Commercial trucks are utilized in many different industries to haul a variety of cargo, from food items to electronics. Loading a truck can be a challenging task, but it doesn’t have to be so difficult if you know the right safety precautions to take. Allegiance Trucks™ is your premier truck dealer with 11 locations across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. Here are some helpful tips to ensure that you get your heavy vehicle loaded safely without any incident. If you have any questions or you want to shop some quality trucks for sale, feel free to get in touch with us at one of our dealerships.
Prepare the Truck for Loading
A safe loading experience starts by making sure that your truck is up for the task. Inspect it for any potential issues that need to be addressed. The first thing to do is to check that the floor and the truck cargo bay are both clean. That way, your items won’t get dirty or damaged when you load them.
Next, make sure you understand the truck’s weight capacity. It’s illegal and dangerous to exceed this limit. The weight of all the cargo should be well-within this limit. Finally, position the truck for safe loading. Park the vehicle on a level surface and chock the wheels to prevent any movement while loading. Make sure the engine is turned off and the keys are removed. If you can, try to avoid loading during the evening or during poor weather. There will be reduced visibility, which can make loading more difficult.
Check the Loading Area
Identify the working area and make sure that only authorized personnel are present. This helps reduce the chances of mishaps. Don’t step towards the vehicle until it comes to a full stop. If the driver needs to back up the truck, everyone else should clear out of the loading area. The driver has limited visibility and it helps to back the truck up in a clear area.
Use the Correct Loading Techniques
When you start loading, you’ll want to distribute the weight in your truck evenly. Balancing the weight will make it easier to drive the vehicle. You don’t want to put too much weight in the rear as it can be extremely dangerous, especially at higher speeds. It’s best to get some help for lifting heavy cargo items that are over 50 pounds. Remember to put on your personal protective gear, which includes gloves, high visibility clothing, sturdy steel-toed boots, and earplugs.
When lifting the cargo, position your elbows close to the body and bend with your knees, not at your waist. Try to keep your spine neutral. When you need to turn around, do so with your feet and not your torso. Make sure you use the proper strategies to prevent injury and a safe truck loading experience.
Secure the Cargo
After you’ve completed loading everything, you’ll need to secure the cargo. This helps prevent the items from shifting about during transportation, which could cause them damage or cause safety risks in the unloading process. Different cargo will need to be secured in different ways, but common options are straps, braces, and load bars. Fasteners should be tight, while chains should have a bit of slack.
Unload Safely
Many of the safe loading techniques will be applied in the unloading process. Limit the people in the area and use proper lifting strategies as described earlier. Implementing all these precautionary steps will set everyone up for a successful and safe experience.
With these simple tips and tricks, you’ll be loading and unloading your truck in no time with the confidence of an expert. Remember that your owner’s manual will have more specific information for your vehicle. For more information, head over to one of our dealerships in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York, where we have the best selection of commercial trucks around. Allegiance Trucks™ proudly serves all those in the Southern New England area, including Boston, MA, so get in touch with us today!
