Summary
How to make sure goods and other items are loaded, secured and unloaded safely from HGVs, trailers, vans and cars.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
When you transport goods in a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), trailer, van or car, you need to make sure they are loaded, transported and unloaded safely.
This code of practice will help you:
followthelawdecidethebestwaytotransportgoodssafelyloadandunloadvehiclessafely
It’s for:
vehicleoperators(whetheryouholdanoperatorlicenceornot)driverscompaniesloadingvehicles(‘consignors’)
This guide has replaced ‘Safety of loads on vehicles: code of practice’ and ‘Load securing: vehicle operator guidance’.
Contents
Terms used in this guide
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Whovehicle thecan codealso ofmean practicea trailer or an articulated combination.
Following this guidance is for,only whatcompulsory where it setssays outyou ‘must’ or ‘must not’ do something. However, it’s your responsibility to do,assess the risks of your own operation and howfollow it'sthe worded.law.
Terms used in this guide
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Who
vehiclethecancodealsoofmeanpracticeatraileroranarticulatedcombination.Followingthisguidanceonlywhatcompulsorywheresaysoutyou‘must’or‘mustnot’dosomething.However,it’syourresponsibilityassesstherisksofyourownoperationfollowit'stheworded.law.
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Why load security is important, what operators, drivers and consignors must do when loading and transporting goods, and how load security is enforced.
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How to decide on a load securing system, what to check before loading a vehicle, and how to stabilise a load.
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How to safely decide whether you can continue your journey or take other action.
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Equipment and methods you can use to secure a load in a goods vehicle and how to use it safely.
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How to secure loads on different types of vehicle.
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Ways to load items on a goods vehicle safely.