A recent DVSA enforcement operation in Staffordshire targeting curtain-sided lorries has seen 37 vehicles checked, 20 immediate and seven delayed prohibitions issued and three curtainsiders taken off the road immediately, due to poor load security, reports Carol Millett.
Announcing the results of the operation, DVSA said: “Unlike box-sided vehicles, the curtains on a curtain-sided vehicle are not designed to secure the load so it is vital that loads are securely restrained to prevent movement.
“In most cases, the load must be secured using a suitable system such as lashing straps. Failure to properly secure goods can in serious cases cause load shifts that can lead to a loss of life.”
DVSA revealed that one of the most serious issues encountered by examiners was a rigid curtain-sided lorry fully loaded with building supplies. The driver thought the curtains were load securing and didn’t use any restraining methods on them.
