For insurance companies and risk managers working with motor carriers, reducing preventable risk is always a priority. Cargo securement is a major part of that responsibility, but one potential hazard can be easy to overlook: unsecured dunnage.
Timber used to support, separate or level cargo can shift during transit. Road vibration, changing conditions and warped timber can cause dunnage to move or “walk” on the trailer. If that timber becomes unsecured, it creates a hazard for the driver, the load and everyone else on the road.
The question for risk managers is simple: If the dunnage is on the truck, how is it being secured?
A Practical Way to Mitigate Risk
Truckers Yoke was developed to provide positive control of timber dunnage. The patented strapping block helps hold both the timber and securement strap in place while improving grip on the trailer deck.
Instead of relying solely on driver technique or assuming timber will remain where it was placed, carriers can use a consistent, repeatable method to secure their dunnage.
That consistency matters from a risk-management perspective.
Driver experience varies, and carriers regularly train new drivers on their own cargo securement procedures. Incorporating Truckers Yoke into those procedures gives fleets another way to standardize practices and demonstrate a proactive commitment to safety.
Its high visibility also makes it easy to see that additional steps have been taken to secure the timber.
Mitigation Has Value
Truckers Yoke does not need to earn an insurance credit to provide value. Its purpose is to address a preventable risk before that risk becomes an incident.
One piece of unsecured timber leaving a trailer could lead to damaged property, cargo loss, roadside violations, downtime or a serious accident. Positively securing that timber is a relatively simple step that can help reduce that exposure.
For insurers and risk managers evaluating trucking operations, dunnage securement deserves to be part of the conversation.
Ask carriers how their timber is being secured. Look for practices that are consistent across drivers and loads. And consider the value of equipment specifically designed to reduce the risk associated with unsecured dunnage.
Risk cannot be eliminated from trucking, but preventable hazards can be addressed. Truckers Yoke gives carriers another tool to do exactly that.
Learn more about Truckers Yoke and our approach to dunnage securement at TruckersYoke.com.