It’s important to protect your cargo load — no matter what it is you’re carrying. You don’t want to arrive with any missing or damaged goods, and anything that falls out of your ute can become a major hazard on the road for others near you. That’s why Queensland law requires safely secured loads on all vehicles under their Load Restraint Requirements. Here are a few ways you can ensure you’ve stably secured your ute.
Arrange Your Cargo In An Organised Way
Before you start loading up your ute, you should think about what you have to put on it and how it should be arranged. Try to distribute weight evenly throughout the loading bay, with heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top. Rather than chucking items on in a haphazard way, make a plan as to where they should go, and make sure not to overload your ute’s weight. Check the owner’s manual if you’re unsure how much weight your vehicle can safely support and estimate how much you can take at once.
Use a Load-Rated Safety Net
You should always secure your items with a professional grade safety net. Look for features such as:
- The correct size for your vehicle and load
- UV-stabilised webbing, so it does not suffer wear or damage from exposure
- Heavy duty mesh
- Sufficient anchor points, so you can secure it all around the vehicle bed
- Dual cab or extra cab space if necessary
Ute cargo nets made by Safeguard Cargo Nets are the only load-rated nets in Australia, and are available in a range of sizes to fit any vehicle and load.
If you have materials that have a chance of flying away under a net (smaller or lighter items), consider a heavy duty mesh tarp instead of a safety net. This can often be locked in similarly to a net, but adds a layer of protection from the elements as well as secures your load.
Do Not Cover Plates, Lights, and Reflectors
One requirement by Queensland law is to ensure you do not cover any number plates, headlights and backlights, or light reflectors when securing your load. If you do, this is an indicator that your vehicle is overloaded, and it is a major threat to the safety of you and others on the road.
Keep Colourful
You must attach a yellow and red, or red flag to the extreme back of your ute when you’re carrying a secured load. This should be visible to anyone directly behind you, and sized at least 450mm by 450mm. This will help make sure drivers near you behave safely and keep yourself protected.
Test Drive First
Once you’ve loaded and secured your cargo, drive slowly in a contained area for at least 50 metres. Accelerate in the same protected area, and make sure all of your goods stay secure before taking off on the road.
Keeping yourself, your cargo, and others safe on the road is essential. Come in to one of our 2 Queensland stores to purchase cargo netting for your ute.
