Driver Vehicle Standards Agency
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
When you transport goods in a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), trailer, van or car, you need to make sure they are loaded, transported and unloaded safely.
This code of practice will help you:
- follow the law
- decide the best way to transport goods safely
- load and unload vehicles safely
Its for:
- vehicle operators (whether you hold an operator licence or not)
- drivers
- companies loading vehicles (consignors)
This guide has replaced Safety of loads on vehicles: code of practice and Load securing: vehicle operator guidance.
Terms used in this guide
In this guide, a vehicle can also mean a trailer or an articulated combination.
Following this guidance is only compulsory where it says you must or must not do something. However, its your responsibility to assess the risks of your own operation and follow the law.
- 1. Responsibility for load security
Why load security is important, what operators, drivers and consignors must do when loading and transporting goods, and how load security is enforced.
- 2. Load securing: the basics
How to decide on a load securing system, what to check before loading a vehicle, and how to stabilise a load.
- 3. What to do if a load becomes unstable during a journey
How to safely decide whether you can continue your journey or take other action.
- 4. Ways to secure a load in an HGV or goods vehicle
Equipment and methods you can use to secure a load in a goods vehicle and how to use it safely.
- 5. How to load different HGVs, light goods vehicles, small vans and cars
How to secure loads on different types of vehicle.
- 6. How to carry different types of load in HGVs and goods vehicles
Ways to load items on a goods vehicle safely.