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All loads must be positioned and secured in compliance with the National Transport Commission’s load restraint guidelines, available at ntc.gov.au
The basics
It is your responsibility to make sure the vehicle is appropriate for your load.
Any load must be prevented from moving or falling from a vehicle by indirect or direct methods, or a combination of both.
Guidelines and performance standards for the safe carriage of loads on road vehicles can be found in the Load Restraint Guide published by the National Transport Commission.
The Load Restraint Guide can be downloaded from the National Transport Commission website ntc.gov.au
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Indirect restraint is clamping the load against the vehicle body structure to increase frictional restraint, for instance tie-down lashing.
Direct restraint means:
» containing the load within the vehicle’s body structure
» baulking the load in one or more directions against the vehicle body structure or attachment, and
» attaching the load to the vehicle body structure using lashing or mechanical locking devices.
Lashings and baulking are required because the friction between the load and the vehicle platform will not be sufficient to prevent the load from moving:
» up and down, on bumpy roads
» forwards, when braking
» backwards, when in reverse gear and braking
» sideways, when going around curves or corners.
Consider the following when securing your load.
Friction
A slippery vehicle platform surface is never safe. Make sure the bottom surface of the load and the platform surface are clean, dry and free of grease. Clean all these surfaces, this way you can get more friction. Avoid metal to metal contact by putting timber or rubber between the metal surfaces.
Dunnage (Packing)
Sometimes you need to use dunnage for support or because of the shape of the load. Dunnage must be carefully selected and secured to prevent it from moving and to provide access for slings or forklift forks.
Timber packing should all be of the same thickness and each piece should be as wide as possible. The width should be at least twice the thickness.
A single layer of dunnage (packing) between the base of the load and the deck is better than two layers.
A single layer of dunnage (packing) is also better between the layers of the load.
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Baulking
The front of the load should be hard against the headboard, front rack or bulkhead of the vehicle. If you can not do this, then use an obstacle which can be fitted across the vehicle platform and firmly attached to the chassis frame. The front of the load should be hard against this obstacle.
Baulks, wedges and chocks can be used to prevent single items from moving in any direction. These must be strong enough for the load and properly secured to the platform.
Load anchoring points
Anchoring points which are secured to wooden parts of the vehicle are not likely to be strong enough to legally secure the load. Where anchoring points are not strong enough or can not be used, baulking and extra lashing will be required.
Lashings
Lashings, fastening devices, dogs and chains, cables, clamps, load binders and other equipment must be in good order and able to transmit all the forces of the load to the vehicle chassis.
» lashings and fastenings must be properly tensioned at all times and checked often during the journey
» they must keep the load hard against the headboard, bulkhead or obstacle. Be careful of over-tensioning, it can strain tensioners, lashings and perhaps damage the load
» the whole restraining system must be arranged so that failure or slackening of one part does not affect other parts of the system
» lashings that provide restraint forwards and
backwards must be as close to horizontal as you can get them. They must never be at an angle of more than 60 degrees to the horizontal
» lashings must not contact any sharp edges of the load or the vehicle. They can be protected by the use of corner protectors, sleeves or other packing material.
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Tarpaulins
Except for very light bulk loads, sheets or tarpaulins provide weather protection only. Loads must be properly restrained against movement as well as protected by the tarpaulin.
Make the load restraint system tamper-proof
It must be arranged so it won’t be released by vibration or load movement.
Load distribution and arrangement
The first priority when loading a vehicle is to keep within load limits for the vehicle and its wheel, axle and axle group load limits (see page 98).
The load must comply with dimension limits as well.
The load should be placed against the headboard.
Sometimes you cannot do this, because of the load shape, or because it will affect vehicle handling. Then you must baulk the front of the load as described on page 101.
Try to spread the load to give an even weight distribution over the entire floor area and to put an even load over the axle groups and each side of the axles.
Keep the centre of gravity as low as you can. This means that heavier and bigger items should be at the bottom.
To maintain stability in the sideways direction the centre of gravity of the load should be on, or as near as you can get it, to the centre line of the vehicle.
Heavy items should be carried on the centre line, not at the sides. Heavy, solid items should be placed in front of light crushable items. Part loads of heavy items should be placed over, or nearly over, the axles. Baulking may be needed to achieve this.
The load should be rearranged whenever practical, or after each partial unloading, to maintain weight, height and balance distribution.
A load should not be leaned against a rack unless the rack has been designed for that purpose.
Small heavy items should be distributed on side members, or a platform.
High loads have poor stability so there is a greater chance of overturning when cornering. High loads should be carried on low platform vehicles with multiple axle groups.
All loads must be positioned and secured in compliance with the National Transport Commission’s guidelines, available at ntc.gov.au
The registered operator of the vehicle, the driver and any person who caused or permitted the vehicle to be used on the highway are each guilty of an offence if a load is not properly secured.
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Test yourself questions
(Answers to test yourself questions are upside down at the bottom of this page)
1. The maximum overall length of your vehicle is A. equal to the maximum length permitted by your class
of vehicle
B. 1.2 metres in front, or 3.5 metres behind the vehicle C. 2.5 metres in front, or 2.5 metres behind the vehicle.
2. The person responsible for making sure the load is appropriate for your vehicle is
A. the owner
B. the manufacturer of the goods C. the driver.
Notes
An sw er s 1 A 2C
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Chapter 12 – Heavy vehicle signs
This chapter includes:
» What these signs mean
» Test yourself questions