The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, known as the DVSA, has updated its guidelines on how to secure loads.

The DVSA is responsible for enforcing the correct load securing and roadworthiness of lorries, buses and coaches. It makes sure that vehicles are suitable for driving on the road, especially when they’re carrying cargo. And with more than 20,000 road impact incidents a year caused by objects falling from vehicles, they have introduced new legislation to make all road travel safer.

The new guidelines ensure that any load securing systems you use should be appropriate for both the load being carried and the vehicles being used. This includes the use of over the top lashings, rear kites and direct lashing to anchor points.

This information is crucial for hauliers and operators who regularly carry large loads in transit. So, if your business involves moving loads around the country, you need to be familiar with the new guidelines. You can find the new legislation in full here but we’ve also broken down the important information below.

Curtain side vehicles

If you operate with curtain side vehicles using pallets or items under 400kg, these can be secured using curtain side load straps or cargo straps. However, if you’re carrying loads of more than 400kg then the load must be secured using ratchet straps secured to the bed of the trailer or with load rated nets. The new rules express that the restraints must be able to restrain half the weight of the load to the side and the full weight to the forward section.

Box and rigid vehicles

Any vehicles that you use with rigid sides should be considered no different to any other vehicle when you think about your load securing, and all the usual requirements still apply. The design of a box or rigid sided vehicle means that they naturally offer some support to any loads you are carrying. However, loads can shift around during transit and this can cause some issues with regards to stability. That means that you will need to use some form of load securing inside the vehicle. This can involve the use of internal box van straps, load restraint shoring bars or heavy-duty load bars.

The new guidelines also outline responsibility for load safety and security, making it clear that it isn’t just the driver who is responsible. Everybody in the transport chain needs to be aware of the good practice and legislation guidelines in place. It’s important to stay up to date with the guidelines at the DVSA website and their blog Moving On which gives more official information for drivers and load carrying businesses. So, make sure you’re up to date with the current guidelines and understand in full your legal duty to other road users with the new DVSA guidelines.