Photo of the month – December 2024

[German version]

Simply thoughtless or just not thought-through?	Rolling Stones?

Rolling Stones?

Rolling stones may be something of an exaggeration, but they can certainly slide – and that can have very unpleasant consequences.

First of all, we should say a few words about the vehicle itself: It is particularly suitable for the load shown here. Stable side walls and a loading bed whose length can be adapted using mechanically adjustable end walls. The loading bed also has a steel loading surface which can be considered suitable for a load as abrasive as this one. The load distribution seems to be as it should be. At first glance, the overall center of gravity looks to be slightly too far to the front but, because the vehicle has its own crane, its load distribution curve will undoubtedly permit this load distribution.

The fact that there is a tight fit to the front shows that some thought was also paid to securing the load.

This impression is reinforced when we take a closer look. However, the loading surface itself has some dirt and deposits and there appear to be some shortcomings with the tight fit to the side, even when the side gate is closed.

These mechanically adjustable rams are a very useful piece of equipment; this vehicle’s loading bed can be adjusted depending on the weight, and possibly also the quantity and geometry, of the load.

What destroys this positive overall impression is the gap in the center of the load. The last two pallets on the right-hand side of the vehicle also have no tight fit to the side.

We have to report that there is no trace of any load securing to the rear. There was still space available that could have been filled by the cargo transported in the second layer closer to the front. However, it might have been more difficult for the crane to reach it in this position. This gap must either be closed using the rams or measures must be taken to secure the load.

We should mention just for the sake of completeness that a crane set down on the cargo is not a load securing measure and does not eliminate the need to secure the load properly. All this means that there is still some work to do here. However, that is not the object of today’s article.

Right at the start, we mentioned that this vehicle is particularly suitable for the load. And when you look along the central gap in the load between the two rows of pallets, you can see load securing points which could have been used located along the vehicle’s centerline.

 

We see three ways of securing the load:

1. We could fill out the “central aisle” with pallets standing on their sides.
2. We could fill up the central space with reusable airbags.
3. We could equip the pallets with large hollow-section strips on both sides and secure them with tie-down lashings.
4. If the loading bed had a sufficiently high level of friction, for example if it were entirely covered with fully vulcanized rubber, we could simply pass the belts through the central load securing point and thus ensure the minimum securing force for both sides. The belt used for this tie-down lashing would have something very much like an “M”-shape.
   Covering the entire loading bed with fully vulcanized rubber makes it easy to clean (with a broom) because the rubber mats have a smooth surface.

 

We should also mention that the way the cargo has been placed on the pallets leaves something to be desired. We can see that the load sometimes ends well short of the pallet edge and cause gaps in the load which, in turn, make a tight fit impossible. That's a shame!

Your load securing columnists wish you a calm and peaceful Advent season.

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