DVSA Load Securing: The New Rules

Understanding the DVSA's Updated Load Securing Guidance for HGVs and Goods Vehicles

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has recently updated its code of practice for securing loads on Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and other goods vehicles. This crucial revision aims to enhance safety for everyone involved in the transport of goods, from operators and drivers to consignors and the general public. Unsecured loads pose significant risks, including compromised vehicle handling, increased rollover potential, and serious road accidents. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the new regulations, highlighting key responsibilities, best practices for securing various types of loads, and what to do in the event of an incident.

1. Shared Responsibility for Load Security

Load security is not the sole responsibility of one individual; it's a collective effort. Every party involved in the loading, transit, and unloading of goods plays a vital role in ensuring safety. The DVSA emphasizes this shared accountability to foster a proactive safety culture across the industry.

Operator Responsibilities:

• Ensure vehicles are fit for purpose and maintained in a roadworthy condition.
• Verify that drivers are qualified, adequately trained, and competent in their roles.
• Provide drivers with the necessary training, equipment, and clear instructions for securing loads, especially if it falls within their duties.
• Offer support to drivers who raise concerns about loading practices or load security, without pressuring them to operate unsafe vehicles.

Driver Responsibilities:

• If securing the load personally, ensure all equipment is serviceable and robust enough to prevent movement.
• When the load is secured by someone else, conduct a thorough pre-departure check of its security.
• Report any safety concerns to your employer or the consignor. Do not commence a journey if you have doubts about the load's security.
• Regularly inspect load restraints throughout the journey. This is particularly critical for webbing lashings, 'settling' loads (like aggregates), and after sudden braking or evasive manoeuvres.

Consignor Responsibilities:

• Ensure goods are in a suitable condition for transport, stable before loading, and packaged appropriately for securing.
• Provide necessary training, equipment, and instructions for on-site loaders.
• Offer a safe waiting area for the driver and clearly communicate how the goods have been loaded and secured.
• Consider providing a detailed load plan, including weight, position, securing methods, special handling instructions, and a timestamped photograph of the secured load.
• Establish a clear system with the vehicle operator to maintain load security throughout the journey.

2. The Fundamentals of Effective Load Securing

The method of securing a load is dictated by the nature of the goods and the type of vehicle. A robust load securing system can incorporate various elements such as lashings, friction matting, and physical barriers like coil wells and internal bulkheads. In some cases, goods may need to be transported within frames, boxes, stillages, or cages.

A fundamental requirement for any load securing system is its ability to withstand significant forces:

• Equivalent to the entire weight of the load in the forward direction.
• Half the weight of the load to the sides.
• Half the weight of the load to the rear.

The system must also maintain its integrity during emergency stops and swerving actions. Additional measures may be necessary during adverse weather conditions (wet, icy, high winds) or when the journey involves sea transport.

Risk Assessment and Best Practices:

Selecting the most appropriate securing solution involves a thorough risk assessment, considering all potential hazards, including working at height. Consulting British Standards Institution (BSI) load securing technical standards can also provide valuable guidance. Before loading, inspect the load platform, bodywork, anchorage points, and twist locks. Crucially, ensure the load, including any partial offloading during the journey, does not exceed the vehicle's maximum permitted axle and gross weight limits.

Optimal Load Placement:

The DVSA guidelines stress the importance of correct load placement for stability:

• Position the load close to the vehicle's centre line, with its centre of gravity as low as possible.
• Distribute the weight evenly across the entire floor area.
• Place lighter items towards the sides of the vehicle.
• Utilise load-spreading devices (e.g., pallets, wooden boards) for smaller, heavy items.
• On multi-deck trailers, position the heaviest items on the lower deck or swan neck.
• Wheeled loads, such as plant equipment, must be fully supported by the load bed.
• Ensure the load does not obstruct the driver's field of vision, including rear-view mirrors.
• When stacking, place larger and heavier items at the bottom, closer to the centre line. Lower items must be strong enough to support the weight above during all driving manoeuvres.

3. Responding to Load Instability During Transit

Should your load shift during transit but remain contained within the vehicle or trailer, the immediate action is to reduce speed gradually. Avoid sudden braking and find a safe location to stop and resecure the load, prioritising your own safety. Never continue the journey until the load is stable and properly secured.

If the load leaves the vehicle and poses a risk to other road users or traffic:

• Stop in the safest possible location as soon as you can.
• Contact emergency services immediately (dial 999) and report the incident to the police.
• Await the arrival of emergency services or highway authorities.

If you discover the load has moved upon reaching your destination or during unloading, quarantine the vehicle. The receiving site must collaborate with the operator to develop a safe unloading plan. Returning to the road with an unstable load is strictly prohibited.

4. A Toolkit for Load Securing: Various Methods

There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for securing loads. The optimal approach involves a combination of methods tailored to the specific load, vehicle, and operating conditions. Regular inspection and maintenance of all securing equipment are paramount to prevent damage and deterioration.

Common Load Securing Equipment:

• Attachment Points: Robust points on the vehicle chassis designed for securing loads.
• Buckle Straps and Internal Nets: Versatile for securing various types of cargo, especially in box vans and curtain-sided vehicles.
• Bungee Securing Systems and Kites: Suitable for lighter loads or specific applications.
• Chains: High-strength options for heavy and robust loads, often used with tensioners.
• Coil Wells, Chocks, and Cradles: Designed for specific loads like coils of steel, providing positive restraint.
• Friction and Friction Matting: Increases the friction between the load and the vehicle bed, reducing the need for excessive tensioning.
• Headboards and Bulkheads: Provide a physical barrier at the front of the load.
• Positive Fit: Ensuring the load is tightly packed or wedged to prevent movement.
• Ropes: Traditional securing method, requiring proper knot-tying techniques.
• Sheeting and Netting: Protects the load from the elements and can prevent lighter items from escaping.
• Vehicle Mounted Equipment: Permanently installed securing systems.
• Webbing Ratchet Straps: Widely used for their ease of use and high tensile strength.

5. Tailoring Load Securing to Different Vehicle Types

The DVSA's revised code of practice offers specific advice for a wide array of vehicles, from agricultural machinery transporters to passenger cars. Here's a summary for commonly encountered commercial vehicles:

Bulk Tippers:

• If the load is below the vehicle sides, use a tarpaulin or net.
• If the load exceeds the vehicle sides, a tarpaulin is mandatory, ensuring it completely covers the load bed without gaps. Never rely on the load settling below the sides.
• For divisible loads like aggregate or scrap metal that are higher than the sides, a rated sheet or solid cover is required.

Flatbeds and Low Loaders:

• Load items against the headboard or within 30cm of it whenever feasible.
• If weight distribution dictates otherwise, use securely mounted blocks, chocks, or timbers to prevent forward movement.
• Alternatively, a securely lashed obstacle, such as stacked timber, can be fitted across the load bed and firmly attached to the vehicle.

Drop and Fixed-Sided Flatbeds:

• Never rely solely on the vehicle's sides to secure the load, as items can shift and bounce over them.
• Secure individual items with lashings whenever possible.
• Cover the entire load bed with a net or tarpaulin.
• Position items against the headboard or within 30cm of it.
• Attach lashings to the vehicle chassis before fixing the vehicle sides.
• Ensure side gates and anchor stanchions are in good condition and promptly repair any defects.
• If the vehicle lacks a rear bulkhead, use additional lashing or a secure rear tarpaulin to prevent rearward movement.

Multi-Deck Trailers:

• Be mindful of additional risks associated with working at height and falling objects.
• Items on the upper deck should be loaded in a single layer, be stable without lashings, and weigh less than 400kg.
• Palletised goods must be secured to the pallet and to each other before being loaded and secured to the vehicle.
• Utilise ground-operated internal nets or securing systems to protect personnel from falling items when the curtain is opened for unloading.
• Avoid using internal nets or roof-mounted buckle straps for goods weighing 400kg or more. Instead, load these onto the main deck or swan neck and secure them as you would on a single-deck trailer.

Vans:

• Load items against a bulkhead.
• Group smaller items together within boxes or containers.
• Secure large or heavy items firmly to the vehicle.
• Employ positive fit, arranging goods to prevent shifting or slipping during transit.
• If a bulkhead is absent, use extra strapping or other measures to prevent the load from moving forward.
• Regularly check the load during multi-drop journeys to minimise movement.
• Never store load items, tools, or gas cylinders in the driving cab.

6. Transporting Specific Load Types Safely

The DVSA's updated guidance also addresses the safe transportation of various goods, including abnormal loads, non-hazardous goods, and bulk bags. Here’s a look at some common items:

Construction Products:

• Secure products like bricks and blocks against the headboard or within 30cm of it.
• Stacks should be stable without the need for lashings.
• If the load height exceeds the headboard, use at least two frictional lashings over the front row of the load to create a virtual bulkhead.
• When using diagonal lashing (cross-strapping) to create a rear bulkhead, employ a frictional lashing to prevent sideways movement.
• Ensure lashings go around the load and attach to the vehicle's chassis, not under the pallet base.
• When transporting construction products on pallets, secure them to the pallet to form a single unit before securing the unit to the vehicle.

Pallets:

• Ensure loads cannot slide on the pallet; this is crucial for the effectiveness of any restraint system.
• Inspect pallets for damage before loading; reject any that appear weak or compromised.
• If achieving a positive fit is difficult due to varying pallet sizes, fill gaps with packing material or use additional lashing.
• When carrying pallets in van bodies, secure them with lashings or use packing material (dunnage) to fill any spaces around the pallets, vehicle sides, or headboard.
• Position pallets as close together as possible, loading front to back along the vehicle's centre line, especially if there are gaps in the load space or if weight distribution is a concern.

Staying compliant with the DVSA's load securing regulations is essential for road safety and legal operation. For specific advice tailored to your unique operational needs, consulting with a specialist in vehicle compliance and risk assessment is highly recommended.

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