Just wondering if anyone can elaborate on this (looked at various sites but that just confused me)… Basically, I did some work for a company the other day and expect more through them. The load I took had ratchet straps as it was more of a ‘solid’ load but whilst I was waiting to get loaded I noticed a few other trucks being pallet loaded with what I would call crushable/ fragile boxes etc. and they went on with just shrink wrap onto curtain siders and no other restraint. Is this ok?
Just wondering as I will probably end up getting one of these loads soon. tia.
Edit… .the curtain sides are just the normal ones and not those specific load restraint types if that makes sense.
If they are not the XL type then the law says they need strapping, if they’re crushable just don’t do the straps up tight at least you’ve made a token gesture, of course I’m sure you’re over 21 so if you’re company don’t make you strap everything down then it’s up to you.
It all depends on how tall and how heavy they are. Light pallets were only ever restrained by the enteral straps to keep them upright. A strap down the fact and down the back. A lot of the time I never bothered strapping any but the last two.
Radar19:
It all depends on how tall and how heavy they are. Light pallets were only ever restrained by the enteral straps to keep them upright. A strap down the fact and down the back. A lot of the time I never bothered strapping any but the last two.
Depends what the load is, if its lightweight stuff like packaging/ egg boxes and the like then no straps needed apart from the end two if theyre double stacked ect but heavier stuff especially if its stacked high then def strap it.
Radar19:
It all depends on how tall and how heavy they are. Light pallets were only ever restrained by the enteral straps to keep them upright. A strap down the fact and down the back. A lot of the time I never bothered strapping any but the last two.
So your internal straps go on forever
You’re dam right! I was only one when I was on the rigids that actually took care of their straps. The rest either didn’t have any or left them dangling, getting crushed and ruined by the forklifts.
AndrewG:
Depends what the load is, if its lightweight stuff like packaging/ egg boxes and the like then no straps needed apart from the end two if theyre double stacked ect but heavier stuff especially if its stacked high then def strap it.
Don’t say “no straps are needed” because they are but basically as I said it’s down to the individual as to what he wants to do as it’s his license.
If fragile, and well shrink wrapped onto pallet, and light, then I wouldn`t worry too much. As Bald Bloke suggests put some straps over, but if the goods are easily damaged/crushed then that will be as much for show than effect. Ask advise from the others loading there too.
If the goods are heavy, and badly/inadequately wrapped/packaged then you do have an issue. If the boxes are weak then secure the pallet itself to the bed. Then any movement is surely the fault of the sender, not you. No easy answer, if others are habitually taking these loads; the sender will point to all the others and say “he does it” “never a problem” etc etc… Depends on your own situation, (whether you be employed/ agency/ subbie/ newbie/ oldie). Try to clause the paperwork to the effect “inadequately wrapped” or similar. Try to put the onus on the sender. Cover your ■■■.
AndrewG:
Depends what the load is, if its lightweight stuff like packaging/ egg boxes and the like then no straps needed apart from the end two if theyre double stacked ect but heavier stuff especially if its stacked high then def strap it.
Don’t say “no straps are needed” because they are but basically as I said it’s down to the individual as to what he wants to do as it’s his license.
Not being a pedant Will depend on type of trailer, yes, its going to be a curtainsider but using a tilt 100% of the time i dont strap anything (with the very odd exception) as its really not needed, the side boards are strong enough for most anything…
AndrewG:
Depends what the load is, if its lightweight stuff like packaging/ egg boxes and the like then no straps needed apart from the end two if theyre double stacked ect but heavier stuff especially if its stacked high then def strap it.
Don’t say “no straps are needed” because they are but basically as I said it’s down to the individual as to what he wants to do as it’s his license.
Not being a pedant Will depend on type of trailer, yes, its going to be a curtainsider but using a tilt 100% of the time i dont strap anything (with the very odd exception) as its really not needed, the side boards are strong enough for most anything…
But tilts weren’t mentioned by the op. Andy.S sounds a newish driver so I was just passing on facts as daft as it sounds a pallet of empty egg boxes in the eyes of the law will need strapping but I doubt the gestapo would pull someone on it.
Radar19:
It all depends on how tall and how heavy they are. Light pallets were only ever restrained by the enteral straps to keep them upright. A strap down the fact and down the back. A lot of the time I never bothered strapping any but the last two.
So your internal straps go on forever
You’re dam right! I was only ONE when I was on the rigids that actually took care of their straps. The rest either didn’t have any or left them dangling, getting crushed and ruined by the forklifts.
bald bloke:
Don’t say “no straps are needed” because they are but basically as I said it’s down to the individual as to what he wants to do as it’s his license.
That’s what I said to my lad when he got his first job doing multidrop for a pallet network and he said nobody else does it. Told him if he got stopped and they didn’t see it strapped down he could kiss goodbye to £100 so that was all the incentive he needed. He still is the only person in the yard who straps their load down but he said that the forkies usually give him a hand to do it so it only takes a couple of minutes at tops.
bald bloke:
Don’t say “no straps are needed” because they are but basically as I said it’s down to the individual as to what he wants to do as it’s his license.
That’s what I said to my lad when he got his first job doing multidrop for a pallet network and he said nobody else does it. Told him if he got stopped and they didn’t see it strapped down he could kiss goodbye to £100 so that was all the incentive he needed. He still is the only person in the yard who straps their load down but he said that the forkies usually give him a hand to do it so it only takes a couple of minutes at tops.
It’s similar to the issue of carrying sand in bags or packs of bricks being better done on a drop sider or a tipper.IE assuming the packaging is too weak or the load too awkward to be properly secured by ropes/straps,it’s then a question of is a flat/curtainsider the correct type for the job,as opposed to a box trailer.
eagerbeaver:
If the pallet weighs less than 400 kgs, it is not required to be strapped.
Actually mate anything upto 400kgs should be secured by an internal strap going by VOSA/DSVA guidelines. Anything over 400kgs needs to be secured by other means. ■■■■■■■ stupid I know.
It’s like say you pick up a full load of bottled water on Euros do you can maybe get away with internals, what the ■■■■ is that internal strap holding? Only the pallet its self and what ever packs of water it is up against so say if the shrink wrap starts to come away of year then you are still going to get part of the load move, same with strapping kegs of beer out of Bulmers like we used to with trailers that didn’t have cargo nets intergrated into the trailers.
We load glass out of Allied Glass and Ardargh and I can tell you now that every load that goes out of these places going by VOSA/DSVA guidelines are not secured properly as you run with 52 pallets double stacked and you put 2 internals across and through the bottom of every 4th top pallet and down the side of the bottom pallet and that’s it.
Apart from 2 straps through the top pallets across and another 2 through the bottom pallets on the back end. They could have a field day if they pulled one up even though I’ve run with glass for 8 year and not had one load shift.
i got a pull recently 4 pallets of light fittings onboard with a strap across back ,the examiner suggested i put a couple over top next time even if not over tight so i met their rules so i mentioned the 400 kg limit and he just said ive given my advice its up to you if you follow it so it all gets fastened down now hope that helps
I was only one when I was on the rigids that actually took care of their straps. The rest either didn’t have any or left them dangling, getting crushed and ruined by the forklifts.