OK so you are given a unit and told to take trailer TR1 to ABC beverages and unload then get loaded up to go on your next run. So you have a peak under the curtains and see you have 26 pallets of cans of pop. They are shrink wrapped but not strapped down. You should be leaving now so you take the load as is and think well the next one I will strap the load down. However when the FLT tips you at ABC you discover your trailer has those centre straps that slide along the centre of the trailer. The policy of ABC beverages is that you are not allowed to clinb on the bed of the trailer whilst on their premises. Even if you could climb up you would be luck to get 3 straps that are working properly as half of them are damaged. Also the good ones are nicely trapped between the pallets when the FLT starts loading and you stand in the “safe area” thinking what excuse to give if the nice VOSA or whatever they are called now, man pulls you over and asks why you have not secured your load?
Have a look on the VOSA website, and all it does is tell you what is the best type of restraint to use, and how to secure the load. There is no mention of any legal requirement to strap the load, just the possibility that you could be prosecuted if someone is injured as result of an accident due to unsecured or badly loaded vehicle.
It appears to be a bit of a legal minefield.
There is also no mention of the minimum time required to carry out your vehicle checks, just a photo of what and where you should check for .
Times change but a good solid shrinkwrapped load like that, well jammed against the headboard isn’t going anywhere short of rolling the trailer. I would always want to strap the back pair so that they aren’t going to lean back if I set off a bit fast on a hill though.
I had a similar problem while driving a Hiab lorry for Jewson’s the past couple of weeks. The truck had high fold-up sides, and you could hook the straps onto a lip under the bed, but to do that you had to prop the side up a bit, and as soon as you let it go, it would push the hook off the lip. I resorted to using some wooden signs I found around the yard to prop the sides up, but even then they sometimes loaded goods so close to the sides that there was no room for the ratchet. They said use the hooks (which is illegal for every purpose except securing sheeting) or put the straps outside the sides, which would mean it wasn’t secure, as the sides creak and jolt as the truck moves – the time I did this, I got to the drop sites and found that one of the hooks had fallen off, so the load wasn’t secure. Good job I was only going a couple of miles down the road – any further and the load could have been shed. They said the other driver didn’t have a problem and they wouldn’t change things just for me.
The truck was nice enough (a MAN with a manual 8-speed gearbox) and the HMF crane worked fine. It was a hook crane (it was originally a grab but the normal driver hates grabs, and they found that the grab had to be located centrally, which meant there was less room for goods) and that meant I got a bit of practice using a hook. But I was tempted to quit more than once, and I don’t think I’ll be going back there.
I’ve just taken all the internal straps out of mine and I’ll use ratchets and if necessary corner pieces to stop crushing.
They just seem to get in the way and I recall they were only legal up to 400kg. Most stuff I carry well over that so decided to fully ditch them. Have one set at very back purely to hold curtains back if needed don’t use them for load security.
Thought VOSA lot now insist every load secured in someway? Can’t just secure last pallet?
dcgpx:
I’ve just taken all the internal straps out of mine and I’ll use ratchets and if necessary corner pieces to stop crushing.
They just seem to get in the way and I recall they were only legal up to 400kg. Most stuff I carry well over that so decided to fully ditch them. Have one set at very back purely to hold curtains back if needed don’t use them for load security.
Thought VOSA lot now insist every load secured in someway? Can’t just secure last pallet?
Realise that if a load bearing etc, but on my lowly rigid it’s not and I’ve seen many artics just close normal curtains hauling same I pick up and think why are you thinking any different just cos a trailer. Load doesn’t go headboard to back doors or even side to side but they never seem to strap anything down?
Am I wasting time strapping it down or are they risking it?
My licence so I’ll continue to spend that extra whatever minutes strapping just makes me wonder .
For those that are carrying their OWN straps you are doing a great job and by hec do the bosses know it. Go to Morans now and haul milk for Arla and you have to bring your own straps! As if the pay is not bad enough? Next think you know you will be sewing the rips in curtains and repairing the trucks for them After all those bosses need all the help they can get, Mrs moran wants a new mink coat for xmas…
The fact is that you are not given time or the equipment or indeed the opportunity to strap loads down. I have worked for quite a few firms now that either don’t provide the straps or the customer (coca cola, Tesco etc.) is doing the loading and you can’t get at the straps anyway, you are told to do a trailer swap and given time to do just that. The exception was at Malcoms I had heavy duty ratchet straps for British Gypsum and at YDS I had a full set for concrete pillars. Potters at Selby insist you strap the spaghetti sauce down out of greencore since a few loads were dropped by drivers going crazy around bends although the runs were so hectic I just strapped a cross on the back and was careful going around bends, only running from Selby to Bibbys in Leeds/Bradford airport! The trouble with our industry is there are too many drivers trying to be very clever and fighting the bosses corner, when Vosa fine you I wonder if your boss will do the decent thing and come to your rescue?
Radar19:
Whats so wrong with carrying a set of your own straps? What if you get a trailer with a load that needs strapping but there none to be found?
I think the point is that your boss should supply you with ratchet straps to secure the load . And if you are doing a change over and there is no straps on the other trailer you take yours of the last one
Radar19:
Whats so wrong with carrying a set of your own straps? What if you get a trailer with a load that needs strapping but there none to be found?
Thing is Radar it’s not your responsibility to provide adequate straps, it’s theirs.
I assume you mean by you’ve your own they’ve given you them , but if they are not enough for your particular load when out and about what do you do?
I’ve my own as such in that they are in a box in the back but I’ve fought hard to get 10 sets. They said 6 would be enough, even though my truck can carry 8 pallet rows and has 8 strap hook points on the bed, till I stood my corner and said if I as driver needed more than 6 then that truck doesn’t move. Gave in as I kicked a fuss so I got my 10 and corner pieces asked for since January!
Radar19:
Whats so wrong with carrying a set of your own straps? What if you get a trailer with a load that needs strapping but there none to be found?
I think the point is that your boss should supply you with ratchet straps to secure the load . And if you are doing a change over and there is no straps on the other trailer you take yours of the last one
True but I always like to keep a set for myself. The ones I have in mine (rigid) are for hooking into those eye rings but sometimes the pallets don’t line up so I have proper under body hooks for that.
Radar19:
Whats so wrong with carrying a set of your own straps? What if you get a trailer with a load that needs strapping but there none to be found?
Thing is Radar it’s not your responsibility to provide adequate straps, it’s theirs.
I assume you mean by you’ve your own they’ve given you them , but if they are not enough for your particular load when out and about what do you do?
I’ve my own as such in that they are in a box in the back but I’ve fought hard to get 10 sets. They said 6 would be enough till I stood my corner and said if I as driver needed more than 6 then that truck doesn’t move. Gave in as I kicked a fuss so I got my 10 and corner pieces asked for since January!
I have about 9 or 10 that were already with the truck when I started but I have a set of under hook ones. I don’t always need them but they are useful when I do.
Radar19:
Whats so wrong with carrying a set of your own straps? What if you get a trailer with a load that needs strapping but there none to be found?
I think the point is that your boss should supply you with ratchet straps to secure the load . And if you are doing a change over and there is no straps on the other trailer you take yours of the last one
True but I always like to keep a set for myself. The ones I have in mine (rigid) are for hooking into those eye rings but sometimes the pallets don’t line up so I have proper under body hooks for that.
The under the body hooks have no load factor and VOSA will do you if you are securing to those. Strapping down should be to the body of the truck, the hooks underneath are for fly sheets to protect from rain.
If you are off work sick or holiday and an agency driver is filling in then is he supposed to bring his own straps? It is the companies responsibility by law to provide all equipment for a driver to do his job within the law.
Radar19:
Whats so wrong with carrying a set of your own straps? What if you get a trailer with a load that needs strapping but there none to be found?
I think the point is that your boss should supply you with ratchet straps to secure the load . And if you are doing a change over and there is no straps on the other trailer you take yours of the last one
True but I always like to keep a set for myself. The ones I have in mine (rigid) are for hooking into those eye rings but sometimes the pallets don’t line up so I have proper under body hooks for that.
The under the body hooks have no load factor and VOSA will do you if you are securing to those. Strapping down should be to the body of the truck, the hooks underneath are for fly sheets to protect from rain.
Tangent : The Ratchetshop is where I got my EasyWinder from last week! Best thing I’ve bought since started driving, 10 secs to tightly wind a strap to store away, brilliant!
Used it Friday when got back to yard as I just threw all straps into back so could get to yard ASAP.
Couple minutes all wound up and put away, few drivers noticed and wanted to know where from as they’ve not thought of getting one, good job I’m lazy or I might not have !
After all those bosses need all the help they can get, Mrs moran wants a new mink coat for xmas…