Lashing straps important for cargo securing
🔆Carriers understand the need to secure cargo, and most do it well. However, not everyone calculates the number of lashing straps correctly. Some think, “Why lash the cargo? It’s heavy enough to stay in place.” Others believe, “Just use one belt per ton of weight, and that’s it.”
☝For calculations, you need to know what forces act on the load in motion:
1️⃣ Cargo weight 2️⃣ Support reaction, i.e. semi-trailers, bodies 3️⃣ The force of inertia is equal to 80% of the weight of the load when moving forward and 50% of the weight of the load in other directions 4️⃣ The friction force depends on the contacting surfaces, the weight of the load and whether this surface is dry, wet or icy (it is important for drivers to clean the surface of the body before loading) 5️⃣ Centrifugal force, remember that it is proportional to the square of the speed. (slow down when cornering). ✅ There are several ways of securing the load with straps: ✔ clamping, ✔ stretching, ✔ blocking, ✔ loop (so-called loop lashing).
⁉️There is a special formula for calculating the number of belts for this method.
Sometimes the calculations can simply be confused when more than 100 belts are required for a load weighing 20 tons. It is very costly not only financially, but also in terms of time and efforts of the driver too. 🛂 Many drivers who are stopped, for example by the German or Swedish police, are shocked by the requirement to add 25 or even 50 ratchet straps. ♻️ Therefore, such loads are fastened in a combined way, using not only several types of fastening with belts, but also other methods, such as:
- blocking with metal racks
- wooden frames
- empty pallets
- anti-slip mats, etc.
⚠️ It will be very helpful if you show your detailed calculations for fastening during the check – this will remove a lot of question
