New Video to Accompany Load Security Course from Mentor Training
Load Security Isn't Just a Driver's Responsibility
When people think about load security, they often just think about the driver. In reality, by the time a vehicle leaves site, multiple people have already influenced whether that load is safe to transport. Loaders, forklift operators, supervisors, transport managers and drivers all have a role to play, and this new course from Mentor Training has been developed to ensure every single load is safe and secure following its journey from being prepared to arriving.
We recently sat down with JD from Mentor Training to discuss the course, how it was developed through customer feedback, and why load security remains one of the most overlooked risks facing businesses that transport materials, equipment and products on public roads.
The Problem with Assumptions
One of the strongest messages from our discussion was that too many businesses assume people already know how to secure a load properly. Managers often assume drivers understand load security, and some drivers assume they have done it correctly, or that because they have “always done it that way” that it’s correct.
As JD explained, those assumptions are often where problems begin. Many of the incidents he encounters are not caused by reckless behaviour, but by a lack of understanding around securing methods, strap ratings, load placement and responsibility.
It Starts Long Before the Driver Leaves Site
The course was originally developed following customer concerns about load-related incidents and the need for a more practical approach to training. As JD explained: "It's not just the driver's responsibility, it's the person who's preparing the load. Anybody loading the vehicle, it's their responsibility [and] it's the management team’s as well."
That principle sits at the heart of the programme. The training is designed to help everyone involved in the process understand what good load security looks like, from preparing and loading the vehicle through to final checks before entering the public highway.
Relevant Training for Real Operations
One reason the course has been so successful is that it isn't tied to a single industry. Whether a business is transporting palletised products, construction materials, waste, timber, cable drums or plant and equipment, the principles remain the same. The theory covers current DVSA expectations and load securing methods, while the practical element focuses on the loads, vehicles and challenges delegates face within their own operation.
That approach mirrors something we've always believed at Certora: training works best when it reflects the reality of the job, not just the minimum standard.
Why On-Site, Practical Training Matters
During the discussion, JD highlighted that more than 3,000 load security incidents had been reported on major roads and motorways, while many others are likely to go unreported. The consequences can range from enforcement action and prosecution through to serious injury or loss of life.
To reinforce the importance of the subject, we’re showing Mentor Training’s collaboration video with Sussex Police, following Maria Dennis’ story after losing her son, Harry when an unsecured load struck the vehicle he was travelling in. The video includes a message from Maria Dennis, who is working with Sussex police, stopping vehicles and talking to driver’s about the importance of load security.
"Bereaved families do not need sympathy. They deserve action." A powerful reminder that load security is not simply about compliance, transport operations or passing inspections, it's about making sure people get home safely, both your driver and innocent members of the public who could be involved in a fatal accident without the correct securing of loads.
Watch the Full Interview
Our full discussion with JD explores load security responsibilities, DVSA expectations, common mistakes, practical securing techniques and the role training can play in preventing incidents.
Watch the full interview below, including Maria's powerful message and the actions businesses can take to improve load security within their own operations.