Truck drivers often transport heavy loads from one place to another. It’s absolutely vital that they secure those loads to prevent them from coming loose. If a load comes loose on the highway, it’s possible that other motorists could be hit and suffer serious injuries.
Take, for example, a woman who was in a crash when an entertainment center flew out of the back of an open trailer and into her vehicle. The unit had been tied down, but the force of the airspeed on a highway resulted in the unit coming loose. The woman hit by the entertainment center is now blind from the crash and advocates for securely loading vehicles.
It is necessary to properly secure loads, because improperly secured loads become extremely dangerous to others. Debris, no matter how small, could cause a crash if it comes out of a trailer.
What can drivers do to be safer on the highways and roads?
To start with, get the right straps for securing loads. Bungee cords are used often, but they’re actually not good for securing heavy products. Bungee cords are made with rope, and ropes aren’t rated for weight.
It’s better to use cargo nets and ratchet straps. Ratchet straps are rated for load weights, which are well-below their actual breaking strength. To make sure the straps never break, it’s advised to use them on loads no more than twice their working load limits.
Drivers of all types need to understand how to properly secure loads. If they snap or come loose, others could be badly hurt or killed.
Source: Business Fleet, “Secure Your Load,” Annie Lubinsky, accessed March 15, 2018
