Straps are arguably the most important tools found in a flatbed truck driver’s toolbox. Straps are used to hold cargo in place when chains are either inappropriate or impractical. In fact, you could make the case that drivers now prefer straps whenever possible. They are rugged, durable, and extremely easy to deploy.
The preferred strap among American truck drivers is the webbing strap. However, newer composite straps are also making their way to the market. These newer straps might eventually prove more attractive for some kinds of loads. For now though, the webbing strap dominates the cargo control scene.
About the Webbing Strap
Ohio-based Mytee Products is one of many companies that sell a full variety of webbing straps. Their straps come in different lengths and working load limits. Some have hooks attached while others are intended to be used with ratchets. The one thing they all have in common is their construction.
A webbing strap is a woven strap made with polyester fibers woven together in two directions. By weaving fibers both horizontally and vertically, manufacturers create an extraordinarily strong material capable of withstanding tremendous loads yet still being flexible enough to use with ease.
Woven polyester fiber brings a lot to the table. Truckers appreciate webbing straps made from this material because they are tough and resilient. Provided a trucker takes adequate care to prevent friction, abrasions, and direct contact with sharp edges, webbing straps will last a long time. They are weather resistant, UV resistant, and will not corrode like chains.
About the Composite Strap
Composite straps are relatively new to the market. They are also made with polyester fibers, though they are not woven vertically and horizontally. Instead, all the fibers are aligned in a vertical direction. They are coated with a polypropylene material that, when cured, creates a single piece. The poly fibers act as reinforcement for the polypropylene material into which they are embedded.
One of the main differences between composite straps and their webbing counterparts is flexibility. Composite straps are considerably more stiff. That makes them easier to work under and between different elements of a load, but it also means they do not adapt well to nonuniform loads with odd shapes.
Truckers also have to be careful about the fasteners they use with composite straps. Due to the nature of the composite material, hooks and buckles have to be galvanized. Standard phosphate coated hooks and buckles would damage the straps by way of friction.
The Right Straps for the Job
Both webbing and composite straps have their uses in cargo control. As always, it is up to the truck driver to choose the right straps for each job. Drivers have to consider lots of different things, beginning with working load limits.
A working load limit is the amount of force a particular material can absorb before failure. Federal law requires that drivers choose their cargo control equipment based partially on working load limits. Simply put, drivers have to use enough straps to keep cargo in place. The working load limits of those straps has to be commensurate with the size and weight of the cargo being controlled.
Webbing and composite straps represent just two of the many tools truck drivers rely on to keep cargo secure. Other tools include blocks, chains, hooks, buckles, and even tarps. The most experienced drivers know which tools are right for each kind of load they carry. Sometimes webbing straps are the best choice, other times a composite strap is better. Thankfully, truck drivers have an adequate supply of tools to choose from.