Lorry Ratchet Straps Guide: Ensuring Safe and Secure Cargo Transport

By choosing the right lorry strap for your use case and using them in the right way, you can be confident that all cargo is secured properly for transit. By definition, a lorry ratchet strap is any strap that is compliant for use in securing cargo or tying down curtain sides or components on a lorry.

In this guide, we’re going into more detail on the safety and compliance requirements for ratchet straps, so you can be sure you’re choosing the right strap for your specific lorry type, cargo and application.

Understanding Lorry Ratchet Straps

What are lorry ratchet straps?

If cargo, such as pallets, is not sufficiently tied down, it can move around in the back of a lorry while in transit. To ensure this doesn’t happen, good quality lorry ratchet straps from a trusted manufacturer should be used.

You can also buy straps for securing side curtains on a trailer. This is just as important as securing the internal cargo.

Materials and components of a lorry ratchet strap

The most common material used for lorry ratchet straps is industrial-grade polyester webbing. It’s the material of choice due to its strength, durability, and resistance to the environmental factors encountered during transportation.

The webbing material can be attached to a buckle or have a hook at the end. The ratchet is used for tensioning the strap and making it tighter. The ratchet mechanism simplifies the tensioning process, allowing for quick and efficient securing of cargo. The mechanism ensures a tight and secure hold, providing stability for the transported goods.

Benefits of Using Lorry Ratchet Straps

Ensuring cargo safety during transportation

Ratchet straps help keep the load in place and prevent it from moving or shifting during transit, which can cause damage to the load or the vehicle. They are an effective way to secure loads and meet load restraint performance standards.

Compliance with safety regulations and standards

The use of proper ratchet straps is required by law to ensure the safe transportation of cargo.

Correctly securing loads with ratchet straps helps prevent accidents and damage to the cargo, vehicle, and other road users.

Safety Regulations and Standards

According to the laws outlined by the Department of Transport, ratchet straps need to be strong enough to support the loads they are transporting.

It is not just the responsibility of the driver, but everyone involved in the transport chain. Everyone working in this industry should have a good grasp of the laws and regulations.

There are also legal duties for employers and self-employed drivers to consider, as outlined under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (Sections 2 and 3).

There is also the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) which states that all people using professional equipment must have sufficient training in how to use it.

The consequences of non-compliance and potential risks include individuals getting hurt or property being damaged. If it’s found that insufficient ratchet straps were used to transport cargo and directly contributed to or exacerbated a road traffic accident, this could result in legal penalties, including fines or even prison, depending on the severity.

When it comes to choosing a ratchet strap, the lashing capacity should be checked to ensure that the strap can support the weight of the cargo.

Mistakes to Avoid

Staying compliant is all about choosing the right strap for the load and applying it correctly. There are some hard and fast mistakes to avoid, including the following:

• Overloading or under-securing cargo
• Using damaged or worn-out straps
• Improper placement or attachment of straps
• Neglecting regular inspections and maintenance

Ideally, straps should be checked after each use to ensure there are no visible signs of wear and tear. The Gov.UK website has plenty of up-to-date advice on how to secure loads for HGVs and what to do in certain situations, such as what to do if a load becomes unstable. However, with the right ratchet strap, this shouldn’t be an issue.

There are also maximum weights to consider. There is a helpful government guide that outlines the UK maximum gross weight in tonnes for the various types of lorry. The maximum that can be carried in the UK is 44 tonnes.

Conclusion

Making sure that you have the right equipment to transport cargo on lorries is essential for compliance with the laws. Taut Strap is a leading supplier of heavy duty ratchet straps that are highly durable and weather-resistant. Buy online today.