Nice to see some people still remember Barrel Hitches! Sometimes the saying is true- the old ways are the best. They also work on plastic drums if you get the rope in the right position and get it tight enough.
There is an internationally-known chemical company with a plant in Widnes who insist on their steel drums being strapped, whether the straps will still be on the drums by the time the vehicle gets out of the gates doesn’t matter. The loaders take photos of the straps before the curtains are closed so that, should anything nasty happen, they can supply proof that the load was secure when they had loaded it.
I went to the trouble of showing the loaders how much more secure barrel hitches would be but they informed me that they were not allowed to let any load leave the site unless the 45-gallon drums had straps over them.
Retired Old ■■■■:
Nice to see some people still remember Barrel Hitches! Sometimes the saying is true- the old ways are the best. They also work on plastic drums if you get the rope in the right position and get it tight enough.
There is an internationally-known chemical company with a plant in Widnes who insist on their steel drums being strapped, whether the straps will still be on the drums by the time the vehicle gets out of the gates doesn’t matter. The loaders take photos of the straps before the curtains are closed so that, should anything nasty happen, they can supply proof that the load was secure when they had loaded it.
I went to the trouble of showing the loaders how much more secure barrel hitches would be but they informed me that they were not allowed to let any load leave the site unless the 45-gallon drums had straps over them.
That firm wouldn’t be Univar by any chance?
I have a brilliant book called ‘the official New Zealand truck loading code’ (good name) it says on the back you can get it online at www.nzta.govt.nz
It tells you how to load and tie down just about anything. Don’t know if there is a UK equivalent though 
Some good ideas, thanks.
The alternative roping method.