Load securing: what the law requires

There is hardly anything that cannot be found on Austria’s roads: boxes, chairs, tyres, even sailing boats. The reason is almost always the same — inadequate load securing.

What the law says

Under § 101 KFG, the obligation to secure loads always applies. The load must be stowed or secured by suitable means so that it withstands the forces occurring in normal driving, does not impair the safe operation of the vehicle and endangers no one.

What physics says

Mass times acceleration gives the acting force. Gravity acts, holding stationary masses on the ground — but so do acceleration and braking forces as well as centrifugal forces, forwards, backwards, to both sides and upwards. Securing must therefore be done in all directions.

In dedicated load securing courses and in C95 further training, BZL’s trainers teach the techniques for this.