Securing loads for heavy vehicles over 12 tonnes

If you carry a loose bulk load on a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) over 12 tonnes, you must secure it with a suitable load cover.

Loose bulk loads are materials that can be dislodged by rough roads or wind if they are not secured properly.

They include:

• sand
• soil
• gravel
• rocks
• other quarried material.

Tarpaulins, load covers and load nets can be used to restrain loose bulk loads in open topped vehicles.

The use of wetting or skinning agents alone is not acceptable but may be used alongside a suitable load cover.

Loose loads should never be transported on flat bed or platform type vehicles without sides or gates, or tipper bodies without tailgates.

Bodies with poorly fitting sides and gates should not be used to transport fine particle materials such as sand.

More information

For more information, read the v64 load restraint information bulletin PDF (362.7 KB).