00:13
Faizan
It's an unfortunate thing in the transport industry, but some operators and drivers do not always fully grasp one of the basic disciplines of professional freight transport - loading.
The symptoms of this are all too apparent at times. You may have seen them yourself, including things such as vehicles struggling to corner or go around roundabouts without half their wheels lifting off the road, or vans arriving at destination with a chaotic clutter of boxes and other items all over the inside of the vehicle.
Here we will touch on one or two of the basics by way of a reminder about preparing and loading a vehicle for freight transport.
Weight distribution
There are all sorts of legal regulations relating to the distribution of weight equally in a vehicle so as not to present a danger to other road users, or indeed yourself. Think carefully about making sure that the weight is as evenly distributed as possible on both sides of the vehicle as well as front and back. Check the manufacturer's recommendations for maximum axle loadings and so on.
Shifting cargo
A classic nightmare for customers and loading bay workers is when a vehicle arrives with everything in an unholy pile somewhere in the middle, as it has shifted in transit.
Typically, there is no excuse whatsoever for this. Some types of cargo will, by their nature, be more prone to shifting than others, and that might be particularly the case if the vehicle isn't fully loaded and there is space to move around.
The solution to this has been available for centuries - it is called strapping and webbing. In some cases, it might also be necessary to use chains if the item is particularly heavy.
Whatever solution you use, remember that if it is possible for something to move around on your vehicle in transit then it probably will. So, make it impossible!
Sensible packing
The symptoms of this are all too apparent at times. You may have seen them yourself, including things such as vehicles struggling to corner or go around roundabouts without half their wheels lifting off the road, or vans arriving at destination with a chaotic clutter of boxes and other items all over the inside of the vehicle.
Here we will touch on one or two of the basics by way of a reminder about preparing and loading a vehicle for freight transport.
Weight distribution
There are all sorts of legal regulations relating to the distribution of weight equally in a vehicle so as not to present a danger to other road users, or indeed yourself. Think carefully about making sure that the weight is as evenly distributed as possible on both sides of the vehicle as well as front and back. Check the manufacturer's recommendations for maximum axle loadings and so on.
Shifting cargo
A classic nightmare for customers and loading bay workers is when a vehicle arrives with everything in an unholy pile somewhere in the middle, as it has shifted in transit.
Typically, there is no excuse whatsoever for this. Some types of cargo will, by their nature, be more prone to shifting than others, and that might be particularly the case if the vehicle isn't fully loaded and there is space to move around.
The solution to this has been available for centuries - it is called strapping and webbing. In some cases, it might also be necessary to use chains if the item is particularly heavy.
Whatever solution you use, remember that if it is possible for something to move around on your vehicle in transit then it probably will. So, make it impossible!
Sensible packing
Posted in: business
