To keep the road a safe place for everyone, fleet managers and drivers must abide by the proper loading and unloading rules when transporting goods. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has specific guidelines that detail how goods should be safely loaded and unloaded. Whether you drive a van, a company car or a heavy goods vehicle, it’s important that you secure your load according to the DVSA guidelines.
This article will discuss the importance of load securing and the basics of the safe loading and unloading of vehicles, as well as the most common types of loads and load securing solutions.
➞ Jump to: BEST PRACTICES FOR SAFE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF VEHICLES
Full Checklist: safe loading and unloading of vehicles
The Importance of Load Securing
If a driver fails to safely secure a load, it could endanger others on the road. In fact, it’s estimated that 22,000 road accidents were caused by objects falling from vehicles in 2013.
Accidents caused by poorly secured loads can result in traffic jams, injury to the driver and other road users, damage to infrastructure and damage to the goods being transported.
By following the safe loading of vehicles code of practice, drivers can avoid preventable accidents from occuring.
The Basics of Safely Loading & Unloading Vehicles
The exact loading and unloading rules drivers should follow will depend on the type of vehicle they’re driving. For an overview of the basics of how to safely secure loads, you can watch this informational video produced by the DVSA.
In general, drivers should consider the following when loading and unloading vehicles:
- Is the vehicle right for the type of load being transported?
- Was the vehicle loaded properly?
- Were the correct securing methods used?
- Was an adequate load restraint used?
- Do they know how to correct a load that has shifted mid-transport?
It’s important to remember that the combined strength of the load restraint system must be able to withstand a forward force of at least the total weight of the load. This will prevent the load from moving if severe braking occurs.
Who’s Responsible for Loading & Unloading Vehicles?
Both fleet managers and drivers should be trained in the safe loading and unloading of vehicles. Safe loading practices should be covered during driver training. Moreover, drivers should be supervised while loading and unloading vehicles until it’s clear that they’re properly trained.
Read more: What Does A Fleet Manager Do?
If a load shifts during transport, it needs to be reported to the fleet manager. Fleet managers can learn from the experience and adjust their loading practices moving forward to avoid load shifts in the future.
It may be useful for the haulier and the delivery site to communicate with each other to create a loading / unloading plan. It’s safer for everyone involved if it’s clear who’s responsible for what part of the loading / unloading process, as well as what the haulier can expect at the delivery site.
Full Checklist: safe loading and unloading of vehicles
Types of Loads
There are no hard and fast rules for how businesses should manage the safe loading and unloading of vehicles. It all depends on the type of load and the vehicle being used. However, fleet managers should know how to properly secure common types of loads within their industry.
Depending on the industry, fleet managers can expect to handle one or more of the following types of loads:
- Palletised goods
- Roll cages
- Crushable loads
- Lightweight and fragile loads
- Multi-drop loads
- Bulk loads that are carried loose
- Equipment carried on vehicles
- Skips
- FIBCs
- Vehicle transporters
- Kegs and barrels
- Scaffolding equipment
- Timber
- Steel, machinery and plant
Read more: Keep Your Fleet Hygienic As Well As Safe
Common Load Securing Solutions
The way a load should be secured will depend on various factors, such as the type of load, the securing equipment at hand and so on.
Before securing a load, check to make sure it’s in working condition. Damaged equipment should be reported immediately. Moreover, it’s recommended that spare securing equipment is kept in the vehicle at all times.
Common load securing solutions include:
- Rope hooks
- Box pushers
- Lashings
- Kites
- Sails
- Friction mats
- Edge protectors
Safe Loading & Unloading of Vehicles for a Better Fleet
Failure to safely secure a load can result in death or injury, damage to the goods being transported, damage to the roads or damage to property. To avoid any of these scenarios, fleet managers and drivers should be well versed in the loading and unloading rules set out by the DVSA.
For more information on how to safely load and unload vehicles — including a breakdown of how to load specific types of vehicles — please refer to the DVSA’s complete load securing guide.
In addition to safely loading vehicles, fleet managers are responsible for many more tasks. These tasks include mileage and fuel tracking, annual MOT tests and route optimisation, just to name a few.
Vimcar’s fleet management system, Fleet Geo, can help streamline a fleet manager’s workload and create a more efficient fleet. Contact our team today for more information on how Fleet Geo can help your fleet surpass its goals.
Read more: How Are Commercial Vehicles Defined?
Best Practices to Consider for a Safe Loading and Unloading of Vehicles
The safe loading of vehicles code of practice requires:
- Drivers to be in the right place
- Loads to be secured in the correct positions
- The right tools to be used.
Here is a list of best practices for the safe loading of vehicles:
- The safe loading of vehicles code of practice requires loaders to spread the loads as evenly as possible when loading or unloading. In the event where you load uneven goods, the vehicle may become unsteady. The thing is, unsteady vehicles are hard to steer and may lead to accidents.
- Ensure your goods don’t slide forward or backward. Here, you need to ensure your fleet drivers and managers know how to arrange loads securely. Allow your fleet drivers and managers to go through a training that’ll let them in the safe loading of vehicles code of practice.
- Use safety equipment when loading mechanical equipment or heavy moving loads. Some of this safety equipment includes rope hooks, lashings, friction mats and edge protectors. With such safety equipment, heavy loads won’t slide or topple over.
- Loaders should balance heavy loads on the securing load system so that the entire weight of the load doesn’t affect vehicle movement and safety during braking. Fleet drivers and managers must ensure the weight of the load doesn’t exceed what’s recommended. Fleet drivers and managers would be going against the safe loading of vehicles code of practice if they overload the vehicles.
- To ensure the safe loading and unloading of vehicles in some companies where people work at height, managers should install a harness system. The harness system will protect those loading and unloading falling from extended heights.
- Fleet companies should ensure their drivers stay at a safe place if they’re not involved in the loading or unloading. The safe loading of vehicles code of practice requires drivers to stay out of their cabs when loading or unloading. Those who’re not involved in the loading and unloading should stay away from where the activity is conducted.
- When packaging loads, fleet managers and drivers should ensure pallets are used. The pallets should be in good condition to secure the loads. You don’t want your loads to end up falling off since they were not securely attached. The pallets will come in handy in ensuring you conduct safe loading and unloading of vehicles.
- Ensure you check the floor of the loading area for safe loading and unloading of vehicles. If there’s any debris or broken boarding, collect them out. Debris and broken boarding may lead to unbalanced loads that cause serious accidents.
Read more: What Are Vehicle Inspection Sheets?
Full Checklist: safe loading and unloading of vehicles
Go through the safe loading of vehicles code of practice to ensure your fleet business offers quality customer care. You don’t have to end up on the wrong side of the law because of failing to follow given guidelines. Contact Vimcar’s support group to learn more about the safe loading of vehicles code of practice. We’ll offer you information to help you conduct safe loading and unloading of vehicles and meet your goals.
