TRUCKING: Stowing Your Load
The Trucker’s Knot
A trucker’s reputation and livelihood depend on delivering cargo on time and in good condition. Vital to safely hauling a load and preventing cargo damage is ensuring that it is safely secured; failure to secure cargo adequately may have more dangerous consequences than just lost customers. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 25,000 accidents each year are attributable to debris from improperly secured loads.
Easy to Learn, Easy to Use
There are many different ways to secure a load, but one of the simplest is actually the most effective: the trucker’s knot. Also known as the trucker’s hitch or power cinch, the trucker’s knot is a compound knot that has it all: it’s easy to learn, easy to tie, incredibly secure and releases quickly.
Since the time of the horse-drawn cart, the trucker’s knot has been used to secure goods during transportation. It has many variations, but the general principle is that a single length of rope is knotted in on itself several times to create what is essentially a block and tackle pulley.
The block and tackle pulley configuration gives the rope a mechanical advantage. By threading the rope back around the load bearing portion of the rope, the supporting rope loops help the working portion withstand a greater amount of tension. This tension keeps the line tight and prevents the knots from loosening during transport.
Variations include the true trucker’s hitch, the false trucker’s hitch, the non-slip trucker’s hitch and more. How you choose to loop the supporting rope creates different levels of stability, tension and release speed — all of which may vary according to the individual load.
Some knot options include fixed loops, the slipped overhand loop and the sheepshank loop. Each one will produce slightly different results, so carefully consider your tension and untying needs before proceeding.
While there are many variations of the trucker’s knot, the basic steps remain the same. Tying the trucker’s knot requires two anchor points. (Anchors will vary depending on your truck’s hardware.)
1. Tie one end of the rope to the first anchor using your preferred hitch knot.
2. Determine where to place the second knot, remembering to leave enough slack in the rope to bring the end around for the final hitch.
3. Tie your selected loop and pull the running end through the second anchor. As you pull the rope tight, increase tension by pulling the looped rope sideways before finishing the knot. (Be aware of how much tension you actually need when tightening the knots; overdoing it can create enough tension to damage the rope or delicate cargo.)
4. For the final step, thread the running end through the loop of your second knot and tie your final knot. While the second loop and pulley help the rope withstand a great deal of tension when tied, this final hitch is what allows for a swift release when you’re ready to unload. The popular half hitch knot allows quick release of loads with minimal effort; however, heavier loads may require a more secure variation.
Learning to use the trucker’s knot will save time and worry on the road. You’ll quickly see the benefits of this easy and secure knot, as you determine which variation works best for your cargo.
To learn more ways to properly tie a trucker’s knot, see the links below:
· Illustrated Diagram. Figure 8, page 114 of the Field Manual for the US Antarctic Program, is a step-by-step illustrated diagram of tying a trucker’s knot.
· Useful Outdoor Knots. A brief comparison of the characteristics of seven similar and useful outdoor knots, including the trucker’s knot. See the following video for more.
· Hitch Knot Diagrams (PDF). This excerpt provides diagrams and background information on the trucker’s knot and similar hitch knots.
· Slip-knot Trucker’s Knot (PDF). The instructor’s manual for the National Cave Rescue Commission includes an illustrated diagram of a slip-knot trucker’s hitch, other hitch knots and technical information on rope tension.
· Canoe Secured with Trucker’s Knot (PDF). Photos and written instructions for tying a canoe to a vehicle using the trucker’s knot — a common use of the trucker’s knot to secure cargo.
Trucker, outdoor enthusiast or weekend home project engineer: it’s worth a few extra minutes to ensure your cargo stays where you put it.
Stow and go with confidence, Friends.
Alkane thanks Edward Green, writing for The Truckers Report for the content of this article.
Alkane Truck Company is currently raising capital on the crowdfunding platform StartEngine. Find out more here: https://www.startengine.com/startup/alkane
