Full Truckload Safety Tips and Common Freight Trucking Problems & How to Avoid them

Delivering your product to clients is an important phase in the shipment process. That requires spending extra time and effort to ensure a smooth trucking operation. IAP Logistics is offering some advice to assist you. We are one of the leading freight forwarders in Saudi Arabia.

Improper loading tactics can cause weight and balance issues, as well as a decrease in vehicle performance, including steering, braking, and speed control. Furthermore, if the cargo is not adequately secured, you may face shifting loads, loss of vehicle control, and other road hazards. All of these issues frequently play a role in truck accidents.

You can help to avert this issue. When it comes to improperly loading merchandise on a truck, we've discovered several major problem areas:

Overloading

Trucks hauling loads that exceed their gross vehicle weight ratings may have equipment and brake failure, as well as increased stopping distance. When bad weather and road features like steep downgrades are combined, issues can swiftly escalate.

The centre of gravity is excessively high.

Cargo piled or stacked too high can influence handling and cause rollovers, especially in corners or when drivers must make quick manoeuvres to escape a hazard.

Extra-large loads

Over-length, over-width, or enormous loads necessitate extra caution behind the wheel. These loads necessitate special permissions as well as specialised equipment such as signage, lighting, and escort vehicles. Aside from vehicle control issues, failing to plan routes can cause road damage or even crashes with bridges, tunnels, and other roadway elements.

Balancing loads

Loads that are off-centre or imbalanced - both front to rear and side to side - can impair handling and potentially damage the vehicle and tyres. Too much or too little weight on the steering axle can impair turning safety, whereas too much or too little weight on the drive axle can impair traction.

Cargo security

Failure to adequately secure cargo can result in shifting or sliding loads, affecting truck handling. Cargo on open bed trailers that hasn't been securely blocked, braced, or tied down can also fall off and present a hazard on the road. Cargo covers or tarps can rip and obscure the vision of all drivers nearby

There are steps you may take to make transportation safer. When arranging loads, keep the following in mind:

1. DISPATCHER TRAINING: Teach dispatchers how to match cargo and payloads to vehicle specs and capacities.
2. PAYLOAD GUIDLINES: Establish guidelines for drivers to follow while picking up sealed trailers with regard to payload characteristics.
3. DRIVER TRAINING: Ensure that drivers have received enough training in cargo transportation safety, including weight and balance characteristics, legal load limitations, and cargo securement standards.
4. LOAD PARAMETERS: Look for overloading situations and make changes to policy and training to avoid them in the future.
5. AUDIT: Audit loading and cargo securement techniques on a regular basis to ensure that dispatchers and drivers are following safe procedures.
6. ESTABLISH SOP Establish procedures for handling big loads and plan travel routes carefully to avoid road dangers and impediments.

Even though the majority of loads are handled without incident, potential for disaster is always a possibility when trucking freight over long distances. The result can be loss of money, reputation and more importantly loss of life.

There are several Potential Problems in hauling freight by trucks:

1. Shortage, Overage & Damage

If any of these problems occur, we risk the customer filing a freight claim against the load.

Overage simply indicates that the truck has more items on it than are specified on the bill of lading for the entire load or a specific stop. Shortage indicates the exact opposite - it's not impossible for the trailer to have been loaded incorrectly, only for the driver to discover the stated shortage at the front of the trailer once the load has been emptied. The consequences are self-explanatory, but the reasons are not: Poor loading, blocking, or bracing, unavoidable road conditions or debris, and, of course, accidents can cause truck freight to shift and be damaged.

Damage might also occur when a driver fails to properly inspect the trailer before transferring it. Roof leaks can result in wet-freight claims, and faulty or defective structural and safety components can result in serious accidents and truck-freight spills.

Don't assume that the trailer was in good working order the last time you checked it. Photos will always be needed to aid document any cargo claim, so take advantage of your phone camera and take numerous photos from various perspectives, with and without flash.

2. Missing Signatures

It didn't happen if it wasn't documented. Obtaining signatures on your documentation may appear to be a minor issue, but it might mean the difference between a smooth load and one that causes huge headaches afterwards.

Because many signatures are illegible, ask the signer for his or her name, or take it off the person's name tag and write it down yourself. Thank the person for their assistance and proceed on your way.

Advise: Let your cargo needs make the choice

The shipment solution you require is determined by the specifics of your cargo. This option may be influenced by the quantity of your shipment, the fragility of your cargo, the desired speed to market, or your budget.

IAP Logistics are offering Full Truckload (FTL), Less than Truckload (LTL), FCL services, and LCL services shipments.

Benefits from FTL and LTL

• Service: Our truckload transport service might also provide you with some additional perks.
• Custom-fit: We have a wide range of equipment from which you can select the best solution for your needs.
• Short-notice: Truckload transport offers a shorter pre-booking period than ocean or other inland methods.
• Speed: Traditional trucking is the quickest way of inland transportation.
• Transportation Mode: Road infrastructure is more ubiquitous than rail and barge infrastructure, allowing you to reach more geographical points.
• Door delivery: Door-to-door transportation provides consistent delivery of your cargo from beginning to end.
• Cargo Tracking: Throughout the transportation procedure, a global shipment tracking feature is available.

With the frequent swings in supply chain operations, getting your cargo to its destination can become a challenging process. We recognise that the daily issues you confront necessitate flexible solutions that allow you to make decisions that fit all of your needs.

Truckload shipping is a highly secure and efficient method of transporting products. Accidents can and do occur when safety precautions are not performed. We hope this blog post has helped you find some ideas you can take to ensure your truck is safe to run and that you can prevent typical truck freight concerns! If you have any further questions or concerns about shipping freight by truck, please contact IAP Logistics, a leading logistics company in Saudi Arabia, at any time. We are always here to answer any queries you may have!