Understanding the intricacies of proper load restraint extends far beyond simply knowing regulations—it requires practical knowledge of the diverse techniques, equipment, and principles that together create safe and compliant loading systems. The NHVR’s Loading Guides collection represents a targeted approach to industry education, breaking down complex load restraint concepts into accessible, quick-reference resources designed for real-world application. Covering twenty-three essential topics—from fundamental principles like friction and lashing angles to specific equipment applications like shoring bars and load-rated curtains—these guides serve as practical companions to the comprehensive Load Restraint Guide. Designed to be printed and displayed in workplaces or incorporated into loading manuals, they provide Chain of Responsibility parties with the tips, tricks, and technical insights needed to make informed decisions about securing diverse cargo types across varying transport scenarios.

Loading guides

Loading guides provide tips and tricks to help industry better understand the principles of good load restraint. 

The guides have been designed for parties in the CoR to print out and display in their workplace to increase awareness, or to be placed in loading manuals as a quick reference.

More information on the principles covered by these guides can be found in the Load Restraint Guide.

Title	Topic
Blocking	Blocking is where the vehicle body structure or another rated attachment is used to prevent a load from moving forward, reward or sideways.
Covering Loads	A load cover is a protective covering used to secure and protect freight during transport.
Direct Restraint	Direct restraint controls movement of the load in the forward, backward and sideways directions by using the vehicles body structure, such as bulkheads and walls, or restraint equipment such as chains, straps or twist locks.
Dunnage	Dunnage is the packing placed under and between parts of the load.
Friction	Friction is the force that makes it difficult for one object to slide along the surface of another.
Headboards	A headboard is a barrier between the back of the cabin and the cargo area; or fitted to the front of a trailer.
Intermediate Bulk Containers	Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) are industrial grade reusable containers engineered for the mass handling, transport, and storage of liquids, semi-solids, pastes, or solids.
Key elements of a load restraint system	There is no one-size-fits-all approach to load restraint. The appropriate restraint system will depend on both the nature of the goods being transported and the type of vehicle being used.
Lashing Angle	Lashing angle is the angle between the lashing and the vehicle’s loading deck.
Live Loads	Live loads that can move during transport pose additional loading and restraint challenges that must be considered to ensure safety.
Load Blocking	Key considerations for effectively restraining a load that is not blocked by a structure, such as a rated headboard, bulkhead or direct restraint lashings.
Load Distribution	The position of a load has a significant impact on the safety of a heavy vehicle as it impacts the vehicle’s stability, steering dynamics, braking and weight distribution.
Loading Plans	Loading plans describe how loads are packed, where loads should be placed on the vehicle and the minimum requirements to safely restrain the load for transport by road.
Load-Rated Side Curtains	Load-rated side curtains are designed to provide sideways restraint when used within their approved load-rating.
Performance Standards	Loading performance standards are the forces that the load restraint system must be able to withstand in each direction.
Pre-tension	Pre-tension is the force in the lashing provided by a mechanical tensioner.
Shoring Bars	Shoring bars are high-strength bars that help reduce load movement during transport. They may also be called blocking bars, beams, or pogo sticks.
Side Curtains	Side curtains are flexible sheets of material, usually made of durable vinyl, fitted to the sides of a truck or trailer.
Side Gates	Side gates are permanent or removable vertical frames used at the sides of a vehicle’s loading deck to contain its load.
Stretch and Shrink Wrapping	Stretch and shrink wrapping is a stretchable plastic film that is wrapped around small items to unitise and hold loads together. It is generally used for light and small items.
Toppling Risks	Toppling is something that can occur when a load becomes unstable because it is too tall compared to how wide or long it is.
Unitising Loads	Unitising a load means to group or bundle smaller items into a single, larger pack. This creates a more secure, stable and consolidated load that can be easily restrained.

The Loading Guides collection represents an invaluable toolkit for anyone involved in the heavy vehicle loading process, distilling complex engineering principles and regulatory requirements into practical, actionable guidance. By addressing everything from the physics of friction and pre-tension to the specific applications of intermediate bulk containers and live loads, these resources acknowledge that effective load restraint demands both theoretical understanding and hands-on knowledge. The guides’ accessibility—designed for workplace display and quick reference—reflects their purpose as living documents meant to support daily operational decisions rather than gather dust on shelves. When used alongside the comprehensive Load Restraint Guide, these focused resources empower loaders, drivers, and operators to implement appropriate restraint systems confidently, understanding not just what to do, but why each element matters. Ultimately, these guides reinforce that professional load restraint isn’t about memorizing rules—it’s about understanding principles that, when properly applied, protect lives, cargo, and infrastructure on every journey.

Information taken from NHVR.gov.au