How does wind affect a trailer

As a driver operating an empty trailer, there are multiple risks and due diligence requirements to take into account regarding speed, weather, Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), and Safe Work Australia requirements.

Risks and training needs may include:

1. Speed: High speeds can increase the risk of losing control of the vehicle and lead to serious accidents. Drivers must be trained to respect speed limits and adjust their speed according to traffic, road, and weather conditions.
2. Weather: Weather conditions can create risks such as reduced visibility, slippery roads, or increased wind resistance for high-sided vehicles like trailers. Training should cover how to respond to different weather conditions, including reducing speed, using suitable lighting, and where necessary, using chains on tyres in icy conditions.

When empty a trailer does not have te same downward grip on a road surface so that handling can be affected by adverse wind conditions - parties shoudl ensure this is discussed with their supply chain partners to ensure adequate risk mitigation and training are provided - check your anticipated route weather maps when developing your safe journey plan.

Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and Safe Work Australia requirements:

1. HVNL: This provides a national set of laws for all heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes. Training should ensure drivers understand their responsibilities under this law, which include proper load restraint, maintaining logbooks, managing driver fatigue, and complying with speed limits.
2. Safe Work Australia: This body provides national guidelines covering workplace health and safety across numerous industries, including road transport. Training should ensure drivers are aware of their obligations around safe work practices, managing risks to their health and safety, and that they are properly inducted and trained for their role.

As for the other parties involved:

1. Schedulers: They should ensure that schedules allow drivers to comply with speed limits, fatigue management requirements, and any other relevant HVNL regulations.
2. Operators: They should ensure their business operations don't encourage or create conditions for speeding or non-compliance with HVNL and should provide adequate training to their employees.
3. Loaders: They need to ensure they comply with the load restraint requirements of the HVNL, ensuring the safety of the driver, the vehicle, and the public.
4. Prime Contractors: They are obligated to ensure that their contracts do not incentivize unsafe work practices, including speeding or bypassing rest periods. They must ensure that their contracts allow for compliance with all HVNL requirements.

References:

1. Heavy Vehicle National Law and Regulations. National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. [link=www.nhvr.gov.au/law-policies/heavy-vehicle-national-law-and-regulations]
2. Transport. Safe Work Australia. [link=www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/industry_business/transport]

It's imperative to ensure that everyone involved complies with the strict regulations and requirements not only for legal reasons but, crucially, the health and safety of all road users.

Vehicle safety in high winds: curtainside trucks

Strong winds can easily blow your truck over. In fact, a 100km/h gust can put as much as 30 tonnes of pressure on the side of a semitrailer. If you’re running empty or carrying a light load like cornflakes, your truck is at risk of being tipped on its side by the wind.

During high winds, it’s recommended that you avoid driving on exposed plains, across structures such as bridges and where the wind is naturally funnelled into a point.

Drivers of curtainside vehicles can easily reduce their risk of a blow over by tying their curtains back, however, drivers should not ignore advice given by police or highways agencies not to travel; if you’re in any doubt, park up the truck and wait for the winds to die down.

How to reduce the side profile of your truck and/or trailer

Open the curtain on the lee side of the truck (the side not in the wind) from the front and slide it all the way to the back. Note that you should absolutely not do this in strong wind as it could be too strong for you to hold the curtain safely, plus the curtain could flap around with buckles swinging, risking injuring you.

Repeat on the side exposed to the wind. Keep a firm hold of the curtain poles to reduce the risk of them flapping uncontrollably and hitting you.

Use a ratchet strop tie the curtains to the rear door, making sure that you are not covering your lights, reflectors or number plate. The curtains should be all the way back, neatly folded.

Throw two strops over the top of the trailer, dividing the trailer into three roughly even parts and secure them on the rails. This stops the wind’s pressure on the rear door flexing the top rails which could dislodge any side rails.