Driver, secure that freight!

[Streakn1]

This post may be more appropriate placed in the Newbies section but I feel we all need to read this one. Seasoned drivers have also made this mistake in the past.

When a driver accepts and signs for a load at the shipper or even in a transfer of trailers (if you're an e-unit) you, the driver, takes
"FULL" responsibility of that load. This includes how it was loaded and secured at the shipper. Of course, if this was a pre-loaded/pre-sealed trailer, then you are somewhat at a disadvantage. We've been known in the past when we drove 18's to ask permission to break the seal, inspect the load, and reseal the load before leaving the shipper's yard.You are the one that has to safely haul it. You have the right and responsibility to tell a shipper you are not happy with how they loaded your truck (or trailer).

Recently there was a roll over accident involing an e- unit (company name un-important) that should have never happened. Thank God nobody was seriously hurt. My point here is this could have been avoided simply by securing the freight with straps or blocking on the floor.

The truck was loaded with 40,000 lbs of liquid totes single filed down the center of the box. It doesn't matter if your floor is aluminum or wood, with the right conditions these totes will slide and over you will go. I've seen 18's go over at 25 mph getting on at an on ramp because their UNSECURED totes slid to one side. Dont think just because you're a B,C or D unit this wont happen to you.

Bottom line here, there is always a way to secure your load. If not and you aren't sure of the safety in hauling it, then DONT. We've even had shippers ask us why are we going to all of the trouble to secure the load that way, and then go on to say we dont need to do that. Of course, they can stand there and say that because they aren't going to be the responsible party when you roll over or show up at the receiver with freight damage! I personally would rather a company fire me for doing the right thing than for having a preventable accident. I dont think most Expedite companies would let you go for saying NO!

 

[RichM]

The way I secure totes that I load down the middle, is to use a E track strap attached to the wall in front of the tote then wrapping it around the rear of the tote and securing the other side also in the front. This way the tote cannot slide in either direction.

 

[redytrk]

We were once dispatched to rescue/assist a "D"truck who`s 2 Totes had shifted.

When we got there the police had already arrived,and said that they found both drivers sitting in the drivers seat hopping to keep the truck from turning over. A wrecker was working to adjust the load.
This truck had no securement devices of any kind.We used our straps and load bars to secure everything.FECC paid us to follow them the remaining 200 miles so we could recover our equipment.

One of the drivers asked me why they had been rerouted off the PA turnpike. Well DUH!!! Tunnels. When encountering a construction zone,they dropped a wheel off the sholder,causing the load to shift.
Driver felt it was all FECC fault for making them get off the turnpike.

 

[highway star]

I don't know how many totes were involved, but it seems it would have been better to have a group in the nose and a group over the trailer axles. Three load bars would keep everything in place.

 

[FIS53]

AH the memory of shifting freight. Years ago in a van I had a load only going 5 miles. Didn't strap bar or nothing. Off I go doing the speed limit but at an intersection (big one) a car going across failed to stop at the red light (my light was green for over 15 seconds). I slammed on the brakes and that 1500lb skid came up fast. Luckly I had my bed behind me. It went from 6ft to 2ft in about 1 second. I thought about the drivers seat if the bed had not taken the hit. Had to buy new bed. Needless to say load was non profitable after that.
Rob Fis

 

[LDB]

I start out with bars across the front of the load at the floor to hold the skid and at the correct height to hold the cargo. The skids go on by 2's and if there is a single left it goes in the center rear. I then use straps latched in the etrack next to the pair of skids ahead of the single. That forms a large U around the last skid and when pulled tight won't allow it to shift more than a very few inches at most. I've had dock people tell me "you don't need those straps, it's not going anywhere". I just say "maybe not but now I'm even more certain".

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 4958, 5447
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[Streakn1]

Getting some great securement recommendations thus far. Yes we used to do a block of totes towards the nose of the trailer and a block over the tandems. Keep in mind that sometimes the totes are to wide to place two side by side. Then your only options are to center them single file or do a stagger pattern. In our DR-unit we stagger if there are four and strap each to the wall with bars front and back. If we have less we center them single file and over strap them to the bottom e-track plus load bar front and rear. Of course we're always open to new and better ideas on load securement.

 

[greg334]

You know it isn’t only when you are on the road you should secure the load. When ever the truck is moved – secure the load.

I got a bunch of examples but the one that comes to mind is the trucker who opened his doors at the guard shack and unsecured the load. These were racks of engines and transmissions. The road to the docks had a nice hill after the turn past the guard shack. Well he hit the hill and out came a lot of the racks with a few engines and transmissions in them.

The customer was not happy.

 

[Moot]

I see no mention of blocking. I know it's not practicle to carry a lumber yard, but 6 or 8 pieces of 2ft. 2x4's and some duplex nails come in handy for securing freight. Blocking the sides of a tote would keep it from shifting sideways and straps or load bars would secure it fore and aft.

I have hauled paper roll stock. It was common to "single" a few rolls down the center. The shipper, that's right the shipper nailed 2x4's along the sides of the single rolls and blocked any roll that wasn't in contact with another roll or the front or sides of the trailer.

Does anyone carry 4x8 plywood for decking or partitioning, or is there no real need for this.

 

[LDB]

I can't imagine unsecuring until at the dock. I don't even unlock the door until I'm positioned and have the dolly legs down. That's one of the advantages and reasons why I went with a rollup door. I'll never again have a forklift driver rolling in before I choose for him to.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 4958, 5447
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[outwardbound 2]

ah but then there is the docks that they don't alow you on. so you must move your truck to climb up into it to secure your load and any other equipment that they may have moved out of there way. I hate them places x(

 

[ATeam]

When shippers tell us we do not have to secure the freight as much as we do, our standard reply is, "We've never had a freight damage claim and we don't want one on this load either." No shipper has ever said anything further about over-securing the load.

 

[cheri1122]

I like the sockets for Etrack, with a 2x6 or 2x8, both in front & behind the pallet(s) - it has held firm, even in a near-panic stop. I don't want to damage the freight, or my vehicle, or me either! I have at least 6 ratchet straps, but usually find the sockets & boards are enough - plus, they're faster, & don't take much space. And - they are easy to clean! (The straps just attract black grease, somehow) And last, but not least - I didn't have to ask how to put them together! :+

 

[simon says]

Not sure what you mean by "sockets" I learned from Hercules spec about "hog rings" in the floor. Most of you have seen them- 3 sets of two at 60,90, and 120" or whatever. Has anyone used these?? I guess one could get three ratchet straps with the hooks on end, and use them for strapping over the top? If or when I get a new box, I think they are a good idea for that, especially if hauling a delicate piece of equipment, etc. I think A-Teams approach by pairing things with bars is the best. I never load down the middle anymore.

I once had 5 heavy bins down the middle, and at Sherperdsville, KY the last three moved to the left wall on the exit ramp. I put a load bar between the last one and the wall and tried to move it toward center, and immediately, the bar slipped and hit me on top of the head. After much bleeding and a bad ##### white boy doo-rag affixed, I went to a nearby industrial area, and someone moved them for me.

 

[Streakn1]

As for the places that "dont allow the driver(s) on their dock during loading/unloading",we simply reply "we own the truck and one of us will be present while loadin/unloading".If the insist not, we reply with "we've had shipper/receivers personnel steal items from our box in the past,we trust nobody since then.How bad do you need your freight moved today? We can leave if thats your choice". We've not been turned away yet!

Furthermore, we dont need customers like that.An expedite truck is not some cheap fleet owned trailer,etc that they can tear up and walk away without being held responsible. Problem with not being present while loading/unloading is this, prove they stole from you or damaged the truck or freight. We had a damage claim paid after a PPG forklift driver damaged our box. Had we not been present when this happened, they would not have paid the claim.:-(

 

[DannyD]

I see others have had scary instances too. I had a 3600 pound load that rolled forward on me. I had secured the freight, or so I thought. I had strapped the freight in from both the front & the back. I had rollers in my van the same as Geo has. It never occurred to me that the strap could break. Anyways, as I was leaving the docks, coming up to the stop sign at the end of the lot, the front strap broke & all 3600 pounds came rolling forward. I lucked out that it didn't happen somewhere on the highway where I had to slam my breaks or chances are I'd be dead right now.

Lesson learned: Double or even triple secure your load. I'm back in a vehicle where securing the frieght is a lot easier. With two walls only 49 inches apart, I don't have to worry about it sliding side to side, but I still double up on securing things.

Be safe,
Danny

 

[greg334]

>I see others have had scary instances too. I had a 3600
>pound load that rolled forward on me. I had secured the
>freight, or so I thought. I had strapped the freight in from
>both the front & the back. I had rollers in my van the same
>as Geo has. It never occurred to me that the strap could
>break. Anyways, as I was leaving the docks, coming up to the
>stop sign at the end of the lot, the front strap broke & all
>3600 pounds came rolling forward. I lucked out that it
>didn't happen somewhere on the highway where I had to slam
>my breaks or chances are I'd be dead right now.
>
>Lesson learned: Double or even triple secure your load. I'm
>back in a vehicle where securing the frieght is a lot
>easier. With two walls only 49 inches apart, I don't have to
>worry about it sliding side to side, but I still double up
>on securing things.

I don't want to sound like an a** but how many of you replace your straps yearly or every two years.

Let me tell you why I ask.

I was going to tell you about the strap that snapped and hit someone I know in the back of the head, it was a year old strap but used a lot and he is now a vegie, but I won't.

I understand from a lot of people (the manufacuture for one) these straps are not perfect and long lasting, a lot of them fatigue with use and break down with exposure to chemicles like oil. It was suggest that if i use them as a primary thing to secure freight, maybe replace them every two years but only if you keep them clean. Also if your straps are made in China or India, they are not the same as the ones made down the street from me.

I always use them in conjuction with wood and e-track and have yet had a problem (knock on wood). Replacing my straps in July of 07.

 

[LDB]

I only use straps to keep things from moving side to side or to the rear. Load bars always go in front of the freight, one at floor level to block the skid and others in the higher spots depending on how tall the freight is. I don't trust a strap to keep the freight from sliding forward in a panic stop.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 4958, 5447
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[DannyD]

>I don't want to sound like an a** but how many of you
>replace your straps yearly or every two years.

No, far from being an a**, that could be life saving advice you're giving. Or as in the comment below from Leo, a loadbar would be even better. In my case, it was about the 3rd day I used the thing. Just for kicks, I kept using it, w/ another 2 sets, to see if something was wrong w/ the strap or if I did something wrong. Sure enough, this thing came off on a fairly regular basis.

Still, I wouldn't have thought of changing the ones that worked fine every few years. So that advice is a great idea. I'm back in my old van now & back to using the straps I've had since 1994 or so. (different straps for different vans) I'll be changing em this weekend. Great advice & thanx.

Be safe,
Danny

 

[cheri1122]

>Not sure what you mean by "sockets"

Sockets are brass (?) fixtures, they look like backwards bookends, fit into the Etrack, & hold a board between them. You can use a 2x4, but I like the 2x6, or 2x8 - it works better than straps, I think. I also got a couple rings that snap into the Etrack, but haven't found a use for them yet. I would use the straps with the boards, if the load seemed able to separate in the center, & tip over, but I haven't got one like that so far.