Not that I use them very often, as it’s normally a case of closing the doors and setting off, but there are occasions when we need to use them to restrain a ‘wonky’ pallet.
The one’s I normally see are either black, with a pressed metal tensioner, which I doubt would hold much, or blue, with more of a ‘forged’ tensioner, (and normally has the name of some supermarket or other embossed into it. ), which is obviously far more substantial.
Does the colour of the material indicate the ‘loading’ capabilities?
Krankee:
In relation to their performance ‘rating’.
Not that I use them very often, as it’s normally a case of closing the doors and setting off, but there are occasions when we need to use them to restrain a ‘wonky’ pallet.
The one’s I normally see are either black, with a pressed metal tensioner, which I doubt would hold much, or blue, with more of a ‘forged’ tensioner, (and normally has the name of some supermarket or other embossed into it. ), which is obviously far more substantial.
Does the colour of the material indicate the ‘loading’ capabilities?
the only things that are coulour coded are lifting slings which also have stitching down the lenght of them as for straps rule of thumb is the black ones in ragsiders are about as much use as a chocolate teapot
small ratchets strap’s (the type used in box trailers and supermarket trailers are good for about a tonne ish
the larger standard ratchet straps in my experience are 5 ton new or first use then are reduced to 2.5 ton you can get larger ones upto about 10 tons i think
after that it’s dog’s and chain’s
they should all have a label on them stating the breaking strength
but if ya not sure chuck an extra strap over the load and be thought of as that muppet that put’s to many on than the idiot that lost is/her load
A firm in Coventry I have driven for, predominantly with Mercedes for their 7.5t fleet of curtainsiders usually have about 4-5 straps on board plus there are usually spares in the depot should you need them…
mine are a black now and greasy not lost a load yet!!
There is a manufacturer site Krankee will try and find it that has a recognition chart on it to spot types of straps. But I will say that I have just taking a load of new straps for the new venture and each one has a 5T 10t or 15T rating label attatched to both the ratchet end and the tail.
The ratchet straps aren’t colour coded for loading capabilities.The strap itself might be capable of 5T or 10T restraint but the ratchet is normally capable of only 2.5T, so this will give long before the strap.
I hope that Krankee only closes the door and sets off in his truck when it is pulling a solid sided trailer and not a curtainsider…as if you don’t strap the load inside then it is classed as an insecure load, as curtains are not for securing loads.
I’ve just bought a load of 5-tonne ratchet straps, and one of the options (along with length and end types) was the colour.
So no, they’re not colour-coded. Some companies like to have them in a particular colour to make them more distinguishable as theirs (since blue seems to be the common colour).
A point here for those of you who use these rachet straps , here in Germany
they (STRAPS) when being used as a load restraint,have to be in a 100%
good condition with out any nicks or tears in the strap, and function correctley
,furthermore the BLUE label label which is their when new must be
readable and attached to the strap,IF any straps are damaged or do not have
the label still fitted these are no longer leagal to be used as a Load restraint,
and.the police do and will fine any one found useing such straps for the
load restraint, the fines start from 50€ and rise higher,with points be
handed out as well.
xjrv8:
The ratchet straps aren’t colour coded for loading capabilities.The strap itself might be capable of 5T or 10T restraint but the ratchet is normally capable of only 2.5T, so this will give long before the strap.
In which case it would be pointless manufacturing straps with any limit above 2.5T.
I hope that Krankee only closes the door and sets off in his truck when it is pulling a solid sided trailer and not a curtainsider…as if you don’t strap the load inside then it is classed as an insecure load, as curtains are not for securing loads.
I’d guess 50% of our loads aren’t strapped… and they all sail the Irish sea. Euroliner trailers can’t have roof straps & using ratchet straps will crush many types of goods.
Examples of some types of load its virtually impossible to strap: scrap fridges & freezers, loose scrap tyres, loose xmas trees loaded from the back.
Hi Driveroneuk, let me make things a bit clearer as I think you and possibly other drivers may have missed the point.
Why would it be pointless in manufacturing straps with a limit above 2.5T?? I think if you have a load greater than this you use more than one strap. I was only pointing out the capabilities of the ratchet.
Regarding Euroliners carrying scrap fridges etc, don’t you think this is the WRONG trailer for the job?? I see this type of load being carried in a high sided tipper trailers which is the CORRECT trailer to use. The point is the loads are insecure. I recall years ago that wood chips, sawdust and bark being carried in curtainsiders, I don’t see that now as they are in solided sided trailers with walking floors…again the correct trailers.
Now a scenario… if you are delivering your scrap fridges or whatever and it is not secure and you get to your destination and when you open the curtain a fridge falls out and lands on you, seriously injuring you or even killing you…everything is fine until something goes wrong.
Take care in driving and be careful with your 50% of loads that are insecure.
xjrv8:
Now a scenario… if you are delivering your scrap fridges or whatever and it is not secure and you get to your destination and when you open the curtain a fridge falls out and lands on you, seriously injuring you or even killing you…everything is fine until something goes wrong.
And thats why they won’t tip it with the driver anywhere near. We reverse into the warehouse (so can’t lift a tipper body!) & remain in the cab until the last buckle is refastened. Load tipped, trailer floor swept.
Hi, Driveroneuk,
In your own admission you are saying that there is a risk with the load,otherwise why would you have to stay clear. I am fully aware of what you are saying regarding the loads…but if something goes wrong and a fridge pops out of the curtain whilst on the highway???A walking floor trailer would be the correct trailer for the work you are doing. I know you will say that the return load would be different and this trailer will be fine for that load, it is all down to money…customer wants their goods moved cheap as possible so your trailer is more flexible for this. Health and safety doesn’t really come into it until something goes wrong. A load must be restrained so it does not move whilst travelling to its destination, which can happen if driving too fast etc on approaching bends or roundabouts, or even if you have to brake hard due to someone cutting in front of you.
I am just offering advice as if anything goes wrong wiith a load moving it is your fault, and management will be held responsible too, but will probably try and pass the blame back to you. Check and see if your trailer curtain has been designed to withstand a load moving and penetrating the curtain, then this will give you peace of mind.We all think nothing will happen, but unfortunately it does.
The type of work I do is the same as you … I drive a truck on a self-employed basis now. I have many years of experience, ran my own trucks done allsorts of haulage with abnormal loads, general haulage with ropes and sheets so I am not a novice who doesn’t know what he is talking about.
take a lok at the usefull tips site and you will find a few site as
regards load restraint also on the europe- site is a link for a
web site as regards the loadrestraint
The point is the loads are insecure. I recall years ago that wood chips, sawdust and bark being carried in curtainsiders, I don’t see that now as they are in solided sided trailers with walking floors…again the correct trailers.
Although I am a big believer & promotor of strapping loads even in curtainsiders when I often maintain that they are not designed to be load restraining curtains.
Your quote above is not quite correct because some trailers were designed to carry woodchip and sawdust, but the curtains were strengthened and extra straps fitted specifically for this purpose. There are a lot of companies still running them like this.
As for loose tyres, providing you strap over the curtain to the chassis with 3 or 4 straps then that is enough to hold them securely. Even anything that bulges slightly will benefit from straps thrown over the roof like this. In fact you wouldn’t be allowed on the train or definately in an Alpine tunnel without them
If i refused to move every load that i consider should have been loaded differently, on a different type trailer, etc. etc. I would soon be out of a job.
It has already withstood the road and sea journey from Ireland, and been whipped around at all manner of odd angles & inclinations by dockside tug drivers.
Not that i’m saying that makes it ok, but it is somewhat of a test.
), which is obviously far more substantial.
