Blocking and direct lashing

Look for the marking DS/EN 12642 L or XL on the body. An L body can be credited with front wall 0.4 × payload, rear wall 0.25 and side wall 0.3; an XL body with 0.5 / 0.3 / 0.4. Without marking you must not count the body as a load securing element.

Place the load right up against the headboard so that it is blocked forwards by form-locking. An XL body with µ ≥ 0.3 and correctly stowed load can in many cases carry a full load without extra lashing — but this requires the documentation to be available.

Form locking (load against a fixed wall) is stronger than friction — use it before you lash.

Fill gaps between load units with dunnage bags/airbags so the units block each other and cannot slide together. Choose pressure class and size according to the gap and follow the supplier's instructions.

Use telescopic load bars (cargo bars / load locks) tensioned between side walls or rails to hold the load back or divide the load space. The holding force is stated in the data sheet — it must match the force the load can exert.

For machinery and irregular loads, you lash directly from the load's lashing points to the load bed's lashing eyes with straps or chains. Here the lashing carries the force directly (LC), unlike top-over, where it is the friction that is used.

Check that the load bed's lashing eyes/rails have a permitted load at least equal to the LC of the lashing — look up the capacity in the body's data sheet. An anchor point that is too weak is just as dangerous as a strap that is too weak.

The weakest link in the chain — strap, eye or lashing point — determines the real safety.

Fit direct lashings in pairs and at symmetrical angles so they pull evenly. Visually check the whole load from all sides before departure, and check again after the first few kilometres and after hard braking.