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Before hauling a large load of furniture, spring yard waste or really anything else on top or behind your car, make sure you have your items properly secured. Making sure your cargo is secured will keep your load from swinging back and forth or worse, having something come off your trailer or vehicle which could cause an accident. Obviously, if you’re hauling something somewhere you want it to get there in one piece. Join us as we discuss some of the best ways to get you – and your precious belongings – where you need to go.
But say you’ve got the truck and trailer and you’re hauling some building supplies. Although we know that unsecured loads can become dangerous, we regularly see items, ranging from trash to large pieces of metal or wood, hanging out of the back of vehicles on roadways. Not only is it dangerous to other motorists, but anything hanging out the back can shift or fall out much easier than something that’s fully contained.
To make sure you’ve got everything covered (literally!), here are the 11 most important tips we can think of to ensure you have a secure load on the roadways.
1. Don’t use rope or bungee cords.
2. Do use ratchet straps and cargo nets.
3. Use a tarp or cargo net to secure all lightweight items.
4. Use a cargo bar for heavier objects.
5. Use bars to secure cargo in vans without bulkheads.
6. Always use two or more tie downs.
7. Make sure items can’t slide around.
8. Be sure your straps and tarps don’t become hazardous.
9. Check the weight ratings on your anchor points.
10. Balance the load.
11. Check the load occasionally during transport, especially if traveling longer distances.
Did we miss any tried-and-true advice? Let us know!
Ensuring that cargo and loads are properly secured is not a difficult task, however it does take a bit of time to develop proper tie-down skills. This is time very well spent, so you don’t lose items or ruin your day – or someone else’s. There are all sorts of tips and tricks online, but if you want a good place to start learning about properly securing a payload, check out FMCSA!
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