4 Efficient Strategies for Transporting Cargo with Your Pickup Truck

You can liken pickup trucks to Swiss army knives due to their incredible versatility. They are well-suited for navigating off-road terrain, hauling heavy loads, and spacious enough to serve as family cars. If customization is your thing, there are several aftermarket accessories to modify your truck to reflect your personality and creativity. 

If you’ll be transporting lots of loads due to work or personal projects, it’s a no-brainer to go for a pickup truck. Just bear in mind your friends and family might ask you for help transporting items occasionally. But hey, you can’t blame them for wanting to enjoy the perks of a vehicle with plenty of cargo space. 

Safety should always be the top priority when hauling cargo with a pickup. Accidents can occur if cargo isn’t properly secured, and even small items can cause serious damage to other road users when they fly off at high speeds. In the following paragraphs, you’ll find tips and tricks to help you safely haul your cargo without endangering yourself and others. Here they are:

• Know Your Vehicle’s Limit

The maximum load capacity is the first thing to consider when hauling cargo with your pickup. All pickups have a maximum load capacity, also called payload capacity. You can find the payload rating of your truck in the owner’s manual or on a sticker inside the door frame. 

Overloading a truck can compromise handling, reduce braking performance, or damage components such as suspension, tires, brakes, and drivetrain. Moreover, exceeding payload limits can result in legal consequences, with many jurisdictions imposing penalties for non-compliance with weight restrictions.

While modern trucks like the 2023 Ford-350 may come equipped with onboard scales for real-time cargo weight estimation, older models may lack this feature. In such cases, consider installing aftermarket scales or weighing items before loading them into the truck.

If a scale isn’t accessible, inspect the suspension after loading the truck. Any noticeable sag in the rear indicates potential overloading and should prompt immediate action to redistribute or remove cargo to ensure safe operation.

• Install Essential Accessories

Some accessories are essential to safely hauling cargo in your pickup truck. Installing a truck bed liner and accessories like tie-downs, bed extenders, and cargo nets makes hauling safer and more effective.

Bedliners are protective coatings or mats installed in the bed of trucks to protect them from scratches, dents, and other damages by the cargo. They come in plastic, rubber, or spray-on coatings like polyurethane or polyurea.

Tiedown straps and cargo nets help keep cargo in place. Cargo nets are more suitable for lighter loads, especially those that can easily blow out of the truck’s bed when in motion. Depending on the design, cargo beds can be stretchy or static.

Tie-down straps are versatile and can be used for heavy and lighter cargo, depending on their load rating. The tie-down straps you use must be appropriate for the cargo’s weight. In many cases, 1 or 2-inch straps will be enough, but still carry out due diligence by confirming the load rating of your truck and the straps.

• Keep Cargo Evenly Distributed

Make sure your cargo is evenly distributed when hauling. Distribute the weight of the cargo evenly throughout the bed to prevent excessive strain on one area. 

Place heavier items in the front of the truck bed closest to the cab to distribute the weight more evenly across the axles. Doing this improves stability and handling while driving. Lighter items should be in the rear to prevent the truck from becoming tail-heavy, which could compromise stability during braking or cornering.

If you are stacking items, place heavier items at the bottom and the lighter ones on top. Heavier items at the bottom of a stack help maintain stability while preventing the lighter items from being crushed or damaged. This arrangement also lowers the truck’s center of gravity, enhancing overall stability during transit.

• Drive Cautiously

You need to be extra mindful of your driving when hauling cargo. Drive a modern and safe speed to maintain better control and react effectively to any unexpected situations on the road. While pickups have impressive performance and weight, the extra weight from the cargo can affect handling and braking distance, so you’ll have to slow down when hauling cargo.

Stick to good roads when hauling cargo in your truck, even if it might take longer to reach your destination, especially if the delay isn’t significant. Good roads provide a smoother and safer driving experience while reducing the risk of damage to your truck and cargo. However, if you must travel on rough terrain, exercise extra caution.

If driving long distances, consider taking regular breaks to stay alert. Fatigue can set in after extended periods of driving, impairing your ability to react quickly and make sound decisions on the road. Taking breaks helps avoid fatigue and maintain alertness for safe driving.