you just have to visit a supermarket ndc to see how many hauliers do not bother to strap loads even though they’re sat there dangling on the floor at the back of the trailer or wedge in the headboard and i’m talking about big blue chip logistics companies not just joe bloggs and sons. but you can bet your last pound that if VOSA are pulling anyone in its going to be joe.
fingers:
you just have to visit a supermarket ndc to see how many hauliers do not bother to strap loads even though they’re sat there dangling on the floor at the back of the trailer or wedge in the headboard and i’m talking about big blue chip logistics companies not just joe bloggs and sons. but you can bet your last pound that if VOSA are pulling anyone in its going to be joe.
This
A Distribution Depot rumour I heard a couple of months ago was if the rigid curtainsider is like mine where the rear folding door is knackered and so it remains up but like me you have an old fashion vertical fold down tail lift that acts as rear doors, Vosa will do you because the body isn’t an enclosed compartment - anybody heard this one?
Foxstein:
I always love the “gravity will hold it” " if I drive to the conditions it wont move" “the curtains are load bearing” attitude. I wonder if they just sit their toddler on the back seat and hope for the best as well, after all if they drive with a bit of care it’ll be alright and it cant fall out cos the doors will hold it in
.
This labels where on Armstrong curtain which I thought were a week known curtain manufacture and would not put it on there curtains if it never mentioned something.
So as for you comment I was only asking the question and was hoping for a good answer.
Curtains are secured to a section of aluminium channel with pop rivets & small plastic wheels… How many drivers REALLY believe that these components will hold the load in the trailer if you have to take “emergency accident avoiding maneuvers” ■■?
norfolktrucker:
Curtains are secured to a section of aluminium channel with pop rivets & small plastic wheels… How many drivers REALLY believe that these components will hold the load in the trailer if you have to take “emergency accident avoiding maneuvers” ■■?
How does a chip liner manage 
So in theory if you had 26 pallets of electrical goods on e.g toasters or kettles wrapped in film you’d have to strap them internally? We do a lot for spectrum in Wolverhampton which is all electrical goods, the pallets are no more than a metre high and theres no weight to them and there never double stacked. So in theory should such as this have internals over it?
Danny.
cluffy66:
So in theory if you had 26 pallets of electrical goods on e.g toasters or kettles wrapped in film you’d have to strap them internally? We do a lot for spectrum in Wolverhampton which is all electrical goods, the pallets are no more than a metre high and theres no weight to them and there never double stacked. So in theory should such as this have internals over it?Danny.
Yep at least one internal strap per pallet IMO. Toasters and kettles can do some damage flying about.
The whole ‘curtains will hold it’ logic carries little weight with VOSA, spend 15 - 30 minutes putting internals on and drive up the road safe in the knowledge you should be OK.
If trailer has insufficient internals to secure load it shouldn’t move and be taken off the road til new internals fitted.
one of ours was pulled and givin a fine for not securing his load of popcorn even though every pallet was secured with the trailers internal straps, vosa officer deemed them not too be sufficient and ratchet straps were required, driver was instructed too ratchet strap the load in order too get the pg9 lifted, driver got too delivery which was rejected due too load being damaged, firm appealed the pg9 and fine which was rejected.
Vosa don’t count the roof as load bearing which makes you wonder the point of some of these internal strap designs. I’ve personally never trusted them anyway, they look a bit half arsed when you’ve got them on. Not saying they can’t do the job it’s just I’d rather have it tied down over the top and pulled in at the back as well.
I think Culina had a recent run in with this and have had to fit new internals to each curtainsider, driver pulled had nothing on any pallet (yes been there done that).
Ratchet straps on lite loads with no structural integrity to support strap tension is crazy (eg food) but suppose thats VOSA applying the rules to the letter, sure theres a chart on one of these threads that pallets under 400kg are OK with just internals although an advisement is given.
Seen these bungee/sheet systems that look interesting, probably a PITA to use, anyone tried them.
Unless the LAW has been changed recently, VOSA has no authority to order you to open your trailer.
Dave.