The accident statistics speak for themselves: even today, up to 20% of all accidents are attributed to improperly secured cargo, despite all of the existing means and laws to prevent this from happening.
It is possible to safely secure any cargo if you have the necessary knowledge and a sense of responsibility.
This essay will discuss the principles, the present legal climate, and the best methods for safeguarding cargo.
The property of mass is called inertia
The formula for force is the product of mass times velocity. Once a mass is in motion, it will keep moving in the same direction, and changing that direction will require a significant amount of force.
On its own, the mass will exert opposing forces of equal or greater magnitude.
As a result, moving a mass dynamically by making many direction adjustments demands a lot of work from the person executing the movement.
The direction along which the force acts in freight transport
This becomes obvious when one observes a load’s movements while it is being transported: After coming to a stop, the vehicle begins to accelerate, and a slight dip can be seen in the back.
The loaded object applies a back pressure and pulls in the opposite direction when mounted. When traveling around a bend in the road, the vehicle will lean to the outside of the turn.
Because the mass is bent on preserving its linear motion, it pulls in the opposite direction from the direction in which it first traveled.
When the brakes are applied, the vehicle tends to slide back onto the front axle. The weight of the load exerts a force on the front of the chassis because it is trying to move in the same direction as before.
There is a great deal more activity going on inside the truck. Lashing straps, nets, packaging, bolts, and anything else used to secure the load absorb and transmit any unwanted movements of the goods to the truck chassis.
In an ideal world, events would transpire in this manner. However, in practice, cargo securing is frequently neglected, which can have consequences from a legal standpoint.
You just put the cover back on
Many shipping companies operate under the assumption that “nothing can happen to a suitcase.”
As a result of the closed outer walls, the goods cannot escape and fall off the loading surface; consequently, it is sufficiently secured.
However, this is not the situation. A load’s movement through the compartment can potentially create hazardous conditions. Among these are the following:
– Skidding and falling
– Rollovers
– Breaking through the wall that surrounds the city
– Passing through the entrances
– Causing catastrophic damage to the driver’s compartment due to unexpectedly hard braking
If cargo is moved into a space with a small volume, it will almost likely experience harm if it is not secured properly. Therefore, it is avoidable to not correctly stow and ensure the goods are in the vehicle’s cargo area.
Constantly adjust to the workload
The kind of cargo transported should always guide the freight securing method chosen.
A distinction is made between:
– Liquids
– Bulk material
– General cargo
– Delicate cargo
Tanker trucks are always the best option for moving large quantities of liquids because they have such a large capacity.
It is the most practical approach for securing the load currently in use. Operating a large tank is always a difficult task. Mainly if there is still some room left in it.
A possible concern is presented by the liquid’s constant back-and-forth motion, especially around curves.
We are dealing with bulk materials a great deal less complicated. High frictional forces are always generated on the inside of a loose and dry mass.
Sand, granular material, gravel, scrap metal, or screws—the individual parts engage and prevent liquid-like movement. This holds regardless of the material.
However, the action of bulk material can also occur when load changes occur too quickly. Driving with dry mass can be difficult when this happens because bulk material does not compensate as soon as liquids do.
The worst-case scenario is that the vehicle loses its balance and topples over.
General cargo means anything that can be stashed on pallets or boxes or stored loose in the cargo space or surface. In this scenario, there is always a need for an appropriate securing system.
especially if the cargo is susceptible to harm. Many specialized containers are designed specifically for this purpose, all of which contribute to safely delivering highly fragile goods to their final location.
The logistics industry also provides a diverse selection of vehicles capable of transporting almost any kind of cargo securely.
The following types of trucks are the most common:
– Air trucks with low beds that can transport large individual pieces
– Dump trucks for bulk material
– Tanker trucks for liquids
– Dump trucks for all types of containers, general merchandise, and individual parts
– Enclosed cargo vans for transporting general goods of any kind that require additional safety measures
– Unique vehicles that have been constructed in a specific manner
As a result, it is essential always to select the appropriate truck for the load you will be transporting.
It is also possible to transport water in an open-top dump truck; however, knowing how much water makes it to its destination is impossible.
Sand could also be loaded into a moving van for furniture if the driver knew proper cleanup procedures.
Thankfully, modern-day logistics departments provide the appropriate container, truck, and means of securing cargo for all types of goods.
Cargo securing for all different kinds of goods
In the modern world, the following techniques are employed to secure cargo:
– Securing straps for lashing loads
– Chains
– Bolts
– Nets and tarpaulins
– Anti-slip mats
– Barriers
These means serve the purpose of retaining the goods in an adherent and secure position.
When we talk about adherence in this context, we mean that the goods are held in place by a force that has been applied.
It is possible to achieve both adhesion and fixation by securing a long good using tensioning straps stretched along the loading surface to achieve the desired length.
When it comes to this particular method of fastening, the adhesion works in the longitudinal direction: The clamping force of the straps and the frictional force of the floor, which is best improved by the addition of non-slip mats, work together to stop the goods from moving either forward or backward.
Conversely, lateral securing guarantees that the object is maintained in place by creating physical barriers with the tensioned fastening straps.
Before the load can slide laterally off the loading surface, it must first break the straps holding it.
Using straps to secure cargo is the most typical way to do it. They are available in various strength classes, ranging from narrow lashing straps that are highly robust for heavy loads to lightweight but sturdy lashing straps designed for roof racks.
In the modern world, joining straps by themselves can offer a dependable and secure technique for attaching heavy gear and even enormous steel pipes.
Loads that stick out more than one meter above the loading surface are required to have an additional caution flag attached to them in the color red.
This alerts drivers to the fact that an elongated component is sticking out.
The chain tie-down is superior to the strap for securing massive items during transport, but the belt is ideal for securing smaller items.
The handling of it is noticeably more difficult and laborious, but it guarantees the highest possible level of safety.
When dealing with specialized transportation, it is frequently necessary to “tie the load directly to the load surface” (tie the load).
This does call for specialized constructions. In such situations, the truck is typically custom-built to accommodate only this cargo.
In the construction of machines and vehicles, such solutions frequently present themselves.
The advantage of having a tightly bolted and lignified load is that it allows for maximum security, and when utilizing this solution, loading and unloading the cargo is often completed in a brief amount of time.
Nets are straightforward tools that prevent a loose and light load from being carried away by the wind.
They are typically mounted in open boxes or debris troughs when they are installed. When the load is more acceptable, the net should be narrower to accommodate it.
The use of tarps provides the highest possible level of security here. In addition, they offer some degree of protection from the elements.
Barriers are load-bearing elements that can be hinged or inserted into the load surface and locked into place.
In addition to preventing the load from moving around, they offer an additional point of anchorage for the lashing straps. The flexible barriers improve the usability of both low and high loaders and vans.
Keep a close eye on the point of gravity at all times
The distribution of the goods across the loading surface is the first step in load securing.
The items are laid out across the loading surface of the truck in such a way that the center of gravity is positioned as precisely in the middle of the area as is humanly possible.
This is of utmost significance for transport trailers with only a single axle: Through the coupling, the trailer will raise the rear of the vehicle it is being pulled by if the vehicle’s center of gravity is too far in the end.
On the other hand, if the center of gravity is moved forward excessively, the clutch will pull the rear axle downward and lift the front wheels of the vehicle being towed.
Both axle loads are highly unfavorable, making driving a lot more challenging. If this is the case, it will be nearly impossible to travel without sliding at some point during the trip.
It is essential to remember that single-axle trailers are always loaded and unloaded before being mounted, which is another crucial reason why this is so important.
When the trailer is hitched up to the vehicle pulling it, it prevents it from tilting to one side.
In the absence of load securing, you are also able to
It is also possible to transport a significant quantity of general cargo without employing any additional cargo securing methods.
In most cases, the use of straps to secure available merchandise, such as pallets of boxes, is not required if the merchandise precisely conforms to the loading surface and is positioned safely.
The goods must, however, be unloaded in their entirety at all times to satisfy the requirement. Once there are voids in the load, the load can be shifted once more.
In this scenario, taking precautions to secure the load is required.
