Transport Trucks

How to Efficiently Load a Transport Truck

The loading of a transport truck needs to be done carefully and precisely; you can’t just pile everything in and hope for the best. It doesn’t matter whether you are transporting equipment, materials or furniture; you still have to pay extra care.

When the truck is in motion, it is going to create vibrations which can result in movement in the bed of the truck. Objects can fall over, and either become damaged or damage something else. Weight distribution is probably one of the most important things to keep in mind when loading a truck, because heavier items can easily damage items that are smaller and lighter.

Always ensure that you know exactly what is going into the transport truck, and plan accordingly.

Make Use of Small Storage Space

A lot of transport trucks have a small storage space at the front of the cargo area, positioned about the truck’s cab. This can be used for small items that are small and fragile, and even bulky rolls of carpet or other material. Always make sure to pack everything in as tightly as possible, because you are not going to want it rattling around. Not only could this distract you whilst driving, but it could also cause damage to the items in there.

Large Items First

Always place the largest, heaviest, or bulkiest items up near the front of the cargo hold. The front is the end that is near the truck’s cab, rather than the end by the door. By placing all of the large and heavy items at the back, it is going to make it a lot easier for you to pack everything else in. Make sure they are positioned up against the wall, and that both side of the transport truck is weighted evenly.

Packing Long Items

If you have long items such as sofas or rolls of materials, try to stand them on their ends. It is also best to position them against the larger, heavier items that have already been loaded. This is going to give them a stronger base to rest against, and hopefully prevent them from falling over.

Loading Mattresses

If you are packing mattresses, then place them on their sides against the wall of the transport truck. If you have cupboards with drawers, it is a good idea to place the drawers against the mattress to prevent them from moving. Mattresses can also be places on top of the load if necessary, although it is wise not to place them at the bottom - this could ruin them.

Stacking Boxes

Boxes should be stacked in groups of a similar size and weight. The largest and heaviest should be put at the bottom, whilst the smallest and lightest should be placed on the top. This is going to go a long way in preventing the heavier boxes from crushing the items beneath them.

Fill Up the Gaps

If you have any gaps in the transport truck, then you should fill them with pillows, blankets, furniture pads, or any other kind of soft material. This is going to prevent scratching of wood and other hard materials, as well as acting as a buffer to prevent any damage from collisions created by the transport truck’s vibrations.

If you follow these simple steps when planning your transport truck load, then you are going to be able to transport your items in a far safer manner. Even if you don’t have any breakable items, you would still be wise to plan your loading first. It can make it a lot quicker and easier, help you to make much better use of the space provided, and make it far easier to unpack it the other end!