Maintenance & inspection
What is load security?
Load security is restraining a load so it cannot move in normal driving or in emergency braking. An insecure load is a roadside offence and a cause of serious collisions.
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<img src="https://fleetoptix.co.uk/glossary/load-security/diagram.svg" alt="load security — diagram from FleetOptix" width="880" height="620" loading="lazy">
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<a href="https://fleetoptix.co.uk/glossary/load-security">What is load security?</a> — diagram by
<a href="https://fleetoptix.co.uk">FleetOptix</a>
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</figure>The principle is that restraint must resist forces in every direction, with the forward direction the most demanding because braking is where the greatest force occurs.
Curtains on a curtainsider are weather protection rather than restraint unless the vehicle is specifically rated for load restraint, which is a distinction that causes a great deal of trouble.
Responsibility is shared between whoever loaded the vehicle and the driver, which is why a driver who was not present at loading still needs a way to satisfy themselves and to record it.
What goes wrong in practice
- Curtains relied on as restraint on vehicles not rated for it.
- Straps used past their working load limit or with visible damage.
- Drivers accepting sealed or pre-loaded trailers with no means of checking or recording.