A departure checklist for ladders, tools and materials

Inspect the equipment before loading

Check the condition and suitability of the load area, bodywork and anchorage points. Inspect the restraints you intend to use and read their labels and instructions. A damaged or unidentified component needs attention before it becomes part of the securing arrangement.

DVSA explains that no single restraint solution suits every vehicle and load. Choose a system for the items being carried and the available attachment points. Ask the manufacturer or an appropriate specialist if the required arrangement is unclear. There is no universal strap count that can safely replace those details.

Position and contain the interior load

DVSA’s van guidance recommends placing items against a bulkhead where possible, grouping smaller items in a container and securing large or heavy items to the vehicle. Review the bulkhead’s condition and the protection it provides between cargo and occupants. Keep work equipment in the load area rather than loose in the cab.

Check the completed arrangement for items that can slide, roll or leave their containers. Close the required drawer and locker latches, then apply the restraints specified for the equipment. Plan a safe unloading sequence too: an item that becomes unstable when a restraint is released creates a different problem at the destination.

Check the roof load as its own system

For ladders and work equipment on a van roof rack, DVSA calls for effective clamping or cargo ratchet straps, within the manufacturer’s recommended weight limit. Rope is not an acceptable main restraint. Any additional tie-down arrangement for a long load still needs to suit the equipment and vehicle.

Follow the fitted roof system’s instructions for attachment points and load position. Confirm that a loading aid or carrier is in its travel configuration and that the required restraints are engaged. Check the load, bars or rack and accessories together; each contributes to the completed roof setup.

Recheck when the journey or load changes

DVSA advises checking restraints during a journey, particularly where tension can change or after harsh braking or swerving. Multi-drop work also changes the load arrangement. At a safe stopping place, reassess the remaining items after deliveries instead of assuming that the original restraint plan still works.

Make the check part of the working routine: inspect, position, restrain and recheck. Keep product instructions available for anyone using the van. The DVSA sources linked here apply to Great Britain, covering England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland requirements should be checked separately. This checklist supports planning; it does not certify a particular load or installation.

Your checklist

Keep these points together when comparing equipment or speaking to an installer.