the straps over as to what way the wind was blowing, save you keep getting hit in the head by a strap 
and last but not least, and this is honest, watch out for people going past and flicking ■■■ butts at the side of your load, we used to get this alot going down the m4 to south wales take care mate and hope you like the job!!!
Thats brilliant, thanks everybody for all your advice, i’m very grateful!
First day is a week on monday, so i’ll let you all know how i get on.
On the odd occassion that i’ve done hay/straw,small bales,i would load half of it,rope down,load the other half on top and then rope again.
I know it’s time consuming but it used to make me feel better.
Also watch out for the wee scumbags with the handfull of fireworks when you go through the towns.
Once saw a fully alight artic load of straw being driven through the centre of Downpatrick in Co.Down and the driver stopped in a panic outside the fire station and the burning bales all fell off and the firemen couldn’t get the tenders out as they were blocked in.
It nearly burned the bloody town down