Heavy Vehicle Load Security

Safe load restraint techniques for truck drivers and loaders

$70 +GST per person ($80.50)

Heavy Vehicle Load Security

Safe load restraint techniques for truck drivers and loaders

If you've ever lost goods off a heavy trailer, had freight damaged in transit or while tying it down, this course is for you.

New drivers: Everything you need to know about load restraint as you start your career as a truck driver

Experienced drivers: Gain new skills to improve your loading and understanding of transporting safe loads on the road.

Who is this course for?

  • Truck drivers 
  • Loaders and forklift drivers
  • Supervisors

What are other trainees saying?

I found the Heavy Vehicle Load Security Course very engaging.  Being online was so convenient and the commentary was clear and accurate.   I recommend it to anyone considering a career in truck driving.
Charlotte Matehaere.

  • What will you learn from this course?

    This course is based on the Truck Loading Code and industry best practices. After taking this course, you will know how to:

    • Choose the right vehicle and load-securing devices to safely secure your load
    • Use chains, ratchet straps (strops) and tarps to restrain and cover a load
    • Specifics about curtainsiders, hardside trucks, reefers and container transporters
    • How to rebalance your load after a partial delivery
    • Permits, hazard panels and freight symbols
    • How to adjust your driving style when loaded.
  • What are the advantages of this heavy vehicle load security online course?

    • Reduce the likelihood of freight being damaged in transit
    • Reduce the risk of overloading an axle which could lead to damage to your vehicle, or fines 
    • Easy, convenient scheduling - do the course in your own time on any device. The online training is divided into short modules that take just a few minutes each. They are convenient and easy to access 
    • Full access to the course materials for 6 months - this gives you plenty of time to work through the course at your own pace, plus opportunities to refresh your knowledge after you've passed
    • Detailed video demonstrations - watch, listen and learn, then answer questions about what you've seen and heard. You can watch the videos as many times as you need in order to really understand the material
    • Language and literacy support - if English isn't your first language, or you prefer to listen to the questions, you'll find plenty of support
  • What do you get with the course?

    Full access to all training materials for 6 months

    Study in your own time at your own pace, take the modules as many times as you need to and really get to know the information. You can access it on any computer, smartphone or tablet wherever there's an internet connection available.

    Management

    You can assign managers to manage different groups of drivers, e.g. in different branches, regions or business units. They can download detailed reports, track and manage drivers, and download certificates on completion.

    Set up and email/phone support are free whether you are purchasing one course licence or a hundred course licences.

  • FAQs

    Is this course a unit standard course? This course can be used as pre-study for US1753 Load and unload a goods vehicle if you do additional training with TR Driver Training. Additional costs apply.

    Where is the course held? The theory is completed online. If you want the optional unit standard then you will need to visit one of TR Driver Training's 12 branches nationwide.

    How long is the course valid for? We recommend you repeat this course every 3 years to keep your skills up-to-date

    Who produced the course? The course has been produced by TR Driver Training and DT Driver Training in collaboration with TR Group and various transport operators.

  • Requirements

    • You will need one course licence per person taking the course - you can't use one licence for multiple drivers
    • You will need a computer, smartphone or tablet with internet access to take the theory training

$70 +GST per person ($80.50)

 

Certificate of Completion

 

Approximately 3 hours

 

Full access for 6 months

Course provider logo

Course provided by
DT Driver Training

DT Driver Training is New Zealand's largest provider of driver training.

Training modules

Introduction to load security

Understanding the background and regulations relating to securing your load
  • This foundational module explores the critical principles of load security for heavy vehicles, covering the differences between load restraint and containment, risk classifications for different cargo types, and essential knowledge requirements for legal and safe load securing practices.
    5 minutes
  • How every person in the transport chain, from consignor to receiver, shares legal responsibility for load security, including the specific obligations, potential penalties, and importance of proper training and documentation.
    3 minutes
  • The fundamental physics of how loads behave during transport, including the critical relationships between friction, momentum, and directional forces that affect load security during different driving conditions.
    5 minutes
  • The specific legal requirements for load restraint, including the minimum restraint forces needed in different directions based on load weight and positioning, and the importance of matching restraint components' ratings.
    5 minutes

Managing and securing your load

Types of restraint and the options you can choose to keep your load secure. The following modules are optional and can be hidden by your manager if they are not relevant: Mezzanine floors, Freight symbols, Tarpaulins and tipper covers, Racks, cages ,gates and stanchions, ISO and tank containers, and Falls
  • The different approaches to load restraint, comparing direct methods like blocking and locking with indirect friction-based methods, while explaining the proper use of dunnage and the importance of securing all items, including those in the cab.
    6 minutes
  • The essential vehicle characteristics required for safe load transport, including size and weight limitations, Static Roll Threshold requirements, and special considerations for oversize loads and liquid cargo.
    5 minutes
  • The range of vehicle-mounted restraint equipment and portable lashing options, including headboards, sideboards, ropes, webbing straps, and chains, while explaining their proper application and maintenance requirements for different load types.
    7 minutes
  • This module examines load anchorage rating plates and their critical importance in load security, detailing how to interpret the ratings for different anchorage types like rope rails, chain plates, and container locks
    7 minutes
  • The essential safety procedures for before, during and after loading operations, including site safety requirements, PPE, load checks, vehicle stability considerations, and the importance of proper equipment handling and stowage.
    6 minutes
  • The critical factors of load positioning and weight distribution, including axle weight limits, centre of gravity considerations, mixed load arrangement principles, and the complexities of managing load balance during multiple delivery routes.
    9 minutes
  • Weight distribution requirements, load securing practices, and essential safety protocols for operators working with these elevated loading platforms.
    3 minutes
  • Legal requirements for flagging and signage of over-dimension loads on heavy vehicles in New Zealand, including specific dimensions for flags and hazard panels, and when to obtain over-dimension permits.
    3 minutes
  • Common universal freight symbols found on packaging
    2 minutes
  • The proper use, maintenance, and application techniques of webbing straps for securing heavy vehicle loads, including their ratings, inspection requirements, optimal angles, and practical methods for achieving maximum load restraint effectiveness.
    6 minutes
  • A detailed look at the process of checking the strops, throwing the strops, fastening them to the rope rails, tightening them, and tidying up the loose ends
    9 minutes
  • Using transport chains for heavy loads, covering their advantages over straps, optimal securing angles, inspection requirements, and safety protocols when using chain tensioners and securing devices.
    8 minutes
  • Specific chain binder operations for lever twitches, ratchet binders and using a cheater bar
    8 minutes
  • Methods for correctly deploying tarpaulins and nets on heavy vehicles, including proper overlapping techniques, folding patterns, and securing practices to protect loads from weather while maintaining vehicle visibility and safety compliance.
    5 minutes
  • The various built-in load containment systems found in specialised trucks and trailers, covering stanchions, racks, cages and gates, along with their specific applications for different cargo types and loading scenarios.
    2 minutes
  • Transportation requirements for ISO containers and platform containers on heavy vehicles, including proper use of twist locks, container positioning guidelines, loading procedures across different equipment types, and specific considerations for liquid cargo.
    5 minutes
  • How to avoid falls, slips and trips when climbing on and off, and walking around the deck of a truck or trailer
    3 minutes

Vehicles and load restraint methods

Advice for the most common types of freight securement. All 3 modules are optional and can be hidden by your manager if they are not relevant
  • Curtainsider operation and loading practices, detailing curtain ratings, proper opening and closing techniques, load placement considerations for different truck configurations, and safety measures when working with potentially shifted cargo.
    12 minutes
  • Safe loading practices for rigid-walled trucks, including proper cargo positioning, use of shoring equipment and restraint systems, and specific considerations for different load types and axle weight distribution.
    7 minutes
  • Loading requirements for refrigerated vehicles, including temperature management protocols, specialised load securing practices for both rigid and curtainside reefers, and structural considerations that affect cargo placement and restraint.
    7 minutes

Heavy Vehicle Load Security

Safe load restraint techniques for truck drivers and loaders

$70 +GST per person ($80.50)

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