Upon hearing this story a rugged trucker, who is accustomed to pulling loads through blizzard conditions in Maine, jumped into the conversation countering that truckers can’t decide not to deliver to places like “Kansas in April because Toto might blow away”.

Yet another pointed out that during natural disasters even FEMA tries to get truckers in and out before a storm in order to keep truckers safe. 

A trucker on the scene this morning reported “18 miles of levees breached in Plaquemines Parrish south of New Orleans and 12′ of water in homes”; while another said he managed to drop his load and took off toward Alabama where he decided to wait out the storm just south of Mobile with woods protecting him and his rig from the strong winds.

Reports are indicating that current high threat areas include New Orleans Houma Terrebonnee, Keesler, Baton Rouge, Boothville, Gulfport, and Mobile; according to the NOAA these areas can expect up 80 mph winds and flooding.

At times like these our customers, their truckers and families are constantly on our minds. If there’s anything DC Cargo Mall can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re manning the phones and email waiting to hear from you.

Will you do us a favor?  If you have an opportunity to do so, please check in below and let us know how you’re weathering the storm.

With the inevitable shifting and abrupt movement that occurs in a moving situation there is a lot of reasons to use large tarps to help secure your loads. Whether your moving in flatbed trucks or vans, using tarps to help protect your most valuable items from scratches and scrapes can be very effective. The cost of getting a few of those tarps in on any move will pay for itself simply in peace of mind.

The tarps available at DC Cargo Mall are not just any tarps either. These are heavy duty items intended for use in moving large and expensive items. While a tarp can not fully guarantee a move free of damage it can assure you some level of stability for anything you wrap in it. Should things seem to require more protection, (large televisions for example) you can always double up on tarps around the item.

As in all things finding the most careful way to plan out a move is important. These tarps are one more step.

Of course, that does not mean that people driving cargo vans should skimp on buying some load securement. With the shifting around of items in the back of your van being inevitable, you are going to want to make sure that things stay put and, more particularly, that your van’s doors are properly secured. Using a ratchet strap you can reinforce your van’s back doors so that even if a large piece of furniture rams into the doors, they do not fly open.

If your cargo is not secure in a van things can be just as, or possibly more, dangerous than with a flatbed. While driving behind a truck piled with stuff many drivers will be deferential and extra careful. They rarely, if ever, show that same care to a seemingle harmless cargo van.

The safest way to transport stuff might be a cargo van but that doesn’t get you off the hook for load securement.

If you own and operate, or simply do equipment purchases for a large business with some interest in shipping, DC Cargo Mall is likely the best place to go for load bingers and load securement equipment. There are a number of items that are top of the line available from DC Cargo Mall, and everything is offered at incredibly low prices that retailing exclusively online affords the company.

Minding your overhead is difficult work and it is the sort of task that must be micromanaged. Everything can add up and quickly become a detrimental expense to your company if you are not minding even the smallest purchases. Whether you are paying attention to the building up cost of pens and paper in your offices or the piling up prices of various forms of load securement, your best bet is always to find the lowest price possible.

Any looseness when you get the item prepared for transport will likely be a huge headache for you later. The reason is simple, if you leave space between the load and the strap, chances are things will move around. Your cargo will almost surely be damaged as it shifts around the roof or flatbed. What might be even worse is you could do major damage to your car or truck.

But then there is the thing about the tension. If your ratchet straps are not being pulled tightly around your cargo, they are likely not secure at all. As soon as you hit one bump, the straps are likely to unhinge and your cargo could become a hazard to not only you but anyone on the road. This is clearly not the safest way to move cargo.

Luckily for the rest of us, there are winch straps. The metal attachment for a winch strap, or the Notched Sliding Winch, is a stellar device able to make a secure restraint for your cargo without requiring some innate hard to learn skill. For some of us, tying a functional knot can seem completely impossible. An unreliable hand tied knot can be a complete disaster if you are moving large cargo even a very short distance. The slightest bit of slack can have a couch flying off a roof rack into oncoming traffic, destroying your cargo, putting you at risk of a lawsuit, and at worst putting lives in danger.

So the invention of the notched sliding winch and its corresponding strap is in some ways a literal life saver. It also makes moving a “do it yourself” proposition feasible for anyone and everyone.

If you are moving large items in your truck and the flatbed is filled past its top you of course are going to use a number of truck tie downs to manage the load safely. Similarly if in your car or van you decide to use the roof rack to transport a large item you will likely have it well- strapped in with a series of ratchet straps and winch straps. Luckily these load binders are durable and likely to survive main streets, bumpy roads, and even steep hills. That said, all of the above should still be avoided if possible.

Finding the smoothest route to your destination when carrying cargo is a cautious move that can save you money and aggravation. The general stress of say driving on a busy street while hauling a large piece of furniture on the roof of your car is enough reason to try and find an alternative trajectory.

Of course should you end up having to get a couch up a hill or a new dining room set over a bumpy road the right load binders should be able to properly assure you of their safety. That said if the risk can be avoided it probably should be.

If you are the kind of person who has a nice truck or van chances are you do not want your cargo scratching and moving around all over the place. Large cargo without the right truck tie downs can leave huge dents and scratches on your car’s veneer. With the right combination of ratchet straps and other forms of load binders you can ensure that your cargo and your vehicle are safe.

The functional value of a truck or van is undeniable. Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to have a large vehicle knows that when you need to move some stuff nothing helps more. These people also appreciate the look and craftsmanship behind their truck and chances are a big eye soar of a scratch along their truck’s bed is going to run them the wrong way.

That said most of these folks, novices as they are about moving large items and owning a truck in general, likely do not have the wide array of truck tie downs required to safely move an item even a short distance. Everything from ratchet straps to winch straps could come in handy in a situation where large cargo is being hauled to and fro. If you own a truck it is hard to suggest that owning such items are solely your responsibility but then who are you going to trust?

Luckily at DC Cargo Mall you can order all of the above for a good price and expect them to arrive in time for whatever weekend hauling you have on your plate. Maybe if that pizza doesn’t feel like quite enough for your trouble you can even convince one of these folks to pick up the tab.

Even the slightest shifting around of furniture and other important stuff in a moving situation can do it’s fair share of damage. Imagine the collection of home goods and housewares that you have built over a lifetime suddenly ruined by a bump in the road or a quick and sharp turn. Imagine that glorious HD television set moving just an inch towards your oak book case. The damage done to both is enough to make your whole move not just a stressful but a down right sorrowful endeavor.

Using the right load binders and truck tie downs on the other hand, as well as some much needed pads and blankets to help defend against scratching, can make all the difference in the world. Keep your appliances in tact and your furniture unscuffed.