In a thread started by wombat52, reference to securing freight was made. He said he was hauling totes that shifted and contributed to an accident. It occured to me that a new thread on securing freight might be helpful to some readers. I'll start with hopes that others will jump in and share their techniques too.
There are many ways to secure freight. The photo below shows not the only right way, it shows one of several ways that may be right (trying to avoid arguements here). I do not have a photo of totes secured in our truck. If we had 1, 2 or 3, totes on board, we would secure them down the center, similar to the way shown (a C-unit only has space for six skids). Six totes would be secured three on each side. Five totes would be secured two on each side with the fifth one in the center. It would take a major impact for this load to shift.
This load (shrink wrapped by the shipper) is secured with six shoring beams (E-Track load bars), four ratchet straps and four plastic corner pieces. It is positioned in the center to balance the truck. The bars keep the freight from moving forward or rearward. One end of each strap clips into the E-track on the wall. The other end is then wrapped around the freight and clipped into the E-track on the same wall. When one strap is tightened, it tends to pull the freight toward that wall. When both straps are tightened, they work against each other and keep the freight snuggly in the center.
The straps are hooked to the wall inside the load bars or "inboard" of the box edges. That brings strap pressure to bear on all four corners of the box. If they were hooked "outboard" of the box, strap pressure would only apply to two corners.
Six bars are more than necessery. But if one happens to fall out, as can happen if the driver didn't get it in the E-Track just right and didn't check the bar before leaving the back, there will be five bars remaining to do the job. Four straps are more than necessary. The same reasoning applies.
On this freight, the plastic corner pieces keep the straps from digging into the box. On wooden crates, the corner pieces keep the rough lumber on the crate from damaging or cutting through the straps. On a tote, corner pieces would not be used as the rounded bars on the tote cage would not damage the straps or be damaged by them.
The load bar and yellow strap on the floor (bottom right) is to secure the pallet jack. After the photo was taken, the pallet jack was run under the pallet and secured there. It will be ready for a quick unload at the delivery (also keeps fork lifts off the truck).
The floor is not wet, as some people assume when they look at it. It is coated with Key Polymer Floor Restore to seal the wood and protect it from moisture. That product brings out the wood grain and gives it its high-gloss shine.
There are many ways to secure freight. The photo below shows not the only right way, it shows one of several ways that may be right (trying to avoid arguements here). I do not have a photo of totes secured in our truck. If we had 1, 2 or 3, totes on board, we would secure them down the center, similar to the way shown (a C-unit only has space for six skids). Six totes would be secured three on each side. Five totes would be secured two on each side with the fifth one in the center. It would take a major impact for this load to shift.
This load (shrink wrapped by the shipper) is secured with six shoring beams (E-Track load bars), four ratchet straps and four plastic corner pieces. It is positioned in the center to balance the truck. The bars keep the freight from moving forward or rearward. One end of each strap clips into the E-track on the wall. The other end is then wrapped around the freight and clipped into the E-track on the same wall. When one strap is tightened, it tends to pull the freight toward that wall. When both straps are tightened, they work against each other and keep the freight snuggly in the center.
The straps are hooked to the wall inside the load bars or "inboard" of the box edges. That brings strap pressure to bear on all four corners of the box. If they were hooked "outboard" of the box, strap pressure would only apply to two corners.
Six bars are more than necessery. But if one happens to fall out, as can happen if the driver didn't get it in the E-Track just right and didn't check the bar before leaving the back, there will be five bars remaining to do the job. Four straps are more than necessary. The same reasoning applies.
On this freight, the plastic corner pieces keep the straps from digging into the box. On wooden crates, the corner pieces keep the rough lumber on the crate from damaging or cutting through the straps. On a tote, corner pieces would not be used as the rounded bars on the tote cage would not damage the straps or be damaged by them.
The load bar and yellow strap on the floor (bottom right) is to secure the pallet jack. After the photo was taken, the pallet jack was run under the pallet and secured there. It will be ready for a quick unload at the delivery (also keeps fork lifts off the truck).
The floor is not wet, as some people assume when they look at it. It is coated with Key Polymer Floor Restore to seal the wood and protect it from moisture. That product brings out the wood grain and gives it its high-gloss shine.
