How to secure loads before transport?

Proper securing of the load during transport is extremely important not only to prevent damage to the goods, but also to ensure the safety of the driver and other road users. In addition, the driver in the event of an inspection may also be held responsible for improperly secured cargo.

Ways of cargo securing during road transport

Arrangement of cargo - proper distribution of goods, in such a way that they occupy the entire cargo space, is one of the simplest and does not require financial expenses to secure the goods. Thanks to this, the load will not move around corners or when braking the vehicle. This process can be facilitated by a load planning application, thanks to which you can check how to optimally distribute the load.

Chain lashings and (transport) belts - they are used during heavy transport of goods with non-standard dimensions to ground it. Thanks to this, the load does not move while driving. This is how most types of machines are protected. However, in the case of straps, they are also used to secure standard pallets. Transport belts are selected according to the weight of the goods and then attached to the vehicle's semi-trailer. The downside of this technique is the fact that you need to have a properly adapted semi-trailer to be able to mount them.

Strut (transport) beams - fixed between the goods, thus pressing them against the side walls of the vehicle. This method of securing loads is very quick and easy to assemble. The beams are usually made of steel. Unlike belts, they do not require a special place on the trailer for their installation.

Non-slip mats - they are a supplement to the previously mentioned transport belts, because they additionally minimize the risk of the load moving during the journey. Thanks to them, you can use fewer belts or other protection.

Dunnage bags (airbags) - are placed between very large loads. Thanks to their soft structure, there is no possibility of damaging the load, and they also provide additional protection for the goods.

Safety nets - most often used for additional protection of small goods on pallets.

What else is worth remembering?

The safety of the transport of goods is affected by many factors, not only the way they are secured. These include condition of the road infrastructure, vehicle axle loads, random events, the technical condition of the car, or the driver's experience. We have no influence on some of these factors, such as weather conditions on the route, but we are able to prepare for the vast majority. Therefore, before transporting the load, it is worth remembering about the correct arrangement of the load on the semi-trailer, so that the axles of the vehicle are evenly loaded. Thanks to the Smartload application, you can plan the distribution of goods and control the axle load in a quick and simple way. In addition, it is possible to group loads, so you can also add security between loads. Thanks to this, the application allows you to check how many loading meters the transported goods will take and how to arrange them best.