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LPX Trade Blog — cargo securing, lifting and safety
Welcome to the LPX Trade blog, where we share practical guidance on cargo securing, lifting and load safety for professional transport. Our articles explain the European standards that govern the field — EN 12195 for lashing, EN 1492 for lifting slings and ISO 17712 for security seals — and show how to choose and use the right equipment. Because correct load securing prevents accidents, fines and cargo damage, we cover topics such as ratchet strap selection, lashing calculations, sling colour codes and tamper-evident sealing. Browse the latest posts below for expert tips from a Latvia-based B2B supplier serving the European market.
The Cost of Damaged Cargo: A Real Loss Calculator
The Cost of Damaged Cargo: A Real Loss Calculator What is the real cost of damaged cargo? The cost of damaged cargo almost always exceeds what the carrier pays back, because the CMR Convention caps carrier liability at 8.33 SDR per kilogram — roughly €10–11 per kg of weight, not the actual price...
Eye Bolts and Turnbuckles: 5 Mistakes in Cargo Securing
What are the most common mistakes with eye bolts and turnbuckles? Eye bolts and turnbuckles fail most often because of five mistakes: loading an eye bolt at an angle without derating the WLL, leaving the shoulder not seated flush, applying a side or rotating load, failing to lock the turnbuckle...
Axle Load: Why Correct Loading Saves Tyres (EU Limits)
What is axle load and what are the EU limits? Axle load is the weight that one axle's wheels transfer to the road, and under EU Directive 96/53/EC it is capped at 10 t for a single non-driving axle, 11.5 t for a driving axle, up to 19 t for a tandem bogie and up to 24 t for a tri-axle group. A...
How to Calculate LC for Cargo Securing in 2 Minutes: Formula and Example (EN 12195-1)
How do you calculate LC for cargo securing? To calculate LC for cargo securing, the most common method — tie-down lashing — actually sizes the number of straps rather than the LC itself, using the EN 12195-1:2010 formula: n ≥ (c − μ) × m × fS / (2 × μ × STF × sin α). Plug in the cargo mass m (kg),...
Cargo Securing Methods: A Visual Guide to the 5 Types
What are the 5 cargo securing methods? There are five cargo securing methods: tie-down (frictional) lashing, diagonal (direct) lashing, loop lashing, blocking, and spring lashing. Choosing the right one matters more than tying the load down hard: on a roadside check, an inspector looks at whether...
Polypropylene vs Polyester straps
What Happens When You Pull Both Straps to Breaking Point One material holds your load. The other stretches and lets it shift on the road. The two straps look almost identical (Polypropylene vs Polyester) — the real difference is the label colour and what an inspector sees during a roadside check....
Driver Lashing Checklist
7 Points to Inspect Before Every Departure Fact According to BAG data, over 40% of cargo lashing violations detected on German roads could have been identified and corrected within 10 minutes before the journey began. This is precisely why inspectors first check whether a pre-departure inspection...
Quiz: Do You Know the Cargo Lashing Rules? 5 Questions That 92% of Drivers Get Wrong
Do You Know the Cargo Lashing Rules? Before you read on Try to answer each question on your own before looking at the correct answer. It takes five minutes — and will show you exactly how prepared you are for a real roadside inspection in the EU. An experienced driver with 15 years...
TOP 5 Cargo Lashing Violations in the EU That Result in Fines Up to €5,000
A Real Case from the Field April 2023, Autobahn A4, Germany. A truck driver is stopped by a Bundesamt für Güterverkehr (BAG) inspector during a routine check. The cargo: steel structures weighing 8,400 kg. Everything looks fine at first glance — straps are tensioned, no visible damage. Then...
Rigging Equipment vs Cargo Lashing: What’s the Difference and What Do You Need for Safe Loading?
Rigging equipment and cargo lashing are two distinct equipment categories with different tasks, standards, and rules of use. Confusing them is dangerous: incorrectly selected equipment leads to cargo damage, fines during roadside inspections, and workplace accidents. What is rigging equipment?...
Cargo Lashing and Insurance: How Non-Certified Lashing Equipment Can Void Your Cargo Insurance
FAQ Q: Can non-certified lashing equipment void cargo insurance? A: Yes. Using lashing equipment without EN 12195 certification and a valid blue label can void your CMR cargo insurance policy. Most European cargo insurance policies require compliance with EN 12195 load securing standards....
How Quality Cargo Securing Reduces Logistics Losses
What cheap cargo lashing really costs: ROI breakdown and hidden losses The culprit? Almost always a failure in cargo securing during transport — lashing materials chosen on the basis of "cheapest available. Case analysis: why "saving" on lashing straps and cargo nets leads to claims, delays and...
Eye Bolts and Turnbuckles
Eye Bolts and Turnbuckles: How to Avoid Critical Errors in Load Calculation and Lashing Angle A Specialist Guide for Freight Transport Professionals Introduction: The Cost of Getting It Wrong Every year across Europe, thousands of road accidents are caused by cargo shifting or falling from...
Axle Load in Transport
🚛 Axle Load in Transport: How to Properly Position Cargo and Avoid Penalties 📌 Simple Explanation + Real-World Experience In my 30 years in logistics, I’ve seen the same mistake repeated over and over and all related to axle load in transport: 👉 the cargo is perfectly secured👉 but incorrectly...
Anti-Slip Mats for Cargo
Anti-Slip Mats for Cargo: Expert Guide to Selection and Quantity Calculation to Prevent Load Shifting In professional transport and logistics, cargo shifting is rarely caused by weak lashing straps. In most cases, the real issue is insufficient friction between the cargo and the loading surface....