Was I being unreasonable?

[Bryan Williams]

Was asked to pick this up today for work.
Was supposed to go on the roof rack of the works van , I had four ratchet straps, not the big ones for wagons but the smaller type you get in a blister pack..
I phoned the boss and said I wasn't confident.
4mtr 200mm RSJ. X 2
Left them there in the end.

 

[eSCHEn]

I wouldn't even put them on the roof rack with all the ratchet straps in the world.

For me totally the correct decision.

 

[daleyd]

Ratchet straps are pretty strong but I wouldn’t like to be the car in front of you had to brake suddenly...

 

[Bryan Williams]

Well it was hammering down this morning , I was going from Rochdale to Oldham about 20 miles, some motorway..

 

[Bryan Williams]

There were three sheets of steel and one of plate in the back as well..

 

[waddycall]

Would have to be some roof rack (and van) for that to be a good idea.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Would have told him to jog on too.

Sounds much like the chap I used to sub for.

 

[arther dailey]

I would be concerned about a boss s ability/attitude if asked, ridiculous comes to mind,accident/death waiting to happen,you certainly did the right thing.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

As always with vehicles company van or not your responsible for the load/weight. If in doubt probably best not too.

 

[bigfellayork]

Wise move to reject. That neck of the woods is where I always get stopped for card check etc.
If they had been doing the rounds they would have pulled you and more than likely refused to let you go until provision made for the load.
I was chatting to one of the DSA (VOSA) a little while ago. He commented about the state of the van I had on the back of my truck. He went on to say that vans are going to become a more prominent part of the vehicles they check.
This does seem to be born out by the fact few times I’ve been past the wetherby pull point there have been more vans getting the once over than usual.

 

[WorkshopChris]

You could easily be looking at around 25Kg per meter as a minimum depending on full dimensions.
Would imagine even if everything else was up to standard and you could safely secure them it would still be in excess of the roof rack loading limit.
Especially then you factor in the overhand and wing loading.

 

[Bryan Williams]

Nissan Primastar , generic galvanized steel full rack.
He wasn't happy and borrowed a flatbed pickup to get it himself.
Thing is I drive round the VOSA roundabout on that route.
Face the music tomorrow suppose.

 

[Fazerruss]

These are 205 x 135 x 25kg per metre holding up my garage roof.
There's no way on this earth I would have dreamt of transporting on a roof rack.

 

[gaz1]

if not carrying the specific equipment you had every right to refuse to pick up the load

wagon straps for those things also best of using a tipper wagon with length to it

you can load that onto a transit van long wheel base but with a strong inbuilt roof rack on it not the type with 2 bars on it

and yet again tied down with wagon straps

 

[Bryan Williams]

These are part of a dorma extension.

 

[mrsbruce]

Any problem just ask your boss this. Scenario: he and his children (real or imaginary) in front of you on the motorway, in the rain, and he had to do an emergency stop.

Would he still think it was a good idea when your overweight van skidded into the back of his car, and then emptied the contents of the roof rack through his back window.

Sometimes saying no is the right thing to do.

 

[Bryan Williams]

Feel a bit better now I know I'm not the only one who would knock it back

 

[eSCHEn]

He wasn't happy and borrowed a flatbed pickup to get it himself.

There's the answer right there. He wouldn't do it himself so why ask someone else?

 

[Cobbler]

There's the answer right there. He wouldn't do it himself so why ask someone else?

It's your licence on the line if you get caught, I bet your boss wouldn't stand up & say "I told him to do it" he would probably Turn his back on you & say "your problem, you got caught"

P.S. I'm not cynical really, just seen it too many times

 

[winchman]

I feel you have saved hime from a whole load of trouble if you got pulled or had an accident.
I am sure he will have a Risk assessment for carrying loads on the roof that will state the maximum load