Goods Vehicle Driving and Load Security
What this domain tests
Goods vehicle driving and load security is the LGV-specific domain: how a loaded goods vehicle behaves, how to secure a load, and how to plan a route for height, width and weight. Questions often ask what is wrong with a loading method or what a driver should do before moving off.
Securing the load
A load must be restrained against forward, rearward and sideways movement. Use rated straps, chains or nets attached to proper anchor points. The tailgate or side panel is not a substitute for restraint. Check strap tension and condition; a frayed or cut strap is unfit. Cover loose materials with a tarpaulin where required. Recheck the load after a short distance and after any emergency stop.
Weight, height and route planning
Know the vehicle's permitted gross weight, axle limits and overall height. A tall LGV may not fit under a low bridge or into a car park with a height barrier. Plan for weight restrictions, narrow lanes, residential access times and delivery-yard hazards. If a load projects beyond the body, check the current marking requirements and make the projection visible.
Driving a loaded vehicle
A loaded LGV accelerates more slowly, needs a longer stopping distance and has a higher centre of gravity. It leans more in bends and may sway. Steering is heavier. Blind spots increase with a high or wide load. Use mirrors early, signal in good time and take bends slowly. When reversing, use a banksman if visibility is poor and keep the banksman in view.
Worked example
You are carrying a tall stack of boxed goods in a panel van. The boxes are stacked to the roof and the rear doors are closed. The load is not secured internally. The correct action is to rebuild the stack: heavy boxes at the bottom, lighter boxes on top, the stack restrained with straps or load bars, and nothing pressing on the doors. Closing the doors does not stop the stack falling forward when you brake.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating the tailgate as a load restraint.
- Using a damaged strap because it 'still holds'.
- Forgetting the vehicle's height after loading.
- Assuming a loaded van handles like an empty one.