How not to get killed by what’s on your back

[monty2]

I have often seen people transporting cars on a trailer or on the back of a lorry and noticed how they have secured the load.

 

Till about 15 years ago I never thought about it until a friend who was transporting his Jeep on a pickup had an accident on his way back from an event. Breaking very suddenly had caused the Jeep to move forward ending half way inside the pickup’s the cabin.

 

My friend had made the mistake that a lot of people make. For fear of losing the load they strap it to the front of the lorry not realizing that it takes a huge acceleration to make something fall of the back of a lorry. Just won’t happen…

 

Better is to focus on avoiding sudden forward movement (relative to the lorry).

 

The formula for the amount of kinetic energy in a mass on the move is ½ mv^2. m is the mass, v is velocity in metre per sec to the power of 2.

 

Take a simple Jeep at the speed of 30 miles. The amount of kinetic energy is about 0,5 * 1000(kilo) * (30000*1,604 /3600) equals 500 * 13,5^2 equals 500* 180= 91000 kilo (91 tons) . This amount of energy will be release when there is a sudden stop. Don’t even think about the amount of energy released at an emergy stop with a dingo or a tank at the back of your lorry.

 

What to do?

 

 

 

• Strap you vehicle with proper chain’s or transport straps. It is very important to have it tidy without a slack – at a slack a chain can snap easily.
  
• Forget those straps that go over the tyre, they will not last when it really goes wrong.
  
• Focus on the chains and transport snaps that are tight to the back of the lorry, rather than on the ones leading to the front.
  

 

 

 

Peter

http://www.milmarket.org

[Brooky]

I have often seen people transporting cars on a trailer or on the back of a lorry and noticed how they have secured the load.

 

Till about 15 years ago I never thought about it until a friend who was transporting his Jeep on a pickup had an accident on his way back from an event. Breaking very suddenly had caused the Jeep to move forward ending half way inside the pickup’s the cabin.

 

My friend had made the mistake that a lot of people make. For fear of losing the load they strap it to the front of the lorry not realizing that it takes a huge acceleration to make something fall of the back of a lorry. Just won’t happen…

 

Better is to focus on avoiding sudden forward movement (relative to the lorry).

 

The formula for the amount of kinetic energy in a mass on the move is ½ mv^2. m is the mass, v is velocity in metre per sec to the power of 2.

 

Take a simple Jeep at the speed of 30 miles. The amount of kinetic energy is about 0,5 * 1000(kilo) * (30000*1,604 /3600) equals 500 * 13,5^2 equals 500* 180= 91000 kilo (91 tons) . This amount of energy will be release when there is a sudden stop. Don’t even think about the amount of energy released at an emergy stop with a dingo or a tank at the back of your lorry.

 

What to do?

 

 

 

• Strap you vehicle with proper chain’s or transport straps. It is very important to have it tidy without a slack – at a slack a chain can snap easily.

• Forget those straps that go over the tyre, they will not last when it really goes wrong.

• Focus on the chains and transport snaps that are tight to the back of the lorry, rather than on the ones leading to the front.

 

 

 

Peter

http://www.milmarket.org

 

Go to the HSE website and look for the Code of Practice for the safe loading of vehicles

Everything you ever wanted to know!!

Including the attached

safetyloadsonvehicles.pdf

[N.O.S.]

You're right, the most important restraints are those preventing forward movement. There are a whole multitude of different ways to secure a vehicle safely - here are just a couple of ideas I find work well for me.

 

Important not to ignore possibility of sideways movement - strike a balance between critical restraint in direction of travel and sideways restraint.

 

I always use similar restraint at the front as the rear, as this keeps even tension all round, thereby minimising any forward/backward oscillation caused by stretching restraints. It also has the advantage of controlling sideways movement better than uneven front/rear tension.

 

Keeping the angle of restraints more horizontal than vertical minimises the load on the restraint under braking -meaning less stretch if using fibre (ratchet straps) and thus less movement. Angle can be reduced by cross-mounting restraints as in diagram. If the load space is long enough I might put the rear restraints to the rear and front to the front - but often where space is tight the angle can be kept low by mounting as per diagram.

 

Whenever possible I attach restraints to the axles, as this allows the chassis/ body to roll on the suspension without affecting the restraints. It is amazing how much a vehicle will roll on its suspension, causing uneven loading on the restraints.

 

For example someone once moved my Bedford MJR by pushing front wheels hard forward against bulkhead of a stepframe trailer (good policy), but then just put a chain and load binder (over-centre tensioner) over the rear NATO tow hook, with chain anchor points slightly forward, thereby holding the truck forward against the bulkhead. Within 2 hours the NATO hook, although softer than the chain, was well on its way to cutting through the chain due to chassis roll!

 

Edited January 24, 2013 by N.O.S.

[Brooky]

Agreed about securing the axles rather than anywhere else

[cosrec]

My two pence worth on subject.

All our slide beds bevertails have four ratchet straps two each side laid out on deck with wheels straps fitted on each.

Our drivers are told to winch vehicles on using j hooks even if vehicle runs.

When on apply handbrake.

Fit all four ratchet straps to wheels.

Slacken of winch rope if for any reason its fasten to body but leave attached

If on Motorway or dangerous situation fit two staps to nearside wheels. fit remaining two at earliest oppertunity

We advise against straping to bodywork/chassis for two reasons

1 when pulling against body chassis the vehicle can still move up and down going over bumps and under braking causing staps to chaff and slacken

2 some vehicles now have reactive suspension i have seen a very expensive land rover in a dealers with broken back wishbone because it tried to fight its way back to ride hieght against ratchet straps.

We stress to drivers to concentrate on stopping initial movment of vehicle rather wondering what will happen if they hit a brick wall

Edited January 24, 2013 by cosrec

[m109a3uk]

We always strap the tyres X 4 and keep as low as possible same as cosrec on a M/way live lane nearside only unless safe to do off side

[cosrec]

Sorry i got knocked of before finishing my last post.

Re advice from Monty2 and big ray what they say makes complete sense about loads coming under greater forces when braking hiting things then when accelerating or cornering.

But and this is a big But dont think it is only vehicles on the back that accelerate forward in the event of an accident.

Over the years i have been to many many accidents where people have died and had serious injuries caused by things we would not normally think about.

People out in a firms van

I had one accident driver picked up can 25 litres oil opened back door dropped it in drove off whacked back wheel of a stationary truck in fog killed

Same senario parts van delivering a new brake drum driver killed.

Driver who worked for my father picked up a reground crankshaft ran into a dyke killed

Lad who still works for us now had small tool box tight up to bulkhead in back of escort van went in dyke box shot forward into roof crushing his arm nearly lost it.

2 rear seat passengers not belted in on mondeo both got broken noses two front seat passengers dead.

6 young farmers soft top landrover pick up one on wheel arch d/S/R catapulted through passenger windcreen broken spine every body else walked away

So advice i give not only look were your going think whats behind you as well

Edited January 26, 2013 by cosrec

[monty2]

that is very true. Our motor way Police will not stop you any more on the hard shoulder for the same reason, You have to follow them to the next fuel station or junction.

 

Peter

http://www.milmarket.org