Would VOSA look down upon pallets that haven’t been strapped down in a curtain sider? Reason I ask is because sometimes where I work the forkie stacks two pallets on top of each other and if I chuck straps over them even the slightest bit of tension (enough to stop it moving) will just destroy whatever is on top of the pallet.
Just ask yourself if the load is secure■■? If it is can see a major problem in a curtain sider
Sam Millar:
Would VOSA look down upon pallets that haven’t been strapped down in a curtain sider? Reason I ask is because sometimes where I work the forkie stacks two pallets on top of each other and if I chuck straps over them even the slightest bit of tension (enough to stop it moving) will just destroy whatever is on top of the pallet.
The way I see it, if a company wants to double stack pallets on your trailer then that’s their shout. As long as you secure the pallets in which ever means possible and you feel confident that it is secure and the load is fit for the road, then it’s job done for you. It’s their problem if the straps damage the goods. If they don’t like it then don’t double stack.
Vosa comment from Motor Transport 03/09/12
" In general the securing system should be able to withstand 100% of the load forward and half of the load to each side. She added that rope,standard curtainsiders and the buckle straps on the roof rail of a standard curtainsider should not generally be regarded as part of the load securing system. Standard curtains are just weather protection"
There is plenty more but that probably answers your question.
SD
Unless it’s something particularly tall that you don’t want to fall backwards strapping wrapped standard pallets of goods is an utter waste of time.
The risk to health and safety in attempting to strap it is far greater than any risk presented by the absence of straps but some people seem too daft to see this.
Theoretically if you wanted to strap the top layer of double stacked pallets down you would need to put upside down pallets on top and then strap chances are you’ll still just crush the cardboard and you’ll have at least a foot of slack in the strap when you arrive or the strap hook will have come loose and be swinging around at the side of the trailer.
I’d just use internal straps to stop them falling backwards. If it warrants ratchet straps then 2 high is too much if it will crush them.
Internal straps if you’ve got them, to be fair though your never gonna secure it properly in a uk trailer so just throw them in and get down the road.
Saaamon:
Internal straps if you’ve got them, to be fair though your never gonna secure it properly in a uk trailer so just throw them in and get down the road.
What the problem is concerns the H&S and VOSA guidelines which states that loads must be securely fastened “down” to the deck. That is where these infernal straps fail, all they do is nip the top of the load together and they hang off a central rail which is only as strong as the lightweight roof 
Wheel Nut:
Saaamon:
Internal straps if you’ve got them, to be fair though your never gonna secure it properly in a uk trailer so just throw them in and get down the road.What the problem is concerns the H&S and VOSA guidelines which states that loads must be securely fastened “down” to the deck. That is where these infernal straps fail, all they do is nip the top of the load together and they hang off a central rail which is only as strong as the lightweight roof
Thats why i ment about not being able to secure it properly in a uk trailer. Boards, slip mats, and a load lock in a euro trailer and that would be find.
Would throwing the strap through the actual top pallet achieve a similar effect without risking a crush?
I think VOSA must have shares in a European trailer manufacturer as it seems the humble UK curtain will be outlawed, to be replaced with euro liners or Boxvans with deck bars
dew:
Would throwing the strap through the actual top pallet achieve a similar effect without risking a crush?
That’s the accepted way to do it. Very difficult to get the strap right accross thru’ 2 pallets though, so you come out the back of the one pallet, around the corner block of it & its neighbour, then thru’ the other pallet and so back out the other side.
The problem comes if the trailer is preloaded, it can’t be done.
Personally I don’t think they need strapping down half of the time but I’m a new driver only using curtainsiders since the start of August, so I’m not sure whether it’s because of my inexperience that I’m in this frame of mind.
Unfortunately I don’t have any internal straps and I feel that 95% of the time the pallets do not need strapping down but as we know it’s our argument against VOSA and we’re the one’s doing the practical job.
Sam Millar:
Personally I don’t think they need strapping down half of the time but I’m a new driver only using curtainsiders since the start of August, so I’m not sure whether it’s because of my inexperience that I’m in this frame of mind.Unfortunately I don’t have any internal straps and I feel that 95% of the time the pallets do not need strapping down but as we know it’s our argument against VOSA and we’re the one’s doing the practical job.
I tend to work for the supermarkets from time to time, palletised goods usually and the curtains are load bearing. So unless the load is unstable or particularly likely to fall for some reason…just drive steadily and you’ll be fine. They never move as a rule.
If the curtains aren’t load bearing it’s probably best to strap them down. Load bearing curtains are just that remember - they aren’t invincible so drive carefully. 
Truckulent:
Sam Millar:
Personally I don’t think they need strapping down half of the time but I’m a new driver only using curtainsiders since the start of August, so I’m not sure whether it’s because of my inexperience that I’m in this frame of mind.Unfortunately I don’t have any internal straps and I feel that 95% of the time the pallets do not need strapping down but as we know it’s our argument against VOSA and we’re the one’s doing the practical job.
I tend to work for the supermarkets from time to time, palletised goods usually and the curtains are load bearing. So unless the load is unstable or particularly likely to fall for some reason…just drive steadily and you’ll be fine. They never move as a rule.
If the curtains aren’t load bearing it’s probably best to strap them down. Load bearing curtains are just that remember - they aren’t invincible so drive carefully.
I always driving knowingly that I haven’t strapped something down just in case it did fall, I’m a sucker for pulling my curtains really tight and making sure they’re solid too.
Sam Millar:
Truckulent:
Sam Millar:
Personally I don’t think they need strapping down half of the time but I’m a new driver only using curtainsiders since the start of August, so I’m not sure whether it’s because of my inexperience that I’m in this frame of mind.Unfortunately I don’t have any internal straps and I feel that 95% of the time the pallets do not need strapping down but as we know it’s our argument against VOSA and we’re the one’s doing the practical job.
I tend to work for the supermarkets from time to time, palletised goods usually and the curtains are load bearing. So unless the load is unstable or particularly likely to fall for some reason…just drive steadily and you’ll be fine. They never move as a rule.
If the curtains aren’t load bearing it’s probably best to strap them down. Load bearing curtains are just that remember - they aren’t invincible so drive carefully.
I always driving knowingly that I haven’t strapped something down just in case it did fall, I’m a sucker for pulling my curtains really tight and making sure they’re solid too.
Ahh, so you’re the git that’s bent all the bars 
waynedl:
Ahh, so you’re the git that’s bent all the bars
+1
ha, probably not. I’m only 8stone 10 so don’t have a massive amount of strength but I didn’t mean the bar at either side of the curtain, i just make sure that’s tight “enough”.
On a side note, our forky completely bent the pole at the front side of the curtain the other day and then, get this, rebent it with the forkie!
Sam Millar:
ha, probably not. I’m only 8stone 10 so don’t have a massive amount of strength but I didn’t mean the bar at either side of the curtain, i just make sure that’s tight “enough”.On a side note, our forky completely bent the pole at the front side of the curtain the other day and then, get this, rebent it with the forkie!
About the same as my legs then!!! 
(almost!)