Pulled over for insecure load, can't find legislation

snedie

snedie

snedie

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So I'm sat in a police stop and search right now having been pulled over for an insecure load. We carry compressed gas bottles which are laid down in our flat bed, just like every other gas company in the uk does for the type of gas we carry.

Now we've been pulled I've before for the same reason but was found to be in compliance with the road traffic act regarding loose loads, however we are now being told that an update which came into effect at the start of 2013 now renders our vehicle unsafe.

I can't do much on my phone, but can anyone shed some light on this for me please? Any info regarding carrying non flammable compressed gas and loose loads would be fantastic.
 
I cant find anything online.

I can imagine though if the bottles are not restrained and are just rolling around loose then thats why you've been pulled.
 
Just a side note I got pulled for insecure load many moons ago whilst delivering ULD's to Gatwick (one was bouncing around) and my firm not only gave me a roasting but tried to give me a written warning, I wrote back to them asking for their training records of how to load specialist equipment and when they trained me how to.

The warning was revoked quite quickly.

If there are new regs your firm should be training you as and when they come out.
 
Ultimately, as the driver, you are responsible for the security of your load, I can understand why they pulled you if you had gas canisters unrestrained on a flat bed / pick up type truck.

Their point of view will be what would happen to them in the event if an accident.....

Whilst I'm not aware of any specific changes in 2013, I do know VOSA have been clamping down on this for a good while now.

Have they issued you with a penalty or something??
 
Whenever I see Calor gas vans the bottles are always loose in the back...I know that doesn't help but i can't see that they would all be doing it if it wasn't legal?
 
Just bear in mind that although legislation may be passed in 2009, it may not fully come into force for a few years, which might explain things.
 
Thanks for all the info guys. In the end the copper turned out to be an ex farm worker and let us off with a warning once we tied all the bottle to the truck with rope.

We're having to spend nearly £1k modding the truck with a cage to secure the bottles in car of an accident. As someone mentioned it turns out the legislation was passed a few year back but has only been enforced since January this year. Prior to that the weight of the bottles was enough to deem them secure.

This also applies to any losse loads not in an enclosed vehicle, if it can leave the vehicle in an accident it's illegal and will hi you with a £60 fine and mean you can't move until its secure.
 
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