Unsecure load in a container

A few weeks ago, I was tip and turning at London Gateway. Arrived at about 0330 hrs, was dead chuffed usualy a quick T&T at Gateway, was looking for a tidy Saturday morning finish. Got the export off went to location for Import and got that on sharpish within 25 minutes I was heading to the out gate “result” :smiley: .

The Port speed is 20 mph, and as I approached the camera tunnel I eased of the throttle to slow as I went through, I felt a lump on the trailer, I eased onto throttle to move onto the first check point, and felt the lump again, this time pulling backwards, bearing in mind I’m varying between 10-20 mph. As I approached the first check point I used the brakes, gently, but it was enough to make what ever was inside the Container hit the front, with some force, I pulled up at the terminal, instead of swiping My card, I phoned the night planner, and asked what the hell was in the container, I knew it was 27 ton, but not what the cargo was, He told me aluminium, but he knew no more than that, I told him that it wasn’t leaving the port, and he said he’d make some enquiries. So I pressed the intercom and told the port what was going on ,and if there was anywhere I could park, to which I was told, either leave the port or return the container to stack, to which I says its returning to stack then. so the container was left at the Out of Gauge yard and I had to go to the truck park and await further instructions.

Any way further to this, I have since found out, what was in the Container. It was loaded with Aluminium tube, which was totally unsecured, with room to slide forwards and backwards. In the event of an emergency stop, I reckon that lot would have come through the front of the Container, in the unlikely event that the 450 Scania found Ferrari acceleration, it would have been out the back door.

That’s the first time in about 8 years on Container work, that I’ve refused a Box, but I’m bloody glad I did, and went with gut instinct :wink:

Let me ask Eddie… You pick up these containers …yet how do you know the load is secure enough ?.. arnt you allowed to open it at the port to ensure its secure… what if DVSA pull you over… Wont you get in dead doo doo…

ChunkyChunk:
Let me ask Eddie… You pick up these containers …yet how do you know the load is secure enough ?.. arnt you allowed to open it at the port to ensure its secure… what if DVSA pull you over… Wont you get in dead doo doo…

No you cant open them, and never let anyone other than customs or the customer open it.

As far as the DVSA are concerned, provided the twist locks are secured, thats the responsibility of the driver covered. You have to just use your experience to gauge how the container is handling as to how well the load is secured, and to be honest, they are normal loose boxes, crammed in floor to ceiling, so no movement is likely.

A lot of the time, unless its a regular customer, we don’t even know what the cargo is, unless its ADR.

I had a similar case at Felixstowe. As I came out of the booking out gate the lad was rolling into the front and back of the box. I knew it was a load of metal secured on frames having been there before. I rang my planner and eventually took the box to pentalvers outside the dock gate to be unlaced and secured. Like your load Eddie, the box was better part of 30t.

Dread to think what could have happened…

Just proves, that old seat of the pants feel for what’s happening is just as important today as its ever been.

Nice one Eddie that’s bang on the right thing to do IMHO and your arse is nicely covered (unless you didn’t have a belt on).

Haven’t had it myself but one of our drivers refused a load that was insecure. Office tried to pressure him as customer was moaning, in the end it was properly secured which took less time than all the politics with everyone having their say.
Fair do’s to the one of the head honchos who said its the drivers call.

Juddian:
Just proves, that old seat of the pants feel for what’s happening is just as important today as its ever been.

Its the unquantifiable difference between a Driver and a Steering Wheel attendant :wink:

madmackem:
I had a similar case at Felixstowe. As I came out of the booking out gate the lad was rolling into the front and back of the box. I knew it was a load of metal secured on frames having been there before. I rang my planner and eventually took the box to pentalvers outside the dock gate to be unlaced and secured. Like your load Eddie, the box was better part of 30t.

Dread to think what could have happened…

In your gut, you knew what could happen, and that’s why you took the right action :wink:

Dipper_Dave:
Nice one Eddie that’s bang on the right thing to do IMHO and your arse is nicely covered (unless you didn’t have a belt on).

Haven’t had it myself but one of our drivers refused a load that was insecure. Office tried to pressure him as customer was moaning, in the end it was properly secured which took less time than all the politics with everyone having their say.
Fair do’s to the one of the head honchos who said its the drivers call.

Apparently it took a week for them to argue over who was responsible for the costs of returning the container to stack(extra handling charges) and as to who would pay to open it and secure it. What a load of cow dung :wink:

I have refused to take containers that are badly loaded before and taken some abuse from customers but I have always been backed up by the firm.