it was in California of all places, the ton bags were full of wheat seed that I had delivered there, the bloke thought I was a nutter taking pictures of his truck, but I told him it was the knots I was taking pictures of and he thought I was even more mad, until I explained my knowledge of the dolly knot, I showed him how to do a double dolly, both a straight one and a spreader, but it started to cut through the bag I asked him how he got away with it over there, the US DOT have very strict rules governing load securement, how many straps/chains you need all depend on the weight/length/height of the load and usually everything is over secured, he said that he’d had a few problems at scale houses, but just told the DOT man to put his hand under a rope as he tightened it
Luckily for them they won the war of independence or they’d have had VOSA in charge not the DOT and that idea would just make them even madder But did you also show him how to take the rope along from one hook to the next without ending it at each hook
I used to do multi drop roping and sheeting. I think a properly roped and sheeted load is far more safer than some of the loads you see carried on curtainsided vehicles today!
bristolron:
I used to do multi drop roping and sheeting. I think a properly roped and sheeted load is far more safer than some of the loads you see carried on curtainsided vehicles today!
You’re spot on there, I did multi drop on a Bedford KM flat for Sarsons Vinegar on Tower Bridge Rd, never had any problems, it doesn’t take much longer than opening curtains once you get into the swing of things, after a while the old Km was replaced by a curtainsided 1617 Merc, I was forever restacking fallen pallets in that
newmercman:
I did ask that Carryfast, but that’s how they get away with it, a single pass over the load with the rope is all they’re allowed
Blimey I think I get it they can use ropes just so long as it looks like they’re using straps from a distance.So instead of using a few long lengths of rope they’ve probably got loads of relatively short lengths just to go over a 53 ft long trailer load one row of pallets at a time and that bundle at the end of each dolly is the extra needed for different height loads. But that idea would’nt let you cross the ropes at each end either That’s what happens when you mix the Irish with the British way of doing things. .But having said that could’nt they still run the rope along the hooks and lock it in the usual way to whatever distance they need for each pass across .
I rope and sheet most days and im only 23 so its not quite a dying art . I carry bagged fertilizer and have never had a problem with police or vosa etc . Its more of a pain than a curtainsider but afterwards when i step back and look at the load it makes me feel good
we reguarly rope and sheet loads if you are any good at it straps underneath sheet on top and you dont even need to rope the sheet down only front and back if you do a good job of it
bristolron:
I used to do multi drop roping and sheeting. I think a properly roped and sheeted load is far more safer than some of the loads you see carried on curtainsided vehicles today!
Me too, around London, for Intercity Transport. (Whatever happened to them?) One of the first to use 38 tonne F86 Volvos on trunk work. Not fast, but power steering, cyncromesh gearboxes and suspension seats… blimee… luxury!!
We shunted out of St Albans, just down the road from Smiths of Maddeson’s yard.
i carry tube steel and copper, ratchet straps are fine for the steel but warp the copper so ropes have to be used, our in house hse/transort bod has told us so long as the load doesnt present a risk to the driver, other road users or members of the public then its all good, a matter of common sense really, should be a good conversation with the traffic stasi when they finally get me to stop…
During a long spell working for Frankipile, all our site supplies were roped. It was only the really heavy stuff that warranted a chain. But everything was blocked and the blocks were nailed on to the bed.
That was on Ford D1000 rigids. Luxury three seater walk-through cabs, power steering and synchro boxes. They were damned good motors in their time. At least you could get a good kip in them!
I asked him how he got away with it over there, the US DOT have very strict rules governing load securement, how many straps/chains you need all depend on the weight/length/height of the load and usually everything is over secured, he said that he’d had a few problems at scale houses, but just told the DOT man to put his hand under a rope as he tightened it
But that idea would’nt let you cross the ropes at each end either 