Pickup truck drivers occupy something of a middle ground between everyday drivers and the long-distance truck driver, whose very bread and butter is the transport of heavy goods over long distances. Commonly found in rural locations or owned by those who frequently have heavy loads to carry, pickup trucks secure cargo with some kind of solution between that used by the logistics industry and that used by everyday drivers. Regardless though, properly securing a pickup truck load is a real necessity. The reason for this is, of course, safety.
Cargo Safety in a Pickup Truck
And we are not just talking about the safety of the cargo. Recent statistics have found the majority of crashes and deaths on U.S. roads over the period studied could have been prevented if heavy loads had been more properly secured.
The common image of pickup trucks as secure in and of themselves is partly to blame for this danger. When you look at a pickup truck, the large cargo space at the back and the general sturdiness of the vehicle make it look like throwing cargo willy-nilly into the back is something that such a vehicle can handle This is not so, and you should always be sure to tie down heavy cargo with ratchet straps or tie down straps to ensure nothing is moving around as you drive and to be sure to respect weight restrictions. This is a matter of road safety as much as cargo safety.
The Importance of Planning
As mentioned, you can treat a pickup truck as a semi-industrial vehicle. At the very least, it can be classed as a heavy-duty vehicle. This means your pickup truck can carry heavy loads and tackle challenging terrain. So while this is the case, you need to plan your loads carefully beforehand.
Rollercam, cargo security experts, say that you should be aware of the dimensions of your pickup truck cargo space and the maximum weight it can hold. Knowing the dimensions helps you place things strategically so that they have the least room to move around. After that, it’s a matter of securing it properly.
How to Load a Pickup Truck
Get the Right Gear
In terms of the gear you will need, the aforementioned heavy-duty tie-down straps are a must. However, you should also be sure to include solid anchor points in your pickup truck storage space as well. You can know how strong these need to be simply by consulting the maximum weight, as this will determine the maximum size of your cargo as well.
Position Heavier Items Towards the Cab
We have already mentioned the importance of placing things properly. This doesn’t just mean limiting the space they can move and leaving space free for other cargo. The actual position relative to the body of the whole pickup truck is important too. Luckily, the advice is simple – place the heavier items nearer to the cab and therefore also nearer to the center of gravity of the vehicle.
Use at Least Two Sides
Considering the center of gravity also means that you should not have a load balanced only to one side of the vehicle. It depends very much on the weight of the cargo but loading disproportionately to one side can soon become dangerous. Be sure to offset each heavy item with other items placed on the opposite sides. And always use at least two of the sides, if at all possible with the load you are carrying.
Pickup trucks are up to the task of carrying heavy cargo at speed and over challenging terrain – but only if you use them properly.
