It's a Team's Life

Stuff Securement

What is behind closed doors?

Over the years we have had a friend lay their truck on its side, rear end another truck, run off into the ditch, hit immobile objects, been side swiped, or like us in a turning lane and been hit by an out of control car. What happens to all of the "stuff" inside the cab of the truck when one of the above scenarios happens?

If there is a pet inside of the truck what will happen to the if they are lying on the bed? Will they become a missile flying through the windshield? If you have a double bunk sleeper and use the top bunk as storage will that come loose and fly around the truck in an emergency?

At one time in our lives the upper bunk in our truck held not one but two chests of drawers that had a strap over the top of them secured to the bunk. We had latches on each drawer to hold them shut. We went though a very severe pothole in a parking lot and the truck twisted and so did those drawers with one drawer coming out of the chest. The drawer was headed straight for our dog Molly who had no clue this was happening and like any mother I stuck my arm out to avert the catastrophe that was about to happen. Molly was not harmed but my arm was severely bruised and sore for many days. We reworked how the drawers were held in place.

During an incident will the cabinets on the wall stay put? In an OEM sleeper they are made to stay on the walls and stay shut. How is the after market sleeper's cabinets attached to the walls and will the doors stay shut? If you have a counter top what is left sitting out? Before driving away take a minute to look around the sleeper and make sure all of the doors are latched and shut. For those that cook while going down the road have a latch holding the lid on the crock pot, have the crock pot in a container, and have the container secured to something.

Have a place for everything in the truck and put "stuff" away. An accident is bad enough but having our "stuff" hurt us is something we can avoid. Look around and see what can become a flying missile or could come loose in an accident and possibly kill us in a sudden violent stop. If a team use the securement devices that are supplied with the bunk and keep yourself as safe as you can incase of an incident.

Shelf locked in place

Load securement is not just for freight, securement is for everything inside the cab and sleeper including wearing a seat belt when the truck is in motion.

Bob & Linda Caffee
TeamCaffee
Saint Louis MO
Expediters since January 2005
[email protected]

Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle;
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Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;
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