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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.
Who Invented the Ratchet Strap: From an 1863 Patent to EN 12195
Who invented the ratchet strap, and when? Let's be honest up front: history didn't record the name of the person who invented the ratchet strap. What we can pin down is the origin of its heart — the ratchet mechanism. An American, J.J. Richardson, patented it on 16 June 1863 (US Patent No....
Lashing Chains vs Straps: EN 12195-3, Grade 80/100 LC and When to Use Chains
Lashing chains or ratchet straps — which should you use? Lashing chains suit heavy, rigid loads with sharp edges — machinery, steel, pipes — because they combine high working load with near-zero stretch. Every chain carries an EN 12195-3 mark showing its Lashing Capacity (LC) in daN, and it works...
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 of the goods. So if your cargo is worth more than...
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 is the difference between polypropylene and polyester straps? The difference between polypropylene and polyester straps is elongation: polyester stretches only about 5% at working load and holds the cargo in place, whereas polypropylene stretches several times more and lets the load shift —...
Driver Lashing Checklist
What should a driver check before departure? A driver lashing checklist covers seven points to inspect before every departure: total LC with angle correction, the condition of every strap, EN 12195-2 documentation in the cab, the right lashing method for the cargo, anti-slip mats, ratchet and...
Quiz: Do You Know the Cargo Lashing Rules? 5 Questions That 92% of Drivers Get Wrong
Do you know the cargo lashing rules? The cargo lashing rules under EN 12195 come down to five things a BAG inspector checks: total effective LC with angle correction (at least 50% of cargo mass forward, 25% rearward and sideways), legible LC/STF markings on every strap, the correct lashing method...
TOP 5 Cargo Lashing Violations in the EU That Result in Fines Up to €5,000
How much are cargo lashing fines in the EU? Cargo lashing fines in the EU reach €5,000 per inspection, and roughly one in five trucks stopped has a lashing violation. The five most-cited violations are insufficient total LC (the angle not corrected), damaged or unmarked straps, missing conformity...
Rigging Equipment vs Cargo Lashing: What’s the Difference and What Do You Need for Safe Loading?
Rigging equipment vs cargo lashing: what's the difference? Rigging equipment vs cargo lashing is simple once you know the job: rigging lifts and moves the load during loading and unloading, while cargo lashing secures it on the vehicle for the whole journey. They use different standards (EN 1492 /...
Cargo Lashing and Insurance: How Non-Certified Lashing Equipment Can Void Your Cargo Insurance
Can non-certified lashing equipment void your cargo insurance? Yes — non-certified lashing equipment can give an insurer grounds to reduce or reject a cargo claim, because most European cargo and CMR policies require you to secure the load to the applicable standard, which across the EU means EN...
How Quality Cargo Securing Reduces Logistics Losses
How does quality cargo securing reduce logistics losses? Quality cargo securing reduces logistics losses by preventing the claims, re-deliveries, downtime, fines and premium hikes that a single lashing failure triggers — costs that dwarf the price of the equipment itself. Certified lashing gear is...
Lashing Points on a Trailer (EN 12640): How Strong Must They Be?
How strong must the lashing points on a trailer be? Lashing points on a trailer must meet EN 12640, which sets a minimum rated capacity per point by vehicle mass: about 400 daN up to 3.5 t, 800 daN from 3.5–7.5 t, 1000 daN from 7.5–12 t and 2000 daN over 12 t. Above all, each point must be at...