You call securing stuff on the back of your utility trailer ‘tying down’. The government refers to it as ‘cargo securement’. Regardless of the chosen term, securing cargo so that it cannot move is serious business. Equally serious is a person’s choice of cargo securement solutions. The choice is critical on many levels.
Both commercial operators and average consumers have a lot of choices in cargo securement solutions. Those choices include ropes, chains, bungie cords, and cargo straps. Cargo straps are sometimes referred to as cam straps, cam buckle straps, ratchet straps, and lashing straps. They are all pretty much the same thing.
Each solution has its pros and cons. Likewise, some cargo securement solutions are designed for specific applications. If a truck driver is hauling a front loader on a flatbed trailer, the only appropriate cargo securement solution is the chain.
It is a Safety Thing
Choosing the right cargo securement solution is critical for safety purposes. Whether you are talking a truck driver using ratchet straps to secure landscaping bricks, or a homeowner relying on Rollercam buckle straps to keep his canoe securely fastened to his pickup, the last thing either one wants is for their load to fall into the road.
How often have you read news stories about major accidents caused by loads falling off vehicles? It happens far too often. The tragedy of it all is that such accidents do not have to happen. Drivers can completely eliminate the risk of falling loads by securing those loads properly.
It is a Legal Thing, Too
Not only is cargo securement a safety issue, but it is also a legal issue. Federal law requires that all motor carriers operating across state line fully secure cargo according to a strict set of standards. The standards dictate everything from the number of tie-downs required to how those tie-downs are attached.
State laws regulate commercial trucking in much the same way. But their laws go even further to apply to any driver carrying any type of cargo that could fall into the road if not kept secure. Something as basic as transporting a load of bulk stone or mulch from the garden center is subject to state cargo securement laws.
It is Even a Financial Thing
Safety and legal concerns should be enough to motivate just about anyone to go the extra mile when it comes to cargo securement. But if not, here’s yet another reason: cargo securement is a financial issue. Simply put, lost loads cost money. They cost money in terms of replacement, repairing damage, and settling up with other drivers who might be caught up in the aftermath of cargo falling off a vehicle.
All Solutions Are Not Equal
All of this takes us back to the idea of choosing the right cargo securement solution for the job. The fact is that not all solutions are equal. Again, they all have their pros and cons.
Your basic cam buckle strap works well for transporting gear on top of an overlanding rig. It is not suitable for flatbed trucking applications. Commercial trucking involves loads that require heavy duty ratchet straps and chains.
Likewise, securing a tarp with a ratchet strap would be overkill. Even a consumer-grade cam strap would be too much for a tarp. The best solution for securing a tarp is the bungie cord.
Needless to say that any load has to be secured based on its size, weight, shape, and nature. That’s why there are so many options out there. The key is figuring out which cargo securement solution is right for a given circumstance.
