Reels of paper on a curtain side

[dancompression]

As an agency driver, I get no formal training on how to restrain a load, so I do what I think is best with what I’ve got, and find out if I made a mistake when I get to the other end. I’ve not anything fall off yet.

I’m doing curtain side work at the moment, and a couple of times I’ve been faced with paper reels.

Situation 1:
Reels stacked on end, approx 7’ diameter, 8’ high, 1400kg.
These were loaded up to the edge one edge of the trailer, alternating each time from front to back.
I used the internal rail straps on the sides which were up to the trailer edge, leaving the other side as they would be blocked by the 2 mating reels, and did an internal rail strap diagonally accross the back.
While I was doing this the next truck (different company) finished and I had to move to get out of his way, so whatever he did with the same load was quicker. Another truck from the same co. as previous showed, so I asked him as someone familiar with this load, what does he do? He replied ‘curtains only, with 2 diagonals at the back, vosa would be ok with that’. Given the width and weight of these reels I wasn’t too worried about this. I went on my way, but during which I had a moment of absence and chose a windy A road instead of the longer motorway. I arrived to find that the back reel only had moved to the other side of the wagon. Oh well, no harm done, try to do better next time.

What exactly is the capability of a curtain? (I know they vary) As I understand they have a rating (which I struggle to find most of the time) and if the load is against it, and is within rating it’s okay. So far I’ve light stuff without straps (often likely to damage goods with them) and heavy stuff use straps, normal ones if possible depending on weight and height of the load.
How does a curtain rating work? Is tons? or tons per length? or tons per area? or tons per strap?(the straps embedded in the curtain)

Situation 2:
Forky starts to load with 3000kg 5’ diameter 9’high. I’m quite worried about these, they can fall and shift and do serious harm. The forky loads the first one on the front, slightly off centre, and brings the second up to it, slightly off to the opposite side. This trailer has no internal rail straps, (its an opening top). With about 2" clearance between the reel and the ceiling. I make a futile attempt to get a strap over it, realise it’s not going to happen so I stop the loading, and tell the forky I’m going to seek advice. While I’m waiting for someone to ring back, the reels come off me, I close the curtains and get out of the way. I get a call advising me to request some step ladders to help me get the straps over. I go into the site office to be informed they refuse to load my trailer, as it is unsuitable without internal rails straps.
What a relief!!! off I go!.

The tractor units for this company normally carry about 12 ratchet straps, but NO corners.

Does anyone know how to secure the loads described?
I think if I’d had internal rails on the second one I would have put two on each of the sides nearest the edge, crossed over each other and more to secure the back reel. Would this work without corners?
Does anyone know good website or videos for this kind of thing?
I guess I should seek out a course (at my own expense )

[hogpot]

The way i do it is a ratchet on each reel, 2 corner pieces on each reel. If you load these sort of reels from tilbury they strap it for you the same way. You can also use those rubber strips underneath the reels to stop them slipping.

[loopyjuice]

anything less than this and you are asking for trouble. these were loaded at kemsley, most paper places will not provide straps so if you are loading them make sure you have enough with you. they will have a holder on a pole for you to put the corner pieces in from ground level. where possible use the chassis to secure your straps to and get them as tight as you possibly can

[winseer]

Have they not made available a mounty tool and shown you how to use it?
There should be plenty of straps and corners available already.
What’s the depot?

If you strap it wrong, you’ll damage the reels, as this pic shows. There’s NO corners in place (tightness of straps cuts into the top of the reels), and any braking action will cause the diagonal straps to cut into the reels on the sides as well. Wrong wrong wrong.

The short fat reels one gets will stay behind the curtain - It’s a load bearing curtain after all. Just don’t have loose floppy buckle straps when you do them up, and don’t go around corners like automan.
The tall ones sit behind the fold-up plates quite merrily. You’d have to turn the trailer upside down to shift them in an unsafe manner.
VOSA will be looking to pull people with what looks like a shifted load poking out of the side curtain - right?
Going around a corner at right angles, and spilling them all over the road will probably get VOSA’s attention too.
I’ve not heard of a random pull with an outwardly OK looking wagon only to be told “Oooh that strap is in the wrong place/wrong colour/missing” or whatever.
Anyone else care to comment on this?

The ones that worry me are the double-stacked half reels because the top one has nothing preventing it sliding off the top stack other than friction, and it’s above the side plates already. I’m not convinced even two straps per reel will stop them ones going over if driven with evasive action out on the big wide road.

As far as I know it is compulsory to strap ALL loads no matter how small/secure/already restrained - if you intend taking the truck onto a ferry.

[rgt1973]

You say some others are done quicker? They will be the ones who think their driving style is superior to yours and they have never had them move before so don’t bother strapping them at all. Used to see this on a regular basis when we used to load out of Chatham. They will also be the ones who will come un-stuck one day! Keep doing what you are doing and then you can never be blamed in the event of an accident or fined if stopped by VOSA!

[silver_surfer]

Loopyjuice, you appear to be a very professional and competent truck driver & I must say your new trailer does look the part. How’s things going with that firm?

You do need to ratchet strap the reels to “D” hooks in the bed or to the chasis itself, the rail straps attached to the roof are useless, if one of the reels falls over, it will go through the curtain or maybe even tip you over, mind them kerbs! Having said that, its only unsafe if you tip the stock over on route…

I’ve heard Smurfit have had a few over from kerbing. I also drove a load of these from Immingham to Birmingham and then another driver of mine took them on to Devon without restraint but you do have to drive Ginger.

[rooster]

Ask, I don’t know ? but theres no way I,d leave the yard without knowing it was secure & safe.

Good on you fella for being honest and asking for advice

[loopyjuice]

Silver_Surfer:
Loopyjuice, you appear to be a very professional and competent truck driver appearances can be deceptive & I must say your new trailer does look the part. How’s things going with that firm? compared to the older trailers they are a dream to use, curtains that you can open easily, support bars not bent. work wise things could be better but it pays the bills and keeps me out of the wife’s hair lol

You do need to ratchet strap the reels to “D” hooks in the bed or to the chasis itself,with the older trailers we have i hate using the side of the bed as they are rotten and tend to bend very easily.
the rail straps attached to the roof are useless, if one of the reels falls over, it will go through the curtain or maybe even tip you over, mind them kerbs!would you be insinuating that i like to hit kerbs only on sunny days Having said that, its only unsafe if you tip the stock over on route… i agree and personally would never rely on the internals to hold reels. it just not worth it when you consider all the other road users actions

I’ve heard Smurfit have had a few over from kerbing. I also drove a load of these from Immingham to Birmingham and then another driver of mine took them on to Devon without restraint but you do have to drive Ginger.

if you drive according to the load and conditions there is no reason it wont get there in one piece. but you also have to account for mechanical failure ie: blowouts as well so it is always better to strap it.

edit to add. alot of my knowledge has come from much wiser and not always older truckers.

[disgo]

All the paper mills we go to now will not let you out unless you have ratchet straps over the reels.
If you don’t have your own edge protectors they will give you L shaped pieces of cardboard to use and if you do not have your own extendable pole to put them on with they will lend you one.
Also they all provide steps to walk up to put straps across on tall reels.

[dabenji]

At my last job we used to collect reels for paper mills and never strapped them, always told not to as it would damage the reel these ones were massive and not likely to tip over but I was always a little more cautious same as loading reels of netting used at the side of the road they are loaded across the bed on their side stacked two high and wedged against the back door.

[silver_surfer]

Good to hear loopy, you’ve the experience now anyway so you can pick & choose if something better comes along.

[maestegboy]

Strap every pile ,no strap no put on lorry!

I seen these rolls go straight through a curtain on m20 ashford paper mill made hell of a mess

[saaamon]

Ive seen a lorry full of those reels go over, looked like he managed to limp to services where I could see the recovery firm sorting the mess out…

I’ve done a few of them loads and always strapped it, one over the top with corner protectors, if you havnt got your own ask the company your loading out of as they’ve properly got loads for you to use… Put simply if I didn’t have any straps i’d refuse to take them and if that’s a problem I’d be quite happy to make my own way home.

[winseer]

What’s the story when one of these goes over regardless of how many straps are on it?
(Do you get more endorsement points for rolling the lorry with load still strapped into it, or the lorry remains upright, but you’ve spilt something?)
If you give it a slow roll, it’s going over.

[fatboy_slimslow]

On the end piece of pish! wait till you do them on the roll PITA

[conor]

loopyjuice:
where possible use the chassis to secure your straps to and get them as tight as you possibly can

Never secure to the chassis. It’s not meant to have the load from ratchet straps pulling sideways on it. The chock rails are plenty good enough to secure to. We load 9 tonne stacks of chipboard, strap to the chock rails using heavy duty long handle ratchets and straps rated for 7.5 tonnes and some drivers use metal bars to tighten the ratchets and the chock rails are just fine.

[punchy_dan]

Conor:

loopyjuice:
where possible use the chassis to secure your straps to and get them as tight as you possibly can

Never secure to the chassis. It’s not meant to have the load from ratchet straps pulling sideways on it. The chock rails are plenty good enough to secure to. We load 9 tonne stacks of chipboard, strap to the chock rails using heavy duty long handle ratchets and straps rated for 7.5 tonnes and some drivers use metal bars to tighten the ratchets and the chock rails are just fine.

Why reply to someone who last posted in 2015 on a thread last posted on in 2013

[tezzdemon]

.

[biggriffin]

Punchy Dan:

Conor:

loopyjuice:
where possible use the chassis to secure your straps to and get them as tight as you possibly can

Never secure to the chassis. It’s not meant to have the load from ratchet straps pulling sideways on it. The chock rails are plenty good enough to secure to. We load 9 tonne stacks of chipboard, strap to the chock rails using heavy duty long handle ratchets and straps rated for 7.5 tonnes and some drivers use metal bars to tighten the ratchets and the chock rails are just fine.

Why reply to someone who last posted in 2015 on a thread last posted on in 2013

Doh!

[notimetoulouse]

Hi im doing alot of reels for d.s.smith they make it clear to us that their way is the " proper way " ie strap everything everytime ok it helps that all their trailers have roof mounted strap systems and we carry more than enough corners and a mounty pole
the reels are very tall very heavy so there is the raising of the center of gravity to take into consideration so we have to take care on tight corners and leave more than enough space for brakeing they would rather have us turn up 10 mins later than have it all over the road
anybody NOT strapping reels is nuts and just asking for trouble