How can anyone think that ropes are better then chains or straps, they might have been ok 20 years ago and when trucks were limited to 20mph and drivers really knew how to use them and wernt afraid to spend the required amoount of time to secure them correctly, but things have moved on
Saaamon:
Frankydobo:
I’m getting worried reading some of these posts if guys on here think hooking a strap around a rope hook or side rave is safer than the chassis, if so I’ll be giving most of you a wide berth out in the wild world, where the hell did you learn your trade!You say that but your the one that looks like an idiot, many rope hooks are designed to be used with ratchet straps and rope, hence why you get different ends on straps. You can clearly tell the difference between ones that are for securing sheets and those that are for securing loads. When roping and sheeting was common practice what do you think you’d loop the end of the rope over
.
The ratchet shows the fitting which is to be used with a rope hook style anchor point.
Technically those can only be used in conjunction with the correct type of hook and only if the hooks are load rated of course 
zebadee:
Saaamon:
Wheel Nut:
Saaamon:
limeyphil:
Saaamon:
Pat Hasler:
Conor:
Use the chassis or the side rail. Are you seriously telling me you can’t work that out?you can also get far better tension by placing the rachet below the trailer bed so you can pull up on it, it makes the load far more secure
Absolute rubbish.
no it isn’t.
Hooks on the bed are useless but no need to go as far round as the chassis to get good tension. Seeing as their getting so ■■■■ about this sure going off the chassis can’t be allowed as its not designed as an anchor point for the purposes of load resistant?
Absolute rubbish.
I have simply rearranged the quote.
Where would you fasten the chains if you were carrying a D8 Dozer
Wouldnt use chains, personally i’d throw a rope over it a few times and use double dollys to make sure it was nice and tight.
LMFAO! such a prat!
Im glad i made you laugh, if anyone thinks i was being serious they should probably seek medical help.
billybigrig:
Saaamon:
Frankydobo:
I’m getting worried reading some of these posts if guys on here think hooking a strap around a rope hook or side rave is safer than the chassis, if so I’ll be giving most of you a wide berth out in the wild world, where the hell did you learn your trade!You say that but your the one that looks like an idiot, many rope hooks are designed to be used with ratchet straps and rope, hence why you get different ends on straps. You can clearly tell the difference between ones that are for securing sheets and those that are for securing loads. When roping and sheeting was common practice what do you think you’d loop the end of the rope over
The ratchet shows the fitting which is to be used with a rope hook style anchor point.
Technically those can only be used in conjunction with the correct type of hook and only if the hooks are load rated of course
Exactly, someone who knows what their talking about.
AHT:
How can anyone think that ropes are better then chains or straps, they might have been ok 20 years ago and when trucks were limited to 20mph and drivers really knew how to use them and wernt afraid to spend the required amoount of time to secure them correctly, but things have moved on
Ropes are far superior than any ratchet strap, there also much easier and less time consuming to use than a ratchet strap.
Saaamon:
Im glad i made you laugh, if anyone thinks i was being serious they should probably seek medical help.
as it happens, i’m must one of them that needs medical help.
nothing new there then. 
I was taught, the straps on my curtains are my load restraints, as long as the load is touching said curtains, it is restraining it. I always go by If I can see the pallet in the curtain then its got nowhere to move.
norfolktrucker:
Just an observation, but how can any curtain be “load bearing”?
They are, by design, secured in a lightweight aluminium channel with little plastic wheels rivetted onto the curtain material.
Can anybody honestly say that they would rely on the curtain holding up to 28 tons?, this is without taking into account the laws of physics.
Ex employer of mine, chipliner fully loaded with peat from Bolton Fell End, loaded through the roof so the curtains are bulging on both sides. surely the curtains are the restraint? you cant stap loose peat…?
Saaamon:
AHT:
How can anyone think that ropes are better then chains or straps, they might have been ok 20 years ago and when trucks were limited to 20mph and drivers really knew how to use them and wernt afraid to spend the required amoount of time to secure them correctly, but things have moved onRopes are far superior than any ratchet strap, there also much easier and less time consuming to use than a ratchet strap.
20mph? years ago when we only had ropes and chains we didn’t have limiters either!
AHT:
How can anyone think that ropes are better then chains or straps, they might have been ok 20 years ago and when trucks were limited to 20mph and drivers really knew how to use them and wernt afraid to spend the required amoount of time to secure them correctly, but things have moved on
Come on, 27 years ago most trucks had a top speed of at least 60 mph, often a good deal more.
Ropes (and sheets) are not a replacement for either chains or straps, rather an alternative.
A load of bags or boxes is very likely safer under properly applied ropes and sheets where every outside box or bag is secured than in a curtain sider with a couple of straps over each pallet, or as often seems to be the case, hidden behind the curtain with no straps on.
Each rope hook may not be load rated or whatever H&S tag is used but far more of them are used, spreading the load out down the trailer.
To be honest, de-skilling load security down to drawing a curtain is not my idea of “things have moved on”.
Regards,
Nick
Just to clarify im not saying drawing a curtain is in any way adiquate load security, i just think two (propper) ratchet straps not the hanging onees over each pallet/bag etc is a perfectly sensible way of securing a load and a dam sight easier then roping/sheeting
some people think otherwise
AHT:
i just think two (propper) ratchet straps not the hanging onees over each pallet/bag etc is a perfectly sensible way of securing a load and a dam sight easier then roping/sheeting
Agreed.
Regards,
Nick
Do vosa have powers to look inside your curtiansider 
All well and good saying stick it on a box but the roofs are made of tin foil so the load would most likely come out the roof
merc0447:
Do vosa have powers to look inside your curtiansiderAll well and good saying stick it on a box but the roofs are made of tin foil so the load would most likely come out the roof
Yes. I believe they do now.
C10HOO:
I was taught, the straps on my curtains are my load restraints, as long as the load is touching said curtains, it is restraining it. I always go by If I can see the pallet in the curtain then its got nowhere to move.
Curtains - unless specifically designed as load restraints (and most in the UK aren’t) are only considered as weather protection and a light form of load CONSTRAINT.
RESTRAINT would mean fastening the load directly to the vehicle to prevent any movement. This normally requires a restraining force equal to 100% of the weight in a foward direction and 50% of the weight sideways and backwards.
Have a look at the rail most curtains are fastened in - it’ll be held in with rivets or maybe 6mm bolts but no much else. Possibly a steel rail but generally fastened to alluminium
it is FACT that VOSA are launching a new load security campaign at the CV Show next week. VOSA have already issued guidlines to their officers - see here Load security & vosa - THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE) - Trucknet UK
If you read the document linked to from the above thread … you will see in most cases a load security issue will end in a prohibition being issued. This will count against the company and with the new OCRS regime as from 30th April - that’ll be a big problem.
if the boss doesn’t give you the right equipment - don’t do the job
C10HOO:
norfolktrucker:
Just an observation, but how can any curtain be “load bearing”?
They are, by design, secured in a lightweight aluminium channel with little plastic wheels rivetted onto the curtain material.
Can anybody honestly say that they would rely on the curtain holding up to 28 tons?, this is without taking into account the laws of physics.Ex employer of mine, chipliner fully loaded with peat from Bolton Fell End, loaded through the roof so the curtains are bulging on both sides. surely the curtains are the restraint? you cant stap loose peat…?
Trailers for bulk loads such as that are usually specifically designed for it and the curtains and structure are rated to some kind of capacity. They aren’t normally like a straight forward curtain sided trailer with its flimsy alluminium structure to keep the rain off
C10HOO:
I was taught, the straps on my curtains are my load restraints, as long as the load is touching said curtains, it is restraining it. I always go by If I can see the pallet in the curtain then its got nowhere to move.
…until the runner gets yanked out of the rail it runs in in the roof.
Ever wonder why some curtains get jammed at a certain point when you’re closing them? Its cos someone relied on the curtain as a load restraint and when the wheels of the runner pulled through the rail, it spread it out so they jam up there every time you pull the curtains.
Conor:
C10HOO:
I was taught, the straps on my curtains are my load restraints, as long as the load is touching said curtains, it is restraining it. I always go by If I can see the pallet in the curtain then its got nowhere to move.…until the runner gets yanked out of the rail it runs in in the roof.
Ever wonder why some curtains get jammed at a certain point when you’re closing them? Its cos someone relied on the curtain as a load restraint and when the wheels of the runner pulled through the rail, it spread it out so they jam up there every time you pull the curtains.
My belief is that it is forklifts that squash your curtain runners with the safety guard, causing the curtains to jam.
I haven’t seen the official guidance from VOSA on this new load restraint campaign yet. Whats acceptable and whats not? I do pallet network deliveries and very rarely strap my load down. I will use straps if I think the pallet is likely to collapse or move or is very heavy, and I load the trailer in such a way that pallets won’t fall over the top of one another if I need to brake hard. Is VOSA expecting to see every pallet strapped down from now on?
The following vehicle body types should be assessed for load security:
Flatbeds, curtainâ€siders, lowloaders, skip lorries, car transporters, bulk tippersThe following vehicle body types do not need to be assessed for load security unless there is reason for
concern:
Boxâ€siders, refrigerated trailers, containers transported on vehicles fitted with twist locks, tilts, live animal
transporters
Seems you’re all fussing over nowt really
edit : well some of you anyway