How often do people throw something in the back of a pickup truck or on the roof of the car, then fail to properly strap it down because they are only driving a short distance? I have done it myself. It’s not right, but I have done it. I am confident enough to say that I would not do it now, thanks to the knowledge and experience that comes with age.
Here’s how I see it: no drive distance is too short for a good cam strap. I say that because a vehicle moving at just 15 mph has enough momentum to cause serious problems should an improperly secured piece of cargo fall off. It really doesn’t take much. So if I’m ever going to transport something that isn’t fully contained inside my car, I use cam straps.
A Specific Kind of Tie-Down
A cam strap is a specific kind of tie-down. It is similar to a ratchet strap in the sense that it is made of webbing material and secured by a metal buckle. The difference is that it utilizes a cam buckle rather than a ratchet. Cam buckles give you more control over tension and force. On the other hand, ratchet straps are overkill for my needs.
As a side note, I prefer the Rollercam tie-down brand. Their patented cam straps do a better job than ratchets, rope, and bungee cords – at least in my opinion. But even ropes and bungee cords are better than nothing. If that is all I had to tie a piece of cargo to my car, that’s what I would use.
It’s the Law
What you may not know is that tying down loose cargo is the law. To my knowledge, every state has cargo securement laws on the books. These are laws that compel drivers to secure all loose cargo regardless of vehicle type.
It doesn’t matter if you’re driving a car, truck, motorcycle, scooter, or RV. It is against the law to transport loose cargo without securing it to your vehicle properly. And ‘properly’ is defined as being secured in such a way that it cannot possibly break loose and fall off.
Cargo securement laws even apply to loose material like stone and gravel. If you are carrying some on a trailer or in the back of a truck, the law dictates you cover the load with a tarp. The tarp must be secured with some sort of tie-down that keeps it in place.
By the way, state laws don’t differentiate between long and short journeys. Cargo must be secured even if your total trip is only a quarter of a mile. You cannot drive legally on public roads with insecure cargo regardless of how short your trip might be.
It’s Also Common Courtesy
Above and beyond the law, securing loose cargo is also a matter of common courtesy. Other people do not want to be behind your vehicle when something flies off unexpectedly. They certainly don’t want a piece of loose cargo striking their windshields or ripping apart the undersides of their cars. Would you want such a thing to happen to you?
Unfortunately, I see unsecured cargo all the time. Where I live, not tying things down seems to be a sport. I fear the day I am driving down the road when something flies off a car in front of me and causes a severe accident. I’m hoping that day never comes. In the meantime, I do my part to remind people I know that no driving distance is too short for a good cam strap.
