Cargo Straps - how many need to be replaced each year?

Cargo Straps - how many need to be replaced each year?

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Discussion

ReaderScars

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
I was watching something like outback truckers recently and a driver was delivering a strapped down load and had about 20 spare ratchet straps but was looking to use them all before the end of the journey.

How many do you go through in a year and what happens when your spares get used up during a delivery? ie, how do you secure the load if your straps get broken through the journey?

grumpy52

5,717 posts

173 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
If miss used they last about 2 minutes.
They do wear very quickly if they get full of dusty grit .
The secret is to use hard rubber packing where they touch the load .
The lot that you saw were well used .
We tend to replace them once the labels become impossible to read , this is what the German equivalent of VOSA look for .
The label gives the load rating .

chilistrucker

4,541 posts

158 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
^^^^^This, and always carry more than you need, +2 spares on top of that biggrin
Keep a can of wd40 to help look after the ratchet bits and if any straps start to fray or rip, launch them in the bin. Vosa or what ever they're called these days won't want to see damaged straps.

ReaderScars

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the info on increasing lifespan etc. Was trying to get an idea of how many might break over a year, how many get bought per truck, for instance. Was also wondering what happens if all your spares get used on a run - is it likely, is it down to unusually shaped loads or just through using without the plastic savers?

grumpy52

5,717 posts

173 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
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As for numbers per truck ,it's that length of string question.
Most operators have a good idea of what they normally need , commonly 1 every meter, plus 50% spare .
Heavy stuff tends to get chained down if possible.
Many in the business have no clue how to use straps properly or how to store them ready for immediate use .The box with a birdsnest of straps is not the image of a professional.
A newer system that is emerging is a cargo net with ratchets attached ,these tend to be used on open trucks loaded with bagged goods or stacked bricks or similar. Not something that I have experience of .

ReaderScars

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
quotequote all
The reason for asking about these is that I thought I'd come up with a useful development that could be retro fitted to straps or built into new ones, but after a patent search my design/idea already been registered.

ReaderScars

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
quotequote all
The reason for asking about these is that I thought I'd come up with a useful development that could be retro fitted to straps or built into new ones, but after a patent search my design/idea already been registered.

grumpy52

5,717 posts

173 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
quotequote all
We have plastic corner type flexi things to use on abrasive or delicate loads , they have shoulders on them so that they don't slip out sideways as the strap fits between the shoulders .