chester:
I would pop the seal if one present.
Open the back doors, and simply shine a torch down the sides of the cages. They are never flush against the sides of the trailer if they have been restrained correctly as the tension in the restraint will pull them central into the trailer pushing against the headboard/cages behind.
So if you can’t shine a narrow beam of light, eg maglight down the sides of the cages or see and physical restraints in the gap between trailer sides and cages. The I would investigate further.
i’m not buying this, the ones that are strapped will get pulled in towards the center, but if you’re strapping every 2 or 3 rows, then the ones the strap isn’t round will not be pulled into the center. where I’ve worked at least 1 maybe 2, I can’t remember, were turned sideways, making the row wider. i’d be surprised if you ever get to see half way down both sides of a 45 foot trailer, let alone all the way. but it’s a while since i’ve done cages.
so out of interest how would you investigate further?
weeto:
m_attt:
Reefer’s. It says sealed trailers on thread title.
A driver is not responsible for an insecured load in a reefer, boxvan or container, vosa are not interested in any of these types of trailer on a stop, only curtainsiders.
This is not correct. DVSA I’m guessing (I don’t know, I don’t work there) will not be interested in road side checking those vehicles or containers in day to day spot checks. However…
There’s no protection for drivers in the regulations to provide legal shielding on the above trailer types mentioned. The HSE Code of practice “safety of loads on vehicles” states:-
“The driver is ultimately responsible for the load carried on their vehicle, whether or not they were involved in the securing of the load.”
Yes, you’ll get away with a roadside check but if a metal ingot shifts in a container and the vehicle topples onto a car then both driver and haulier will be held accountable. This is the dichotomy with containers. I drove containers and it’s impracticable to ask for all seals to be broken but carry them knowing you will be held accountable for how the inside is secured if it goes wrong no matter what urban myth or common sense tells you.
Mike-C:
chester:
Mike-C this was posted on this thread on page 2. This above^^^^^^^^^
I do not care Who is, who did, who had.
Because maybe they didn’t.
Nothing is better than the driver checking and being responsible for his/her load.
Can you post your claim where you belive 
I need black and white here,please work with me?
Eg DVSA policy!
As soon as you prove Iam wrong then Iam wrong.
I already told you. YOU will not be breaking any customs seals anytime soon. Thats your answer.
So we are back to page 3 again. Stop telling me what I know! I know I can pop a seal to check load security for taking on a public highway. That’s not fact, it’s just common sense as well.
I also know I can’t break a custom seal, but a custom official can? So if I need to break a custom seal what do you think I would do? Or shall I just spoon feed this info as well?