Here's a not very happy bunny. Though you can hardly blame him. Word reaches Biglorryblog that over a two month period Highways Agency Traffic Officers in the East Midlands have collected this mountain of lorry ratchet straps, from motorways in the region. And naturally they've fallen off the back of a lorry....
According to the HA: "Each strap could be a potential hazard for road users as they could damage tyres or get tangled under a vehicle. Paul Williams, a Traffic Officer based at Felley in Nottinghamshire, decided to save up all the straps to demonstrate just how many are picked up by Highways Agency patrols.
He tells BLB: "Lorry straps are probably the most common item of debris we pick up from the motorway. Although they might seem harmless, straps have a hook at the end which can stick into tyres and could cause blow outs, or even wrap around the underside of lorries. These risks can be avoided by simple checks before setting out and, as straps can be expensive to replace, drivers will be saving money too."
What's more this seems like throwing money away too--considering that straps can cost anything between £10 and £30 each.
And how can you ensure that your loading straps are all wound up neat and tidy ready for stowing away? Click through here for the answer...
By using one of these devices (or one of the others featured on this blog)...
Yes they're strap winders--which allow you to keeep your straps neat and tidy and stowed in a safe place and not falling offf your waggon.
The top one is an American hand-held device call the 'Reel Quick'.The second one is called 'The Picado' which has a powerful magnet on the round end which sticks onto the side of a truck or trailer body. Both of these are distributed in the UK by Haywood Products www.haywoodproducts.com Then there's the famous German Gurtefix from Cargocare on www.cargo-care.de which you can bolt onto the tractor catwalk or truck/trailer body and which has been the subject of more than one BLB blog in the past....yes you DO remember.
And look! Here's Biglorryblog winding up a strap using the Gurtefix which I eventually managed to fix to the catwalk of this Daf XF belonging to Online Roadways in Chadwell Heath who very kindly allowed us to stage a strap test at their premises---even though it ended up as something of a competitive sport to see how quick yours truly could wind up an 8m strap, neat-and-tidy, ready for stowing away..mmm 'wind-up' is exactly what it turned out to be not least as I was being simultaneously timed, goaded and egged on by 'The Boy Swallow' (Aka Kevin Swallow from Commercial Motor).
It all got a bit silly when, having wound up said 8m long strap between 13 and 11 seconds on the Reel Quick and Picado respectively The Boy Swallow insisted I could do better with the Gurtefix if I only wound it a bit faster....Here you can see just how tight it winds it---indeed once you've wound it up tight it's a bit of job to get it off the spigot!
Anyway not one to pass up on a challenge from a young whipper-snapper (all men over 50 will know what I mean) I picked up the gauntlet. First run 12 seconds, then 11, then 10 seconds. before finally going for it and ending up with 8.34 seconds....and if it stops you losing straps on the motorway it's got to be good....For the full report on the three strap winding devices see Commercial Motor 7 August (you can buy a back copy by calling 01371 851800)
Comments (2)
Just get yourself some of those proper Aussie load binders, padlock them to the rail and all done. No more lost straps.
Posted by Peter Lynch | August 15, 2008 9:00 AM
Posted on August 15, 2008 09:00
Hello
I would like to know if you do carry Lorry Ratchet in your stock or company?And i would appreciate it if you email me
with a price each and the sizes for that and also what is your payment options so that we can proceed on this order
Thanks and Waiting for your prompt respond
Best Regards
John Mike
Posted by john mike | November 4, 2008 10:50 AM
Posted on November 4, 2008 10:50