TECHNICAL RELEASE 12-R-16 Trucks/Trucking: safety May 2012
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INTRODUCTION: International Paper’s Prattville, Alabama woodyard has devised a simple solution to the problem of a cable hook snagging on the top of the load during the log truck unbinding process.
GENERAL FEATURES: The device is simply the top six inches of a 12-inch traffic cone. To install the traffic cone section, remove the hook and clamp from the cable and thread the cable through the small end of the funnel-shaped traffic cone. Then replace the hook and clamp.
OPERATION: When the truck driver pulls the binder cable back over the load at the unbinding station, the cable slides into the mouth of the funnel device, preventing the hook from hanging up on the load. This eliminates the occasional problem of the hook snagging on the top of the load and the driver jerking the cable forcefully to free the hang-up, with the hook suddenly coming free and possibly striking the driver in the face. We chose the traffic cone because of the durable eighth-inch rubber’s softness, in case the device should come in contact with the driver when he pulls the strap over.
SPECIFICATIONS AND COST: The cost for a 12-inch traffic cone is approximately $5. Only the top six inches of the cone are used.
