I was tipping in Overpelt, Belgium on Wednesday, and the Transport Manager asked me if I was aware of the new regulations coming into force on the 1st September, 2009 in Belgium, where all loads have to be strapped to the same standard as German regulations. i.e., every pallet has to be strapped separately.
Has anyone been informed of this? First time I have heard this.
Over to you KW - any info. pertaining to this.
Thanks
we load n germany most weeks and they are really strict on this.
not sure about EVERY pallet though as 33 pallets would need 33 straps? when we load 33 pallets of flooring we need 11 straps 1 for each row
also most places use rubber floor antislip mats and plenty of chocks and corners are always available
j.gooch:
I was tipping in Overpelt, Belgium on Wednesday, and the Transport Manager asked me if I was aware of the new regulations coming into force on the 1st September, 2009 in Belgium, where all loads have to be strapped to the same standard as German regulations. i.e., every pallet has to be strapped separately.Has anyone been informed of this? First time I have heard this.
Over to you KW - any info. pertaining to this.
Thanks
Hi Jon,
The Belgians are wanting loads to be secured!!! 
Their driver CPC training schools will be a bit busy quite soon then…
IIRC, the Belgians were the greatest exponents of the ‘gravity’ load restraint method. 
Do we all remember the days of us seeing Belgian flatties piled high with stuff, and not a rope, strap or sheet in sight?
My, my, how times change. 
Try looking through the EURO STICKY;S and the Useful links forum
good sites have been posted that will help with this problem about
load lashing and securing,
j.gooch:
I was tipping in Overpelt, Belgium on Wednesday, and the Transport Manager asked me if I was aware of the new regulations coming into force on the 1st September, 2009 in Belgium, where all loads have to be strapped to the same standard as German regulations. i.e., every pallet has to be strapped separately.Has anyone been informed of this? First time I have heard this.
Its coming into force on 10th September and loads must be secured according to European guidelines.
Sounds like a largely burocratic change to me. Like a lot of new rules in Belgium, introduced with a large fanfare, talked about for a few months and then mostly forgotten about.
Like the overtaking ban on two lane motorways, I noticed a few weeks ago by Aachen, they have removed the bit with the times on so you are left with a blue sign telling you lorries are allowed to overtake, ta very much.
Geoff
A nice link GeoffC can you post it in the useful links forum so it doesn’t get lost
and be on view for others to see later on,
GeoffC:
j.gooch:
I was tipping in Overpelt, Belgium on Wednesday, and the Transport Manager asked me if I was aware of the new regulations coming into force on the 1st September, 2009 in Belgium, where all loads have to be strapped to the same standard as German regulations. i.e., every pallet has to be strapped separately.Has anyone been informed of this? First time I have heard this.
Its coming into force on 10th September and loads must be secured according to European guidelines.
Sounds like a largely burocratic change to me. Like a lot of new rules in Belgium, introduced with a large fanfare, talked about for a few months and then mostly forgotten about.
Like the overtaking ban on two lane motorways, I noticed a few weeks ago by Aachen, they have removed the bit with the times on so you are left with a blue sign telling you lorries are allowed to overtake, ta very much.Geoff
Thanks for the info. really appreciate - exactly what I was looking for.
Please be aware that the FINES start at €70 plus 3points
and increase as and when the offence warrants it, over in
Germany,
The police and the BAG ,will ensure that you and your load are safe
and if that includes you having to completely unload your trailer
container, demountable box, then that will happen, I have just
watched a programme where a Lorry and trailer loaded with steel
had to be unloaded and then re loaded with all the correct lashing
procedure including the anti skid matting which had to be
laid down as this was not vor hand, They had to get a Crane
to move the load, this was paid by the Trucks owners,
brit pete:
Please be aware that the FINES start at €70 plus 3points
and increase as and when the offence warrants it, over in
Germany,
The police and the BAG ,will ensure that you and your load are safe
and if that includes you having to completely unload your trailer
container, demountable box, then that will happen, I have just
watched a programme where a Lorry and trailer loaded with steel
had to be unloaded and then re loaded with all the correct lashing
procedure including the anti skid matting which had to be
laid down as this was not vor hand, They had to get a Crane
to move the load, this was paid by the Trucks owners,
Do they obey the EU working at height regulations when the euro plod are clambering about in trailers picking fault?
Don’t think i’ll have many pfoblems here, having a glass trailer behind me, does what it says on the tin, no straps needed here!!
@Wheelnut they adhere to the rules laid down by their employer the German government, and lets put it this way a placid policeman or BAG officer is better
than one who is upset by a truck drivers ill timed comments,
In all the time I have had to deal with officials apart from certain custom officers
various nations;They(police&bag) have dealt fairly unless they needed coffee??
is this for 3.5t and above
Its in force for all vehicles and their loads from small to large , small to wide
if its insecure, you will get done, be it push bike,car truck or any thing that
is transporting a load,well in Germany any way 
Thats like somebody been seen throwing a ■■■ out of the Truck window by the German cops
“thats 10€ for littering”
“But i didnt throw anything out of the window”
" OK if you didnt throw anything out of the window then its 70€ and 3 points for an insecure load"
Geoff
I had to go to an all Saturday course a couple of weeks ago,along with around twenty of our driver’s,to learn all about strapping and securing loads.It’s pretty much common sense,but the stuff you’re expected to know about strapping angles and ‘g’ forces is beyond me.
As has been said,it’s nothing more than what you’ve had to do in Germany for years,and of course there’ll be controls here there and everywhere in Belgium for six months or so then it’ll all be forgotten about.
We carry a lot of empty packaging,cardboard or plastic food packaging,and if you strapped that down you’d just crush the boxes,so you have to put all the side planks in and put anti-slip mats under the pallets as well as a plank across the back.
We are also supposed to strap drinks crates as well,but again,we just put every side plank in,that’s good enough for Germany when we load beer or wine on pallets.
One thing they will be hot on,is the condition of your straps,no tears or splits.I had big problems a few months ago in Salzgitter when the loader refused to let me leave because two straps were worn.
And,you’ll have to put empty pallets,or something similar,to fill any gaps in the load to stop it moving.
Perhaps I’ll start driving buses! 
@gbtransport ,that’s why I have my ADVO-CARD , for problems like that.
AS “” KW"" said ; Your straps have to be in order and also have the blue tag still fitted
no rip,s or worn areas, the use of ARM is one which they are hot on,better use and knowledge of secureing and lashing a load will be expected and the controlling official’s
do not let people get away if they have serious problems as regards this,
brit pete:
@Wheelnut they adhere to the rules laid down by their employer the German government, and lets put it this way a placid policeman or BAG officer is better
than one who is upset by a truck drivers ill timed comments,
In all the time I have had to deal with officials apart from certain custom officers
various nations;They(police&bag) have dealt fairly unless they needed coffee??
Peter. My comment was made slightly tongue in cheek, however I will remove my tongue now and explain. In the controls I have been involved in over the last couple of years, the authorities have been all over the load like a rash.
I have never had a problem at the control point, because, as KW said,
it’s pretty much common sense
But about the strapping angles and empty pallets etc to fill void spaces. This is where the problem lies, due to the extremes that our “elf and safety innit” managers put us through.
It is very often impossible to be in the loading area and certainly not allowed to climb onto the trailer to position chocks, anti skid matting or to place straps at a jaunty angle.
Again you have us at a major disadvantage, our (British) loading staff, forklift drivers and depot managers have no responsibility for the load once it leaves their domain. The GB driver has to carry the can, even though he is prevented by silly rules to supervise or organise his cargo.
,@wheelnut, sorry but that is not correct, I will have to dig but if you get caught
by the BAG–POLICE in Germany they will also send a summons (fine+POINTS)
TO the firm ,person who loaded you and they do this daily over here, There is a laid down paragraph which is used and is recognised, by the courts,please give me some time , if
necessary I will approach the BAG DIRECT ,
It is GERMAN law that the LOADER of the vehicle holds and takes equal responsibility
for the lashing and securing or loads, so it is not the driver alone who gets done and if you can prove that the load was not touched by you only by the loading firm, THEN they are
deep in the poop ,
Should be interesting first time I get stopped with around 1200 loose parcels in the back. No pallets, no straps, nothing, just the parcels lobbed in the back and the shutter pulled down. I better make sure I have a good book or two if I’m going to be there for a long time while it’s sorted out. 
Pete. I welcome any information you have. It is through this dialogue that knowledge is gained. However my point to now has been that English or British Companies will not accept responsibility unless that is under corporate manslaughter charges or H&SE charges. Our whole system revolves around the Transport Act and Road Traffic acts.
We have statements like this issued by BRAKE. Fleet Safety Forum, and even our homegrown BAG, ie. VOSA
"Do not automatically trust declared weights, invoices or
delivery notes given to you by customers. Remember that you
and your driver hold the responsibility for not overloading, not the
customer.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 requires “vehicle users” to ensure that vehicles are not overloaded.
If a vehicle is found to be overloaded both the driver and operator could be prosecuted or cautioned.
Legislation imposes fines of up to £5,000 for each offence.
With the above, all the regulations are geared to the Road Traffic Act, almost unenforceable upon someone who rides on a bus to work and only drives a hand pallet truck or sack barrow between tea-breaks. It is the same for load security at the moment. The Driver is responsible.
Rog already posted the link to the Australian study in 2002, it is the most up to date document we have to work with.
HSE Research for Tarmac. Good Photos!