Packing and Transporting Your Cargo the Safe Way | West Coast Enterprises

Safety is always your No.1 priority while you are on the road, but safe driving practices start before you even begin each journey. Knowing the ins and outs about your truck and hauler, while also understanding weight limits, is crucial for your safety and for the safety of the other drivers on the road.

Refresh your memory below about weight limitations and gain some helpful tips for getting your cargo from point A to point B in one place—and in one piece.

The 411 on Weight Limitations

We all know that trucks don’t have an infinite amount of weight they can carry, and it can even be dangerous to carry over the recommended limit no matter how long your trip is.

Overloading your truck can also be illegal. Commercial vehicle weight limits exist for a reason, and you could experience legal consequences if you are pulled over with an overloaded truck.

Be sure to know your truck’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), and incorporate all parts of your truck in that weight. Don’t forget that fuel, passengers, cargo, additional parts and extra tires can all add into your final weight.

Loading Up Your Cargo

Before you add the first pallet or whatever you are hauling, make sure you have enough room in your truck bed to fit the entire load. Assess the situation and determine if you can hand-load the cargo or if you need the assistance of mechanical equipment to get it all inside your rig.

Balance the weight of your cargo so that your truck is not top-heavy or end-heavy. Anything that gets loaded out of balance can throw off your entire truck’s center of gravity and that can lead to dangerous accidents or tipping hazards.

Securing Everything Down

One of the most important aspects of cargo loading is making sure it won’t go anywhere while you are on the road. Tiedowns have to be the proper strength and type in order to provide the best protection, so do your research to determine if ropes, straps, chains or tensioning devices like ratchets should be used.

Once everything is secure, your entire truck should be reinspected one final time before heading out on the road. We want you to stay safe and deliver your important cargo on time, but safety is always key.

If you are in the market for a new hauler, you know where to go! Check out our inventory at West Coast Enterprises today.