Freight that shifts during transit creates problems nobody wants to deal with. Damaged goods, rejected deliveries, safety incidents, and the paperwork that follows — these outcomes cost operations in ways that compound quickly. At Ferrier Industrial, we’ve spent decades working alongside transport operators, steel processors, and logistics teams to specify and supply load restraints systems that actually hold up under real-world conditions.

The challenge isn’t simply strapping things down. Effective load securing involves understanding how different cargo types behave during acceleration, braking, cornering, and vibration over extended journeys. It means selecting materials and configurations that match specific freight characteristics, vehicle types, and route profiles. This article covers the practical considerations that matter when evaluating cargo restraint systems — from friction coefficients and fixing points to serviceability and supply continuity.

Why Proper Cargo Securing Matters

Load restraint isn’t optional. Regulatory frameworks across Australia and New Zealand establish clear obligations for operators moving goods by road, rail, and sea. Beyond compliance, the operational case is straightforward: stable freight arrives in saleable condition, handling stays safer, and claims drop.

What gets overlooked is how restraint effectiveness depends on the complete system working together. A high-strength strap achieves nothing if the anchor point fails. Friction mats become irrelevant if the dunnage underneath compresses unpredictably. Chain protectors extend service life only when matched to the chain gauge actually in use.

This integrated perspective shapes how we approach transport restraint equipment at Ferrier Industrial. We look at the full chain of contact points from deck to cargo top, considering how each component interacts with adjacent elements. The goal is predictable, repeatable performance across thousands of loading cycles.

Understanding Load Behaviour in Transit

Every cargo type presents distinct securing challenges. Coiled steel behaves differently from bagged fertiliser. Palletised cartons respond to forces differently than loose pipe bundles. Recognising these differences guides appropriate freight securing systems selection.

Heavy dense loads like steel coils concentrate enormous forces at small contact areas. Restraint hardware must handle high point-loads without deformation. Bore restraint corners, for example, need to engage securely while distributing pressure across sufficient surface area to prevent bore damage.

Lighter but bulkier cargo often presents different challenges. Stability during cornering, resistance to toppling, and protection from compression damage take priority. Here, solutions might combine friction enhancement through high-grip matting with vertical restraint through ratchet strops positioned at calculated intervals.

Temperature variations, moisture exposure, and journey duration also factor in. Intermodal movements — road to rail to road, or through port terminals — multiply the handling events and directional forces cargo experiences. Systems specified for single-mode road transport may prove inadequate for complex multimodal journeys.

Core Components of Load Securing Solutions

Effective cargo restraint systems typically combine several product categories, each addressing specific requirements within the overall securing approach.

High-Friction Contact Surfaces

The foundation of stable loads often begins at the contact interface. High-friction materials between cargo and deck surfaces dramatically increase static friction coefficients, reducing reliance on tie-down tension alone.

Rubber matting rated for transport applications provides measurable friction improvement. At Ferrier Industrial, we supply load-restraint rubber mats with static friction coefficients exceeding typical requirements — meaning less strap tension needed to achieve equivalent restraint force. This translates to faster loading, reduced strap wear, and lower risk of cargo crushing damage from over-tensioning.

Dunnage and Load Support

Dunnage serves multiple functions: creating stable support bases, providing separation between cargo tiers, enabling forklift access, and distributing loads evenly across deck surfaces.

We’ve developed particular expertise in LVL (laminated veneer lumber) high-friction dunnage. This engineered timber product offers consistent dimensional stability, superior strength-to-weight ratios, and — when specified with vulcanised rubber lining — built-in friction enhancement without separate matting requirements.

Our LVL products come in various cross-sections suited to different applications. Eucalyptus-sourced material provides durability, while BWR (boiling-water-resistant) grades handle demanding conditions including wet environments and temperature extremes.

Strapping, Strops and Tie-Downs

Ratchet straps and cargo strops form the active tensioning component of most restraint configurations. Quality matters here — both in webbing strength and hardware durability.

We supply polyester ratchet assemblies built for high-cycle commercial use. Weather-resistant finishes, reinforced stitching at critical stress points, and DOT-compliant load ratings come standard. Custom assemblies address specific length, end-fitting, and working-load requirements that standard products don’t satisfy.

Specialised Cargo Restraint Systems for Steel

Our longest-running load restraint partnerships involve steel producers and transport operators moving coil, sheet, and plate product. This sector demands purpose-built hardware addressing extreme weights and specific damage vulnerabilities.

• Bore vertical coil restraint corners — Engineered from cold-rolled steel with vulcanised rubber contact surfaces, these secure eye-vertical coils in intermodal containers. Winged-hook retaining pins enable quick installation while maintaining positive engagement throughout transit.
• Chain protectors — Stainless pressing construction with rubber backing protects both restraint chains and cargo edges from abrasion and point-load damage. Available for various chain gauges with optional branding.
• Truck cradles — Vulcanised moulded rubber bonded to steel bases creates stable, vibration-damping support for horizontal coil transport. Multiple diameter options match common coil sizes.

Dunnage Airbags

For filling voids between cargo and container walls, dunnage airbags provide adjustable bracing that accommodates varying load configurations. We supply bags rated for truck, intermodal, and rail applications, sized to common gap dimensions.

Selecting Appropriate Freight Security Systems

Procurement teams evaluating load securing solutions should consider several practical factors beyond basic capacity ratings.

Material compatibility matters. Rubber compounds that work brilliantly with steel may not suit chemically sensitive products. Woven strapping that handles general freight might abrade delicate surfaces. Understanding what contacts cargo directly helps avoid damage that restraint systems are meant to prevent.

Serviceability affects total cost of ownership significantly. Systems designed for repair and parts replacement outlast those requiring complete replacement when single components wear. We maintain spares continuity for our restraint hardware precisely because field repairs keep equipment productive rather than waiting on full replacements.

Interface requirements deserve attention. Restraint systems must work with existing vehicle anchor points, container lashing rings, or deck fixtures. Floor types — timber, steel, aluminium, composite — influence friction mat selection. Forklift access needs may dictate dunnage dimensions and positioning.

Compliance verification should be straightforward. Systems should come with clear documentation of working load limits, test certifications where applicable, and usage guidance consistent with load-restraint guidelines relevant to your operations.

Key Evaluation Criteria for Transport Restraint Equipment

When assessing cargo restraint systems for procurement decisions, these factors warrant close attention:

• Rated working loads verified through documented testing, matched to actual cargo weights and restraint configurations you’ll deploy
• Material durability suited to your operating environment — temperature range, UV exposure, chemical contact, abrasion conditions
• Component replaceability and spares availability ensuring field repairs keep equipment working rather than waiting on complete replacement orders
• Dimensional compatibility with vehicle decks, container types, and cargo profiles common to your freight mix
• Friction performance data for contact surfaces, enabling accurate restraint calculations per relevant standards
• Customisation pathway for non-standard requirements — special lengths, modified end-fittings, branded hardware, interface adaptations
• Supply reliability including JIT delivery capability and consignment stock arrangements that reduce inventory carrying costs

How We Approach Load Restraints Systems

At Ferrier Industrial, our involvement in transport restraint extends across discovery, design, supply, and ongoing support. We’ve learned that effective solutions emerge from understanding specific operational contexts rather than pushing standard products at every situation.

Our process typically begins with understanding your cargo types, route profiles, handling equipment, and any particular challenges you’re experiencing. This might involve site visits, photographs, or review of existing equipment and damage patterns. Often, small observations about how loads behave during real transport reveal opportunities standard approaches miss.

From there, we identify appropriate products from our existing range or develop modified solutions where standard options fall short. Our relationships with manufacturing partners in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally give us flexibility to produce custom configurations without the lead times purely domestic fabrication might require.

We maintain JIT delivery arrangements and consignment stock programmes with major customers. These reduce carrying costs while ensuring critical restraint components remain available when loading schedules demand them. Spares continuity receives particular attention — knowing you can replace a worn component quickly keeps equipment productive.

Quality assurance runs throughout. Incoming inspection, batch traceability, and documented performance specifications give procurement teams confidence in what they’re receiving. Field feedback loops inform product iterations, so lessons from real-world use improve subsequent supply.

Practical Steps for Specifying Your Requirements

Working toward effective cargo securing systems procurement involves several practical stages:

• Document your freight mix — cargo types, typical weights, dimensions, packaging, and any sensitivity to crushing, abrasion, moisture, or temperature
• Map your transport modes and vehicle/container types — road trucks, rail wagons, ISO containers, break-bulk vessels — noting anchor point configurations and deck materials
• Identify current pain points — where damage occurs, which components wear fastest, what delays loading operations, which compliance requirements cause concern
• Establish performance expectations — target service life, acceptable maintenance intervals, stock availability requirements, any sustainability or end-of-life considerations
• Gather existing specifications — vehicle manufacturer guidelines, carrier SOPs, industry standards, client requirements for product delivery condition

With this information assembled, conversations with potential suppliers become far more productive. You can compare proposals against clearly defined operational needs rather than abstract capability claims.

Getting Started With Your Restraint Requirements

Freight security deserves proper attention precisely because failures create cascading problems — damaged goods, disputed claims, safety investigations, compliance audits. The right load restraints systems prevent these outcomes through predictable, reliable performance across thousands of loading cycles.

We at Ferrier Industrial bring decades of practical experience across steel transport, general freight, postal logistics, and bespoke applications. Our approach combines access to proven product ranges with willingness to engineer modified solutions where standard products don’t quite fit.

If you’re reviewing your cargo securing arrangements — whether routine replacement, fleet expansion, or addressing persistent damage issues — we welcome the conversation. Share your freight profiles, route characteristics, and current pain points. We can provide drawings, samples, and specifications that let you evaluate fit before committing. Site visits help where load behaviour or interface requirements need direct observation.

Contact our team to discuss your transport restraint needs. No obligation, just practical guidance from people who’ve spent careers keeping cargo stable.