Load Security for Builders’ Merchant Deliveries | Legal Safety Guide

November 17, 2025

Protecting people, products and the public

In builders’ merchant logistics, load security is one of the most important aspects of safety.
Every day, HIABs, Moffetts and flatbed vehicles transport heavy, uneven or awkward materials across the UK. If a load shifts, it can cause serious injury, damage or disruption, not only to drivers but also to customers, site staff and other road users.

Good load security is about more than compliance. It is about preventing accidents before they happen.

The Law on Load Security

The Road Traffic Act 1988 places a clear duty on operators and drivers to ensure that every load is properly restrained and cannot move during transit.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) actively enforces these regulations through roadside checks and operator inspections. Vehicles found with insecure or poorly restrained loads can face immediate prohibitions, penalty points or prosecution.
You can read the DVSA’s official guidance on Load Security: How to Keep Your Vehicle Safe and Legal.

This is supported by key safety frameworks that guide best practice in the building materials sector:

You can read the Department for Transport’s official guidance on Load Securing for Vehicle Operators, which outlines expectations for all operators, employers and drivers.
The Health and Safety Executive also provides a detailed safe loading and unloading checklist for practical site-level compliance.

Safe Loading and Unloading Practices

Delivering building materials presents unique challenges such as tight access routes, mixed-material loads, uneven terrain and time pressure.
That is why following a structured, methodical process is essential.

Good practice includes:

  • Assessing load weight, balance and distribution before lifting.
  • Using rated restraints such as straps, nets or chains suitable for the materials.
  • Checking anchor points, headboards and side supports for signs of wear or damage.
  • Avoiding mixed stacking that can shift during movement.
  • Ensuring clear communication between yard teams and drivers throughout the loading process.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) also recommends regular safety briefings and refresher training to reinforce awareness of on-site risks.

Why Consistency Improves Site Safety

Consistency is key to maintaining safety in complex environments.
When the same drivers attend the same sites regularly, they develop an understanding of:

  • Site layouts and traffic flow
  • Known access restrictions and ground conditions
  • The safest points for lifting, offloading and parking

This familiarity supports better decision-making, clearer communication and quicker responses when conditions change. It all contributes to safer working practices across merchant yards and delivery routes.

A Culture of Shared Responsibility

Safe loading does not sit with one person or one organisation. It is a shared responsibility between drivers, site staff and managers.
Everyone involved in preparing and delivering a load plays a role in ensuring that risks are controlled, procedures are followed and checks are completed before departure.

Investing time in safety through training, communication and verification saves far more than it costs.
It prevents incidents, protects lives and reinforces professionalism across the entire supply chain.

SDR’s Commitment to Safe Delivery

At SDR, we work alongside builders’ merchants across the UK to maintain the highest standards of delivery safety and compliance.
Our permanently employed HIAB and Moffett drivers follow structured daily checks, detailed load security procedures and ongoing refresher training aligned with DfT and HSE best practice.

You can learn more about our approach to Daily Checks and Pre-Use Inspections for HIAB and Moffett Drivers, which forms part of our company-wide safety assurance programme.

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