Truck Bed Cargo Nets Are Essential For Road Safety
In North American freight transport, trucking still remains king. If you have driven on any major roadway in North America, there is a good chance that you have been behind a large truck at some point. There is also a good chance that one of the trucks you have shared the road with has had some precariously secured cargo. To get an idea of the danger involved, think about how you would react. Most drivers will try to get as far away from potentially loose cargo as possible. If the opportunity presents itself, you may try to make the truck driver aware of loose cargo, but the first response is generally self-preservation. In general, that instinct will prove to be the right one, as improperly secured cargo often has major costs for everyone on the road.
First, drivers in the direct vicinity of the unsecured cargo are at risk of being hit by it if it falls off of a truck, or at the very least have to complete dangerous, evasive maneuvers in the event of falling cargo. Even if the cargo falls off without directly impacting another driver, it often ends up in the middle of the roadway, acting as a dangerous obstacle in the path of any driver moving at highway speeds. It's important to note that most drivers are very conscious of safety, but that loose cargo can still happen, either by accidental oversight, or the lack of necessary equipment. When securing a heavy item to a flatbed truck, ropes, bungee cords, and tarps rarely suffice. Truck bed cargo nets, designed to secure cargo safely, benefit of everyone on the road.
By the Numbers: The True Cost of Unsecured Cargo
In 2010, it was estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association that at least 440 driving-related fatalities occurred as a result of loose cargo in the roadway.
In addition, the Washington State Department of Transportation reports that around 25,000 accidents per year are caused by roadway debris. So, even if an accident doesn't relate in death or serious injury, it still has a considerable financial cost to the people involved.
It's easy to forget that the cargo itself also often holds considerable value. Even if a piece of loose cargo falls to the road without causing an accident, the cargo will still almost certainly be ruined. The U.S. Cargo Security Council estimates that lost cargo has an average financial cost of $50 billion each year.
Keeping the Highways Safe
Though the physical and financial costs of unsecured cargo are daunting, the reality is that most cargo-related dangers can be avoided with a combination of the right equipment, like truck bed cargo nets, and the right care given to using that equipment correctly.
With truck bed cargo nets designed by Quarantine International, you can protect everyone on the road, while also helping to ensure that your cargo reaches it destination, and does so in excellent condition.
First, drivers in the direct vicinity of the unsecured cargo are at risk of being hit by it if it falls off of a truck, or at the very least have to complete dangerous, evasive maneuvers in the event of falling cargo. Even if the cargo falls off without directly impacting another driver, it often ends up in the middle of the roadway, acting as a dangerous obstacle in the path of any driver moving at highway speeds. It's important to note that most drivers are very conscious of safety, but that loose cargo can still happen, either by accidental oversight, or the lack of necessary equipment. When securing a heavy item to a flatbed truck, ropes, bungee cords, and tarps rarely suffice. Truck bed cargo nets, designed to secure cargo safely, benefit of everyone on the road.
By the Numbers: The True Cost of Unsecured Cargo
In 2010, it was estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association that at least 440 driving-related fatalities occurred as a result of loose cargo in the roadway.
In addition, the Washington State Department of Transportation reports that around 25,000 accidents per year are caused by roadway debris. So, even if an accident doesn't relate in death or serious injury, it still has a considerable financial cost to the people involved.
It's easy to forget that the cargo itself also often holds considerable value. Even if a piece of loose cargo falls to the road without causing an accident, the cargo will still almost certainly be ruined. The U.S. Cargo Security Council estimates that lost cargo has an average financial cost of $50 billion each year.
Keeping the Highways Safe
Though the physical and financial costs of unsecured cargo are daunting, the reality is that most cargo-related dangers can be avoided with a combination of the right equipment, like truck bed cargo nets, and the right care given to using that equipment correctly.
With truck bed cargo nets designed by Quarantine International, you can protect everyone on the road, while also helping to ensure that your cargo reaches it destination, and does so in excellent condition.