As hay season progresses i see at least 1/2 of the round bale loads on the well traveled 2 lane state highway are being transported unsecured, the top tier merely resting on the bottom one. the transporter will no doubt say everything is safe & secure...i have yet to ask the HP here, but in your area what does the law say about moving unsecured loads like that 50-60 mph on a State hwy? if the driver were to lose control or brake suddenly, one of those 5x5 bales would make quick work of me & my compact suv if i were coming in the opposite direction..... thx in advance.
Unsecured Loads
- Thread starter big bubba
- Start date
- Views: 4587
Baby Grand
Elite Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2007
- Messages
- 4,663
- Location
- Windsor, CT.
- Tractor
- Kubotas: L3240GST B2320HST B5100D & G5200H
Years ago, I drove for a building supply company. We delivered everything from bricks to boards, plywood, windows, and shingles. The driving was a real mix - on interstates at speed and on paved-over cow paths thru the hills and valleys. After we loaded the trucks, we had to pass inspection by the dispatcher. He was a real scary guy with a hair trigger temper from one of the darker hollers, up in New Hampshire. Nothing got him more agitated than seeing a truck with a poorly secured load. He'd just lose it and go ballistic on a driver. And he was scary. Plus the law enforcement here, both state & local, would whack you hard if they saw anything loose on your rig. So I am shocked whenever I see what you're describing, and I actually see it quite a bit. My favorite is a car with a mattress on the roof being "held on" by the drivers left arm & hand out the window.
RedNeckRacin
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2008
- Messages
- 2,506
- Location
- Western PA
- Tractor
- John Deere 5083E MFWD, Kubota L3400 HST
If i was moving down the county road from the field to the barn with a single stack of bales I might only strap the front and rear top and bottom bales. I have stand up ramps that hold the bottom rear bales on. Anything else, every row of bales gets strapped down end of story. Its not worth ending up in jail because i couldn't throw some straps on.
George2615
Super Member
Here in my state anything on a trailer or even in a pick up bed must be secured. Stiff fines for unsecured loads. But for some reason landscapers / lawn mowing services hauling their Zero Turn mowers apparently ignore the law. Too much trouble to secure the ZT's on the trailer between mowing jobs. I see them on a daily basis with nothing tied down. If I tried to haul something unsecured on my trailer I wouldn't make it to the end of my road before getting pulled over.
There's not much farming in my immediate area so I don't see people hauling round bales.
There's not much farming in my immediate area so I don't see people hauling round bales.
hey thanks for response. been thinking, maybe i should have put this in safety forum... but thinking hay right now, like those unsecured 1200 lb bales hurling @ me doing 60 with tired, or worse... boozed drivers at the helm.
aside from that, they still need to be secured... is it all about county good ol' boy politics & the local law? going down county dirt roads is one thing, state hwy, another.
just asking
aside from that, they still need to be secured... is it all about county good ol' boy politics & the local law? going down county dirt roads is one thing, state hwy, another.
just asking
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I think you guys are talking about my dad!!! He is terrible about tying, or strapping anything down. I think he finally learned his lesson when he took the trailer to Lowes to pick up a bathtub for his house. While driving back, the wind caught it just right and it flew off of the trailer, up into the air in front of traffic, the for some reason, it turned and went off into the ditch on the side of the road. It must of gone fifty feet easily!!!
Nobody was hurt, several people stopped to help him load it back onto the trailer, and nothing was broke.
Since then, he's been really good about it.
Eddie
Nobody was hurt, several people stopped to help him load it back onto the trailer, and nothing was broke.
Since then, he's been really good about it.
Eddie
Rustyiron
Super Member
I lost one off the truck Sat. **** gravity.
**** gravity.
quicksandfarmer
Elite Member
Here's a story from my local paper:
Farmer cited in Warren hay accident | EastBayRI.com
His hay trailer broke free and ran over a jogger on the other side of the road. He was cited -- for an unregistered trailer!
Farmer cited in Warren hay accident | EastBayRI.com
His hay trailer broke free and ran over a jogger on the other side of the road. He was cited -- for an unregistered trailer!
BWfarms
New member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2015
- Messages
- 21
- Location
- Graham, NC
- Tractor
- CaseIH Farmall 65A, Ford 5000 Super Major, Ford 1320
Ha! That knucklehead farmer was lucky. I'll admit I don't strap if I'm hauling round or square bales around a mile from the barn. I do strap at my fields that are 10 miles away. Naturally I drive faster and don't want to deal with the headache of liability or lose my precious hay.
I have seen guys go by with the top round bales bouncing around. I know a guy just uses one strap, yes one strap, to secure 17 bales.
I can't fathom that. I see bales in the ditches too often.
I've got a buyer that use 2 straps and throws them from the front of the trailer to the back. As he goes down the road I watch the bales teeter totter left and right.
RedNeckRacin
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2008
- Messages
- 2,506
- Location
- Western PA
- Tractor
- John Deere 5083E MFWD, Kubota L3400 HST
We have hauled hay on a pickup many miles with just a cinch rope from the front bumper, over the top and toed off to the hitch, the key is stacking the hay and not driving like an idiot. Then again, when you put 60+ bales on a pickup you better know how to stack them correctly to lock them together! It wasn't my truck though!
It wasn't my truck though!Mistyridgefarm
Silver Member
I don't carry many bales off the farm, and if I do it is to a neighbor half a mile down a county side road. I load eight on the bottom in two rows, with three on top straddling the two bottom rows. I've never had one bounce off or shift but I never get over 30 mph and our road sees about five cars a day. Now, if I was going further, faster, or on a major road, then they would be strapped. BTW - strapped is not using one inch wide wally world specials! I cannot tell you the number of hay buyers that come pick up hay with under-rated tie downs.
It is about time to start second cutting, but it is too darn hot this week. I have to travel next week so I'll start second cut when get back. Good luck to all those with more challenging conditions.
It is about time to start second cutting, but it is too darn hot this week. I have to travel next week so I'll start second cut when get back. Good luck to all those with more challenging conditions.
cat fever
Elite Member
While I think every load should be secure. I don't mind pulling over to pick up a bale or two that have fallen off someone's trailer.:laughing:
foreman Etexas
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2011
- Messages
- 3,334
- Location
- texas
- Tractor
- Kubota (2010)M7040,(2012)M7040,New Holland(2004)TL100
I will start strapping all my top bales,cause I'm guilty of just doing the back ones on Farm Market roads. I haven't ever lost a bale but have seen them in ditches. I usually drive slow and don't take corners crazy speeds. The whole thing with me doing the back top is the cars riding my tail all the time,just to be on safe side. I can't see how they throw them off,I have a rough county road that throws trailer one way and the other and they stay put. On main highway all the top get done,so I can just throw two more for farm market roads to be safer.
i appreciate your recognizing the difference between rural transport and public highway transport. not everyone does..... i travel both. my only concern on the open highway is loads traveling 50+ mph unsecured traveling in the opposite direction to traffic. still don't know what the law is in that regard here on the blacktop.... wish there were more transporters like yourself that go the extra step in consideration of others' safety on the open highway :thumbsup:
btw see you have 2x M7040's. excellent tractor.
Last edited:
coondle
Bronze Member
Pretty simple in Australia, there are National Standards in regard to load restraint. All loads must be contained as in a dump truck or restrained. Restraint means held so no upward movement (bumps), sideways movement (cornering, wind and slopes), forward movement (braking and slopes), or rearward movement (wind, slopes and acceleration).
The amount of restraint required is expressed as "G" or gravity, 1G=weight of load.
The figures are also expressed as a % of the weight of load and are:
20% upward, 50% sideways, 80% forward and 50% rearward.
The restraint has to also prevent the load moving, e.g. pipe must be belly wrapped so it cannot move on a flatbed.
Restraint equipment is rated by the manufacturer or given a nominal rating according to size. Straps, and load chains are usually stamped or tagged with the rating. Ropes for instance are rated according to diameter.
Overhang to the front, side, and rearward is also regulated. Overhang cannot exceed 1.2 metres (4 feet) beyond either the vehicle or the last point of support whichever is the lesser.
In addition rearward overhang cannot exceed 60% of the vehicle's wheelbase.
What is more the regulators have legislated to implement "Chain of Responsibility".
For example if a transport company loads a vehicle that is over or otherwise unsafely loaded, the driver is responsible so too are the loader, supervisor, manager and all the way to company directors.
Makes companies introduce measures to make sure unsafe loads do not go out on the road.
so, if for example I allow a load of hay, collected by a customer leave my premises unrestrained and an accident happens , i can be prosecuted and face the same penalty as the driver of the vehicle that dropped the load.
Can tell you all loads are secured before they leave.
Some do not learn, December last year a road train (2 semi trailers) on one prime mover loaded 2 bales wide and 4 high started to lose a load a mile from my home. Went with a big front end loader and pushed it up and on again. Idiot had only one 2.5 tonne 2 inch strap holding on each row of eight bales and 2 straps holding the last row on the second trailer. The two last rows were leaning out at nearly 45 degrees. Confirmed idiot did not have even one spare strap to secure the righted rows.
The prime mover and trailers were grossing about 135.000 lbs. This good samaritan then lent the driver 2 brand new straps to secure the wayward load. Did not get them back for 2 months and very second hand.
Have to now ask: Who the idiot was?
The amount of restraint required is expressed as "G" or gravity, 1G=weight of load.
The figures are also expressed as a % of the weight of load and are:
20% upward, 50% sideways, 80% forward and 50% rearward.
The restraint has to also prevent the load moving, e.g. pipe must be belly wrapped so it cannot move on a flatbed.
Restraint equipment is rated by the manufacturer or given a nominal rating according to size. Straps, and load chains are usually stamped or tagged with the rating. Ropes for instance are rated according to diameter.
Overhang to the front, side, and rearward is also regulated. Overhang cannot exceed 1.2 metres (4 feet) beyond either the vehicle or the last point of support whichever is the lesser.
In addition rearward overhang cannot exceed 60% of the vehicle's wheelbase.
What is more the regulators have legislated to implement "Chain of Responsibility".
For example if a transport company loads a vehicle that is over or otherwise unsafely loaded, the driver is responsible so too are the loader, supervisor, manager and all the way to company directors.
Makes companies introduce measures to make sure unsafe loads do not go out on the road.
so, if for example I allow a load of hay, collected by a customer leave my premises unrestrained and an accident happens , i can be prosecuted and face the same penalty as the driver of the vehicle that dropped the load.
Can tell you all loads are secured before they leave.
Some do not learn, December last year a road train (2 semi trailers) on one prime mover loaded 2 bales wide and 4 high started to lose a load a mile from my home. Went with a big front end loader and pushed it up and on again. Idiot had only one 2.5 tonne 2 inch strap holding on each row of eight bales and 2 straps holding the last row on the second trailer. The two last rows were leaning out at nearly 45 degrees. Confirmed idiot did not have even one spare strap to secure the righted rows.
The prime mover and trailers were grossing about 135.000 lbs. This good samaritan then lent the driver 2 brand new straps to secure the wayward load. Did not get them back for 2 months and very second hand.
Have to now ask: Who the idiot was?
all good points. locally, even on black top state roads, it seems local cops just look the other way (maybe not state troopers) on unsecured loads. my take is that they want the votes from locals come elections. but it still peeves me to see the loads pass by me within a few feet on a 2 lane hwy w/o anything secured. best regards to down under!
coondle
Bronze Member
Thanks for the greeting.
The rules here apply to all public roads. We have roads in the outback in particular that are not surveyed as roads but they are open to and used by the public, so even those are included.
WE have Australian Federal Police and State police. neither are subject to election, they are appointed under their respective Commissioners and on a number of policing matters cannot be directed to prosecute or not so have a degree of independence.
That does not mean they are immune from the blind eye syndrome when it suits.
How is your hay season in Arkansas, have been hearing horror stories of unseasoned flooding, not that any flooding is easily accepted.
Some years ago a local to the area, State politician's partner had a 5 ton coil of steel dropped on her through the windscreen from a curtain sider pan tech.
Did not stand a chance.
Driver was a haulier and had hooked onto the semi and did not know the roll was even there. The trucking yard operative thought the coil did not have to be restrained because the curtains were "restraint" curtains.
The rules here apply to all public roads. We have roads in the outback in particular that are not surveyed as roads but they are open to and used by the public, so even those are included.
WE have Australian Federal Police and State police. neither are subject to election, they are appointed under their respective Commissioners and on a number of policing matters cannot be directed to prosecute or not so have a degree of independence.
That does not mean they are immune from the blind eye syndrome when it suits.
How is your hay season in Arkansas, have been hearing horror stories of unseasoned flooding, not that any flooding is easily accepted.
Some years ago a local to the area, State politician's partner had a 5 ton coil of steel dropped on her through the windscreen from a curtain sider pan tech.
Did not stand a chance.
Driver was a haulier and had hooked onto the semi and did not know the roll was even there. The trucking yard operative thought the coil did not have to be restrained because the curtains were "restraint" curtains.
coondle: this hay season's been a roller coaster here (note long 2015 Hay Season thread in this forum). my own hay harvest went well without rain on harvest....on a personal note, i lost $2K in recent maple tree plantings due to flooding, guess luck of the draw between the rains & drought it seems world wide. cheers,
Birdhunter1
Veteran Member
My first job where I paid into social security was at a local lumberyard. The owner was an old Navy vet hard as nails boatswains mate. He was feared and respected amongst the store for many reasons, as long as you did your job right and didn't cause problems he was great to you. I had worked there a few months and was loading a truck for delivery then getting ready to take it out, he happened by to inspect my forklift stacking ability and strapping down methodology. I passed, he asked who taught me. My answer was my dad who learned in the Navy (he knew my dad well). He said "straps are cheap, paying you twice to do something isn't, don't forget that!"
That was 1997 and I've never lost anything off of a truck.
This was also the same guy who told me if I was walking to the back of the lumberyard I was to carry an 80 bag of concrete down there and back (about 400'). He was a football STUD in our town in the 1947 class and me still being in high school and on the football team he liked the idea of the extra work I could do to toughen me up. A few days later he drove through the yard and I was carrying one on each shoulder and found out I got them up there unassisted. I've been in his good graces ever since. (which has been awesome when looking for work with local contractors).
That was 1997 and I've never lost anything off of a truck.
This was also the same guy who told me if I was walking to the back of the lumberyard I was to carry an 80 bag of concrete down there and back (about 400'). He was a football STUD in our town in the 1947 class and me still being in high school and on the football team he liked the idea of the extra work I could do to toughen me up. A few days later he drove through the yard and I was carrying one on each shoulder and found out I got them up there unassisted. I've been in his good graces ever since. (which has been awesome when looking for work with local contractors).
Here are some similar links:
