2 Start puts load safety in the spotlight
Transport training provider 2 Start Ltd has issued guidance on vehicle load safety, highlighting HGV drivers’ ultimate responsibility for the load carried on a vehicle, whether or not they were involved in its securing.
“One of the most important factors you need to consider before starting any journey is the safety of the load you are carrying,” said 2 Start.
“As the driver, it is your responsibility and should form part of your due diligence checks to ensure that the load is adequately secured at all times throughout your journey and not just at the start.
“There are many varying factors to making a load secure and many different questions that you need to ask, such as: what type of load am I carrying? Can the load slide forward, sideways, or backward [or] fall over? Will the safety measures come loose on the journey? Is the vehicle and bodywork suitable for the load? Is the vehicle fit for purpose?”
Further factors to take into account, says 2 Start, include the types of roads and speed limits the driver will encounter; any height restrictions on the route; current best practices; the suitability of restraints for the load being carried; and whether hazardous or dangerous goods are included in the cargo.
“All HGV drivers should carry out daily walk-around checks before completing a journey,” said the company.
“However, there is still a minority that don’t do this and are the ones that cause most of the accidents stemming from poor load safety.
“Every year several hundred bridges are hit by lorries that are loaded too high or which are themselves too high to pass underneath, highlighting a major issue in the industry. This has led to over 4,000 successful prosecutions for unsafe loads brought against drivers and operators in the UK every year as authorities are hot on the heels of those choosing to not follow the rules.”
Accidents resulting from improperly secured loads can have major impacts on both drivers and their employers, says 2 Start, as well as posing a risk to other road users. In addition, they can contribute to damaged vehicles and goods, major traffic jams and road closures, damage to brand reputation, and delays to customers receiving deliveries.
The company added: “The handling and security of your load will also change depending on what type of materials/substances you are transporting, with specific measures needing to be put into place depending on what the load consists of.
“If you are carrying dangerous or hazardous goods by road, you need to comply with ADR regulations. The regulations that you need to follow are specific to the country you are transporting in, which shows the importance of completing ADR training to ensure you remain compliant and up to date with all regulations and rules.
“For companies and candidates wanting to transport loads professionally or as part of a hire and reward service, you need to ensure you have completed the correct CPC training. This can include completing MOD 4 training and testing, covering aspects of loading and security of loads, as well as loaded vehicle dynamics.”
2 Start says it can advise and assist in choosing the appropriate training, whether for new starters in the sector or those requiring a refresher.
