Cargo Securement Is Serious Business Treat It That Way
Whether you are preparing your truck for an overlanding trip or loading up a trailer to move furniture across town, securing your gear is a serious business. It’s important to take this responsibility seriously, as you may be held legally liable if something falls off your truck or trailer.
Cargo securement is frequently discussed within the confines of the trucking industry, but state laws governing cargo securement apply to you as well as the professionals. Fortunately, the same high-quality cam straps you rely on for overlanding can secure just about any type of cargo being transported for any reason.
Nothing Can Fall Off
The goal of any state law governing cargo securement is simple; to keep roads and motorists safe by ensuring that nothing falls off a moving vehicle. That is the starting point for state laws, regardless of the type of vehicle a person might be driving.
The reason behind this responsibility is pretty simple. Objects falling off vehicles in motion present a danger to other drivers. Falling objects can lead to accidents that can seriously injure or kill other travelers. That's why the states take cargo security so seriously.
Maybe you are planning a week-long overlanding trip that involves strapping cargo to the top of your truck. Make sure it doesn't move. Use quality cam straps to keep it in place. Remember that if it can wiggle (wiggle), it can eventually work its way free and fall off.
Keep in mind the difference between the working load limit and the max load limit. You’ll want to keep your cargo secure at the working load, so you maintain optimal security.
Using Tarps for Added Security
Professional truck drivers need to go one step further to meet cargo securement regulations. They need to think about tarps. In some states, tarps are never required. Other states require tarps for certain types of loads.
As a general rule, tarps are required for any natural material that can come loose and fall off as a result of air movement. We are talking about things like gravel, and wood chips. Dump trucks in many states need to utilize tarps for these types of loads.
In terms of your overlanding trip or moving across town, the likelihood of needing a tarp is pretty slim. You are not dealing with an organic load subject to high wind speeds. If you do choose to use a tarp to protect your load against the weather though, it needs to be properly secured as well. We recommend using our Rollercam carabiner ends to secure any available grommets.
Learn How to Use Your Cam Straps
Knowing that the law requires you to secure your cargo is not where this discussion ends. It is also important to know how to secure cargo properly. That’s why it’s important to learn how to use your cam straps. This is our whole philosophy around #whatcanyoucam. By showing how other overlanders, hobbyists, river rats, and Rollercam-ers use their straps, we’re hoping to educate on all the different ways you can secure your gear with cam straps.
Any individual straps have load limits. So depending on the weight of your cargo and how it's being transported, you may have to use multiple straps to keep everything in place. The heavier the load, the more straps you will need.
Meanwhile, learning effective strategies for preventing movement is important. You don't want cargo shifting in place if it can be avoided. Running cam straps in a perpendicular setup is most effective for square or rectangular loads.
Get The Overlanding Pro Kit to always have the strap on hand that you need: https://www.rollercam.com/shop/the-overlanding-pro-kit.
