Securing Palletized Steel Coils in a Dry Box

[SteelCityNomad]

Sometimes we are asked to haul things in a dry box, that at first thought we think it is going to be impossible to do safely.

Take for example Steel Coils.

You are dealing with heavy weight, low cube, frieght. that is also irregular shaped, and can move quite readily in the trailer.

In the following pictures you will see how a load weighing 47,365 lbs, and placed on 14 Pallets was loaded, and secured, in a dry box trailer.

http://www.truckstopusa.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10040/normal_IMAG0012.JPG

As you can see the coils were heavily overwrapped to the skids after banding them to the skid.
The skids were then placed down the center of the trailer, and each skid was then blocked in place using 1 foot 2x4 pine blocks and nailing them to the floor.

http://www.truckstopusa.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10040/normal_IMAG0011.JPG



All nails were driven securely through the blocks and into the floor, leaving enough head to grab with a prybar to facilitate easy removal of the blocking for unloading.

http://www.truckstopusa.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10040/normal_IMAG0013.JPG

At the tail of the row two blocks were also used to block the skids from moving backwards, and the entire row was stoped from moving forward by the first skid being placed against the front bulhead and each succesive skid then placed tightly behind.

http://www.truckstopusa.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10040/normal_IMAG0016.jpg

You can notice that the placement of the skids was also done according to weight, if you look at the picture you will see the taller skids(heavier) were placed at the front, and the rear of the loading pattern.

This was done to help balance out the weight , and give me the ability to adjust my axles if need be to correct any imbalance in the weight.

The coils were full coils that had been "slit" to size for a can machine, so some skids had three coils and some had four.

This load rode from WV to CT, and the pictures were taken on the unloading end, prior to unblocking, and pulling onto the dock.

Nothing moved anywhere in the load, and all blocking was still tight.

You also need to drive a little more "friendly" when hauling a load like this,you need to take on and off ramps a little easier, and watch that you don't make real sudden movements as you go down the road.
You need to give a little more following room from other vehicles to make it easier for you to drive "smoother" and this type load should not be a problem for you.

[tommy]

VERY Good posting SCN.. A little bit of inspecting and thinking can save you lots of time and aggravation in the end..

[Curlyfrompgh]

I'd worry a little less about leaving the head up and a little more about having the nail fully set into and holding the block in place. It is not as difficult to get a pry bar between the board and the deck and break it loose as it would be to explain why you did not fully drive the nails in the event something happened.

If you are to supply the nails I would advise getting double head nails for the ability to remove them easily while at the same time allowing them to be fully driven. If you can find them they should also be 'coated.' These are coated with a glue that when driven the friction causes the glue to go to a 'wet' state and then set, giving the nail additional resistance to pull out.

[Big_Dave]

It is not as difficult to get a pry bar between the board and the deck and break it loose as it would be to explain why you did not fully drive the nails in the event something happened.
Usually, the forklift driver will slide a fork under the boards and pop them up if you can't work them loose with a prybar.

If you are to supply the nails I would advise getting double head nails for the ability to remove them easily while at the same time allowing them to be fully driven. If you can find them they should also be 'coated.' These are coated with a glue that when driven the friction causes the glue to go to a 'wet' state and then set, giving the nail additional resistance to pull out.
Any lumber yard should have these 'framing' nails available for purchase. Masonry crews use them for framing up concrete forms. They aren't that expensive.

[Curlyfrompgh]

Tanks. :D

[DW]

Good pictures, I have learned alot thru this forum.
"What if" this loaded van is involved in an incident (a roll over) and one or more of the coils dislodges and someone is injured (or worse) from the coil. Would the driver get a ticket for unsecure load because there was no straps over the top holding them to the floor.
I notice there are no nails thru the pallets into the floor or into the boards you use for bracing. Other than gravity what prevents these coils from bouncing up onto the bracing?
I have been over some rough RR crossing and deep potholes without warning! I don't trust banding to secure a load and once the coil starts to move that plastic won't hold for long.
How far did you have for your delivery?

[Big_Dave]

Good pictures, I have learned alot thru this forum.
"What if" this loaded van is involved in an incident (a roll over) and one or more of the coils dislodges and someone is injured (or worse) from the coil. Would the driver get a ticket for unsecure load because there was no straps over the top holding them to the floor.
As long as the coils were properly blocked into place, I doubt a citation would be issued. But then again, that's up to the discretion of the investigating officers.

I notice there are no nails thru the pallets into the floor or into the boards you use for bracing. Other than gravity what prevents these coils from bouncing up onto the bracing?
Pounding nails through the runners of the pallets would most likely split the runners (the 2x4's on edge between the upper and lower layers of boards). By nailing blocking tightly against the pallets, they won't move. Gravity will keep the pallets & coils from 'bouncing'.

I have been over some rough RR crossing and deep potholes without warning! I don't trust banding to secure a load and once the coil starts to move that plastic won't hold for long.
As long as the coils are banded twice in each direction around the pallet, they shouldn't 'walk' or slide off the pallet. If you're not comfortable with the way they are banded, ask them to reband them or add more banding.

How far did you have for your delivery?
I've hauled coils over 1000 miles and have yet to have properly secured coils move an inch.

[Bikerboy]

It really would be alot safer to haul those coils on a flatbed, at least they could be secured better in a rollover.

I once hauled heavy steel molds for making rubbermaid plastic bins,

There was 4 molds, and weighed about 45 000 lbs total, the company refused to allow them to be hauled in dry van, so we hauled them on flatbeds with tarp.

They could have been blocked just like the coils in the picture but i guess its safer to chain and strap on a flatbed.

[ladykw]

SCN...Thanks for the pics and info...I have wondered how they were loaded and secured in a van...

[semicrazy]

I'd worry a little less about leaving the head up and a little more about having the nail fully set into and holding the block in place. It is not as difficult to get a pry bar between the board and the deck and break it loose as it would be to explain why you did not fully drive the nails in the event something happened.

have you ever tried to drive a nail thru the floor of a trialer? its nearly impossible!! at least every dry van i hauled coils in you were lucky to get them in as far as the pic shows! i gave up that and am now runnin flatbed i feel much safer hauling steel i can chain or strap down

[arkjarhead]

Personally the only I will haul a coil is shotgun style on a flatbed. I've hauled all those little coils suicide style before on a flat and didn't like it. I've hauled the big ones suicide before and really didn't like that. If I have to do it, I prefer one big coil riding shotgun.

[Lady Godiva]

IL will cite you if you do not have the palletized coils top secured...hauled palletized on dedicated in a van for about 6 months from Heitman steel in Granite City IL a couple of years ago...big deal about IL doing that.

Excellent post and pics!!!

[arkjarhead]

I guess if you were going to be hauling those quite often, like on a dedicated, you could install a row of e-trac along at floor level on each wall, then run a strap or two over top each one with each end hooked in the e-trac, and some between the strap and coil to prevent the coil from cutting the strap if it tried to shift. It would give you a little extra insurance. Plus I'm sure there are other things hauled in a dry box that having a row of e-trac at floor level would be beneficial.

[BeetleBailey]

I've hauled small coils in a reefer loaded nose to tail. Had to be very careful since ya can't nail anything to a metal floor and putting loadlocs on coils is a joke. I much preffer nailing or blocking them in a dry van or better yet tieing them onto a flatbed. As with any cargo a little common sense goes a long way..

[Pipeman]

Seems to me that it would make the load a lot more secure and easier to remove the nails if you were to use Double Headed framing nails. Drive the bottom head down to the wood and the top head is sticking up about 3/8" .

http://shopping.yahoo.com/search;_ylc=X3oDMTFiNTk1am4zBF9TAzc4NDcxNzg1MwRrA2 RvdWJsZSBoZWFkZWQgbmFpbARzZWMDdGl0bGU-?p=double+headed+nail&sem=ysm