Load securing in road transport: the EUMOS standard and its role in European legislation
Every year, too many (fatal) road accidents are still caused by loads that have not been properly secured or restrained. It is therefore essential that loads are properly secured so that they cannot shift or topple during transport. To guarantee greater safety, a uniform standard was created and laid down in EUMOS legislation.
Pascal Brysse
What is EUMOS?
EUMOS stands for European Safe Logistics Association. It is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the safety of goods transport.
Drawing on the expertise of its diverse membership, EUMOS has played a very important role in developing various standards for securing loads. The association also works continuously with experts to improve safety standards across Europe.
Eumos 40509
EUMOS has drawn up a standard, namely EUMOS 40509, which sets out the rules for securing and restraining a load.
The standard describes a dynamic test method for assessing the rigidity of a load unit, including a detailed description of the test conditions, evaluation criteria for elastic and plastic deformation of the pallet load, and specifications for the test certificate.
The test simulates a load's exposure to horizontal acceleration and deceleration during road transport. After the test, the load must not exceed a certain degree of tilt.
The standard applies to all modes of transport (lorries, trailers, containers and ships) and to every type of load (pallets, boxes, heavy machinery, vehicles...).
Legislation
- European Directive 2014/47/EU
In 2014, European Directive 2014/47/EU was published. Annex III of this legislation lists the standards a load must meet to comply with the law. The EUMOS 40509 standard was also added to this annex. This means these rules have had to be followed on all European roads since 2014.
- Royal Decree of 01/12/75
Since 2018, the EUMOS 40509 standard has also been incorporated into Belgian legislation. You will find this under art. 45 bis § 6 in the consolidated version of the Royal Decree of 01/12/75.
Who is responsible?
Since the introduction of EUMOS legislation, it is not only the transport company that is responsible for compliance, but primarily the client commissioning the transport. They must ensure that the goods are adequately packaged and can be transported safely in accordance with the EUMOS 40509 standard.
Anyone who fails to comply with EUMOS legislation risks heavy fines during an inspection. Companies therefore have every interest in strictly following the rules of the standard.
How can AMNorman support you?
The introduction of EUMOS legislation marks an important step towards safer transport of goods within the EU. By ensuring that loads are secured correctly and safely, the risk of accidents and damage to goods will be significantly reduced.
Do you still have questions after reading this article about applying this legislation? Let's meet. Our AMNorman experts are ready to help you.
