RatchetStrap.com Blog-Cargo Securement & Tie Down Experts

A very good customer phoned last week, frustrated their E Track straps weren't fitting all of the sudden. Turns out that some trailers they'd leased for the Holidays have logistic wall posts with Round Holes (F Track) instead of the more common Rectangular opening (E Track). This is actually a common issue, especially when integrating trailers from a purchased fleet into the acquiring one (turns out accountants don't seem to think of these issues when establishing values and signing deals) <snicker>. RatchetStrap.com sells R16EW's to accommodate both types of Logistic Track, they are 2" x 16 ft. Ratchet Straps for Vans, that have Standard Spring...

Hot tub spa strap tie downs// <![CDATA[ (function () { var scriptURL = 'https://sdks.shopifycdn.com/buy-button/latest/buy-button-storefront.min.js'; if (window.ShopifyBuy) { if (window.ShopifyBuy.UI) { ShopifyBuyInit(); } else { loadScript(); } } else { loadScript(); } function loadScript() { var script = document.createElement('script'); script.async = true; script.src = scriptURL; (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(script); script.onload = ShopifyBuyInit; } function ShopifyBuyInit() { var client = ShopifyBuy.buildClient({ domain: 'ratchetstrap-com.myshopify.com', apiKey: 'd4ac22738678c2f1190cd1d6eccd2817', appId: '6', }); ShopifyBuy.UI.onReady(client).then(function (ui) { ui.createComponent('product', { id: [7223821315], node: document.getElementById('product-component-b00ffd1346c'), moneyFormat: '%24%7B%7Bamount%7D%7D', options: { "product": { "buttonDestination": "checkout", "layout": "horizontal", "variantId": "all", "width": "100%", "contents": { "variantTitle": false, "description": true, "buttonWithQuantity": false, "quantity": false }, "text":...

Curtain side box trucks are prevalent in Europe and are close cousins to small flatbed delivery trucks commonly seen in most US cities. A main difference, however, is how the superstructure is buttressed by the tie downs used inside. In these images we see common, 'unrateable' lumber added as structure, which if used to support the side curtain is probably fine but if counted on for cargo control is guess-work, at best!  These spring clamps are not able to be measured outside of a laboratory and the strength of the lumber varies specie to specie, milled piece to milled piece (better...

Like many people, I am fond of small Government's efficiency, the result of good people writing and implementing good processes. Neither of these are usually the case in the US because we ceased having a small government decades ago. However the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has amazed me for the past two administrations for their ability to speak intelligently to all stakeholders and craft policy that moulds new safety procedures recognizing industry's needs for profits with the public's right to be safe on America's highways. To that end, here is an update to existing rules that is especially important...

Hexavalent Chromium or Chromium-6, is a toxic, chemical compound (Yellow Dichromate is the pigment color of the inexpensive lead base) commonly used in anti-corrosion surface coatings on tie down strap hardware shipped to the United States from China.  Chromic acid is electroplated onto metal parts and if welded to, ground down or used around high heat, oxidation converts chromium to a hexavalent state.  This inhaled hexavalent chromium is recognized as a human carcinogen and is prohibited in the European Union.  Hexavalent Chromium was also the contaminant blamed for polluting the drinking water of Hinkley, California in the famed movie, Erin...