No Loose Material in
your Vehicle Please
Tie down all materials in your Vehicle
Prevent the incident don’t be the incident.
Loose loads can be dangerous, and
sometimes fatal, to you and other drivers
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Loose Loads it is not just a trucker
thing
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We Believe We Know
• The safe loading and
adequate restraint of loads
on vehicles is important in
preventing injury to people
and damage to property.
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Load security is a term used to cover load restraint and load
containment.
• Load restraint means preventing the movement of the
load in any direction in relation to the vehicle load bed.
• Load containment means preventing goods falling from
the vehicle.
Unsecured loads can move in any direction (forward,
backwards, sideways and even upwards). The weight
of the load and the friction between the load and the
vehicle are never enough to keep the load in place.
Unsecured loads may become unstable during a
journey and fall from a vehicle during unloading.
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In your fleet
• Travelling in a pickup
truck poses unique
problems when gear and
supplies must be left in
the truck bed. You will
need to keep your stuff
dry in the event of rain,
prevent it from blowing
out, keep heavy objects
from shifting about, and
prevent lightweight things
from being blown out.
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Outside vs. Inside
• Do not leave loose items in your vehicle during a trip,
as they may hit and hurt someone in a sudden stop. If
your truck is a mess, like many other peoples’ trucks
that I know, you might not realize that those small
objects lying around in the backseat could actually be
fatal in a fleet accident. For example, something as
small and seemingly harmless as a plastic water bottle
could become a lethal torpedo if it’s traveling through
the air at speeds of 30 mph during a truck crash.
Needless to say, if you have other heavier items in your
backseat, they could be even more dangerous than the
smaller items.
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Risk and the Prevention of Risk
Drivers, vehicle occupants, other road users, pedestrians and
anyone who may be involved in loading and unloading the
vehicle may be at risk of injury.
• As well as being a distraction to the driver, shifting loads
can make the vehicle unstable, result in loss of control of
the vehicle and may cause the vehicle to overturn.
• Unsecured loads or objects may fall on or hit people and
can cause road obstructions, traffic disruptions and
collisions especially if drivers swerve to avoid fallen items.
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Remember the Heather Story
• Sadly, it was most likely a laptop that killed a
young woman named Heather Storey. Heather
was driving in her car in 2009 when she was
hit by a tow truck. Subsequently, Heather’s
computer turned into a deadly projectile and
flew into her head and neck. It is devastating
and horrifically surprising stories like these
that might make you want to clean up the
loose items in your car before hitting the road.
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One by one or in mass the risk is the
same
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We all
Employers: Must ensure that the vehicle is safe and suitable for the
load being carried. They must also ensure that safe systems of work
are in place for securing loads, that staff are trained and that during
load securing the risk of people falling from the vehicle or suffering
an injury is avoided or minimized.
• Vehicle Owners: If the vehicle is leased or rented, the company that
owns the vehicle has a responsibility to ensure that the vehicle is
safe and fit for purpose.
• Loading & Unloading Staff: Must be trained how to secure loads
and competent to load and unload the vehicle safely.
• The Driver: On the road, the driver is responsible for the load so
the driver should know how the vehicle has been loaded and how
the load is secured. While carrying out the journey, the driver should
check that the load is secure at regular intervals as the load may
settle or move during the journey.
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In every province not just Alberta
• Commercial drivers and carriers should refer
to the Cargo Securment Regulation of the
Alberta Traffic Safety Act to make sure they
are transporting cargo properly to prevent
items from spilling, blowing off, falling, or
shifting.
Losing Your Load
• If your load does fall onto the road, take
reasonable steps to safely remove it.
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Seems a little touchy in the front
• Keep very heavy loads as far foreword as possible to
prevent the front of the vehicle from becoming light
and making steering less effective and more difficult.
• How to carry a load safely
– Choose a suitable vehicle for your load.
– Position and place the load so that it is secure.
– Select suitable restraint equipment – it should be ‘rated’
and meet Government Standards
– You may need to adjust your headlights when your vehicle
is loaded.
– Drive carefully and regularly check your restraints.
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Oh it hauls more than kit gear
• Purchase and install a
large permanent tool
box, or tool boxes.
These come in a
remarkable number of
configurations, but if
you cannot find one
that perfectly suits
your needs, metal
fabrication shops can
custom build one to
your specifications
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Bottom line winch it down
• Use cargo netting for hauling light materials like
insulation or lawn trash. These nets are custom
made and sized for specific bed sizes, and
although they are a significant investment, made
from nylon or polyester fiber, they resist rot and
decay, are easily stored, and are very lightweight
and easy to handle. Most come with hooks that
attach to the seam underneath the sides of the
truck bed, or have attachment anchors that
fasten permanently to the truck's sides
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What that object up ahead – loose
load
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Not all loads are equal
Different loads will require different methods of securing for
example, fastening straps, chains, adjustable brackets, sliding
slatboards, use of dunnage, blocking or bracing. However,
what works for one type of load will not necessarily work for
another type. The vehicle must always be appropriate to carry
the load and have suitable attachment points for chains, straps
and other load securing devices. Whatever system is used it
must not create an additional risk for people who have to use
it. Carry out a risk assessment and select the safest and most
appropriate method of securing the load. Consult the vehicle
manufacturer, trade industry bodies and suppliers of
proprietary load security systems who will be able to provide
advice.
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Thank god holds
• Prepare your truck to
make it easier to secure
your cargo. There are a
number of different
manufacturers and models
of trucks, many of which
have built in anchoring
systems for cargo, but you
may still find the need to
add additional anchor
points to suit your
particular needs. L
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Protection from mother nature
• Buy a tarp sized for your load. Truckbeds vary
in size, depending on whether it is a mid-size,
compact, or full size pickup, and is short or
long wheel-based. You will find tarps that have
integral snaps that secure them, or you may
want to anchor your tarp with bungee cords,
which can be lapped over the sides of your
truck's bed and hooked under the fenders
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The push needs it on site yesterday
• Secure cargo to a pallet when it is
loaded. A lot of freight hauled and
delivered in tractor trailers rigs is
loaded on wooden pallets to make
loading and unloading with forklifts
possible. You can often find these
pallets at salvage yards or building
supply stores free or available for a
nominal fee. The wooden frame of a
pallet is less likely to slip on the truck
floor, and since they are fairly heavy
and built of slats, you can secure the
load directly to the pallet.
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Money well spent instead of fines
• Invest in quality ratchet straps for tying down
heavy cargo. These are made of strong
synthetic fiber, and paired with solidly
anchored attachment points will hold even a
heavy, unbalanced load tightly. Be sure to
store these straps properly when not in use:
sunlight, oil, dirt, etc, can slowly break down
the fabric of the straps. This could cause them
to become weakened and possibly fail
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Keep them clean Keep them handy
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How to secure your load
Cargo barriers (the cage between the back seats and boot of a wagon) are not enough
to restrain a load safely.
Group and bundle together similar items into a more tight and stable unit.
Use restraints when securing wooden boards. Anti slip matting prevents items from
sliding, especially long items.
Webbing straps provide quick simple restraints for light loads.
Nets and tarpaulins may also be used to restrain lighter items.
Loose sheets of building materials may be restrained by fitting them tightly in trays
and then securing them with restraints.
Make sure heavy items are not loaded on top of lighter items.
Use metal or heavy duty plastic top corner protector angles to protect cartons and
secure them safely.
High and narrow items such as stacks of smaller cartons usually require more than one
restraint.
Fill spaces and gaps between piles with other items and make sure that these are
restrained too.
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What a thought
• Travel the smoothest, straightest path available.
Avoiding curving or rough roads will decrease the
chance your cargo will be subjected to extreme
forces.
• Be aware of the load capacity of your truck.
Vehicle suspensions and tires have a load rating
(GVWR, or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), found
on the factory sticker on the edge of the driver's
door panel. Never exceed this amount
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After 5 ft flag by day light by night
• Tie a flag on unusually long
loads, so other drivers will
notice it overhanging the
tailgate and avoid
approaching too closely.
Very long loads are more
likely to shift, so you may
have to tie a guying line to
them to keep them
stationary.
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Need help, need advise, need
prevention! Make it so Number 1
• Call
Safety
Before
the
Incident
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