Talk to Me About Dry Van Load Securement

When I end up with a load lock, I just put it in the back of a reefer trailer in one of the drop yards/terminals. When doing that, I also sent a message to my FM telling him which trailer I put it in. This helped me get rid of a load lock I didn't want to carry around, and the reefer guys use load locks a lot, so hopefully it helped someone out.

 

When I did haul a reefer trailer, I always used load locks, because of the corrugated metal floor, it's slicker than the normal wood dry van.

 

Hon loads are probably the biggest strap shipper we have. The other week I picked up 6 rolls 7k each that were as tall as the trailer. Barely fit, the shipper wanted 4 straps and they added some of their own as well. That heavy and top heavy is a concern, Hon same way but to prevent damage, some grocery dry loads like flat empty boxes like cereal boxes on pallets some shippers require a strap bc shrink wrap and plastics straps aren't enough it can still shift. Grocery loads reefer or dry anything hits the floor it's rejected. The load lock I have that I hate isn't a rachet type load lock reefer drivers use so dumping it off to them is pointless. It has clips like the van straps.

 

Thats why I drive flat bed. When I secure my load with straps or chains I know its secure!! You van guys put an awful lot of faith in a 3/8 inch slab of plywood.