muckles:
at CEVA at Mendlsham they not only insisted that loads were strapped, they supplied the straps, corner protectors and a bloke to help you.
Sounds like Heaven. If only more companies did that. Do they not realise how much faster their turnaround would be?
I’ve strapped lots of loads (in trailers without roof straps) that have taken an age to do alone, (often in wild, desolate, wind & rain swept trailer parks) whereas 2 men would have had it done in 10 minutes.
Example:
pavaroti:
mickyblue:
Saying that, you can easily tell if the load is insecure as it will lean on the curtains which sort of gives it away really.That will be me then, always getting bulges in curtains. But loads still secure within the trailer, just a badly wrapped or stacked pallet. I use straps if somethings delicate or finely balanced.
and there’s me thinking the driver was to blame due to chucking the lorry round the round abouts
mickyblue:
pavaroti:
mickyblue:
Saying that, you can easily tell if the load is insecure as it will lean on the curtains which sort of gives it away really.That will be me then, always getting bulges in curtains. But loads still secure within the trailer, just a badly wrapped or stacked pallet. I use straps if somethings delicate or finely balanced.
and there’s me thinking the driver was to blame due to chucking the lorry round the round abouts
Lol maybe. 
pavaroti:
mickyblue:
pavaroti:
mickyblue:
Saying that, you can easily tell if the load is insecure as it will lean on the curtains which sort of gives it away really.That will be me then, always getting bulges in curtains. But loads still secure within the trailer, just a badly wrapped or stacked pallet. I use straps if somethings delicate or finely balanced.
and there’s me thinking the driver was to blame due to chucking the lorry round the round abouts
Lol maybe.
stuartrobbie:
maybe this should be in the newbie section, but ive seen on curtainsiders, the straps that hand down. you’ll probably laugh at me for asking, but how do these work since they hand from the roof? excuse my ignorance but ive never seen them close up, and im 100% certain that given a proper look at them i would work it out. but i cant see why a rope from the ceiling can hold a load secure, unless its to hold the load tight to the headboard.
Take it you mean hang down?
You’re right. They’re not much good. Will restrain a load of rice crispies. Not much good for restraining bed loads such as factory machines etc.
Usually always missing, knotted, frayed, bent/squashed hooks, set at wrong length, etc. etc. Why do drivers not defect these?
Span sets (ratchet straps) are quicker, easier & much more efficient, except a PITA to get on to high loads without a gantry and/or 2 guys.
Whilst we’re on this topic (thanks Rob, a good one) here’s one for you guys who use internal straps to X strap the back pallets.
When you’ve done that, obviously to do any good the fastening point has to be forward of the back of the pallets and onto a cross trailer section.
Now some trailers have these floor supporting x beams, but many don’t. What do you hook to? Just hooking onto the longitudinal side rave won’t do as it will just slide along it if push comes to shove.
Driveroneuk:
Whilst we’re on this topic (thanks Rob, a good one) here’s one for you guys who use internal straps to X strap the back pallets.
When you’ve done that, obviously to do any good the fastening point has to be forward of the back of the pallets and onto a cross trailer section.
Now some trailers have these floor supporting x beams, but many don’t. What do you hook to? Just hooking onto the longitudinal side rave won’t do as it will just slide along it if push comes to shove.
I’ve never once had a problem finding a cross member to hook it to, but on occasions I have had to slide the buckle wayyyyyyyyyyyy down in order to lengthen the strap to make it reach. As you say, attaching the hook to the side rail is completely pointless.
Those straps that hang from the roof are not much use anyways, Thankfully most of the trailers i have pulled have be euroliners, with sliding roof, they had boards that ran down the sides, and of course we always had plenty of real ratchet straps, i would always make sure of that before i left the yard, as you never knew what you would be collecting/delivering
most of the trailers i have used dont have anything to hook the straps onto so i open the curtains a few feet (assuming its a full load) and hook the strap to the underside of the bed. you really wont find anywhere with more structural integrity than the chassis itself
gnasty gnome:
Rob K:
I’m finding with the trailers at this place that the straps are eithera. ■■■■■■■ in the air in the middle in a huge knot
b. have all the clasps and hooks bent and unusable from crappy FLT drivers putting pallets on top of them
c. cut out altogether
And Merc447 you raise a good point.
So when you do your checks on the trailer do you report the straps as faulty, unusable or missing? If not, why not?
Admittedly it’s more difficult for artic drivers, my straps stay with me all the time. But if you’re in the situation you describe (and I’ve seen a fair bit of it) how do you go on if you pick up a load that needs strapping and you get turned away because the customer won’t load you due to the condition of the straps? Back when I was working for Meachers in Derby, we used to do loads of glass out of a place in Barnsley; if you didn’t have the right number of straps in good order, AND
put them on according to the set procedure, you didn’t pick up the load, simple as that.As to the seal; even if VOSA did make you break it, if you were unable to access the load then it certainly couldn’t be held against you if the load was found to be unstrapped, though I suspect that they might have something to say to the sending company.
Good thread Rob,
We have thirty drivers at our place and it is still an on going thing to get them to tidy up or report damaged internal webbing straps. Thankfully most of the lads try to do the right thing and think of their colleagues.
The glass factory in Barnsley still insist on using the internal straps and provide a mandatory induction video. At least they give you time to do it and sometimes the loaders help out.
I know this is a thorny question but the straps that make up the curtains on our curtainsiders look considerably more substantial than the ones hanging down inside. Is it really so wrong to secure twenty six pallets of Beans with the curtains and two crossed straps at the rear?
W
i prefer rope. i don’t know why. i just do.
I never really used to when I first started as, on agency, everywhere I worked said “Oh it doesn’t need it” or “we don’t have any straps” but VOSA round here, especially on the M23 had a big clamp down last year, lots of curtainsiders pulled and although no penalties handed out there are plenty of companies in Sussex with a very similar note pinned to the notice board, from VOSA about Curtains not being load-bearing and anyone found with an insecure load would be fined.
Now I’m much more careful and will always take the time to find out some straps before I go out. Even if it means sitting in the transport office for 10 minutes while they rally round.
Just not worth the hassle of getting fined for the sake of an extra 10 (paid) minutes
I think Muckles hit the nail on the head with his comments about good customers insisting on it and some even helping you. I have been is some factories who will not let you out until they have checked them, you can argue all you like about the best way to do it but they have already agreed a procedure with your company. If they want 27 blue straps and a yellow one, that is what they shall get.
The overhead straps are more useless than cheese to catch tigers, the trailers have no structural integrity until the curtains are tensioned properly, the straps you have spent an hour fitting are now loose.
Some consignors make the rules, some consignees overrule them by insisting on a loading plan. We have had several standoffs between consignor and consignee. One memory is Ardagh Glass in Doncaster and Nestle in Dieppe.
Ardagh said you must strap every pallet and they load you through both sides.
Nestle would refuse the load because they only wanted the last 2 pallets strapped and crossed as they unloaded through the rear doors. I sat there for about 3 hours one day, they wouldn’t let me undo the curtains for hygiene reasons, they eventually saw sense and let me release the sides but every load after that was done “the Nestle way”
Yes I do, sometimes.
I might…Who’s asking? 
bigvern1:
I might…Who’s asking?
Princess
Wheel Nut:
I think Muckles hit the nail on the head with his comments about good customers insisting on it and some even helping you. I have been is some factories who will not let you out until they have checked them, you can argue all you like about the best way to do it but they have already agreed a procedure with your company. If they want 27 blue straps and a yellow one, that is what they shall get.The overhead straps are more useless than cheese to catch tigers, the trailers have no structural integrity until the curtains are tensioned properly, the straps you have spent an hour fitting are now loose.
Some consignors make the rules, some consignees overrule them by insisting on a loading plan. We have had several standoffs between consignor and consignee. One memory is Ardagh Glass in Doncaster and Nestle in Dieppe.
Ardagh said you must strap every pallet and they load you through both sides.
Nestle would refuse the load because they only wanted the last 2 pallets strapped and crossed as they unloaded through the rear doors. I sat there for about 3 hours one day, they wouldn’t let me undo the curtains for hygiene reasons, they eventually saw sense and let me release the sides but every load after that was done “the Nestle way”
Of course as well as the load point and delivery point, we also have another group in the mix on how to secure your load. ie VOSA.
However within reason I’ll always do it the customers way if I think it’s safe to do so, even if it seems strange or unessersary. I used to pick up metal and wood from Lowestoft on a flatbed, the port insisted that all loads were sheeted, so I did so despite that fact that when I delivered them they were then stored outside.
When I was working on the US airbase near here they always insisted that all vehicles were chained, ok with large forkift or aircraft loader that has very little suspension movement, but not so good with a car.
So I used to chain them for the benefit of the USAF and strap the wheels for my benefit. 
I will strap some loads and not others, it depends entirely upon what the load is.
I carry a lot of groupage, and it is one load which is nigh on impossible to strap down - so groupage is left to gravity as it has been for nearly thirty years without a problem.
Hombre:
I will strap some loads and not others, it depends entirely upon what the load is.I carry a lot of groupage, and it is one load which is nigh on impossible to strap down - so groupage is left to gravity as it has been for nearly thirty years without a problem.
That is the problem with international groupage, the last piece of the jigsaw may be the heaviest most awkward lump on the trailer but it still has to go on.
Having been the plonker a few years back that lost a load of timber on a roundabout from a curtainsider I have learnt the hard way and now always strap down!
