Under Regulation 100 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, the load carried by a motor vehicle or trailer must always be secured so that neither danger nor nuisance is likely to be caused by any part of it falling, being blown off or moving, and GOV.UK guidance for Great Britain sets out how drivers, operators and the people who load a vehicle share responsibility.

The legal duty

Regulation 100(2) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, which extends to England, Wales and Scotland, says the load carried by a motor vehicle or trailer must at all times be so secured, if necessary by physical restraint other than its own weight, and be in such a position, that neither danger nor nuisance is likely to be caused to any person or property by the load or any part of it falling or being blown from the vehicle, or by any other movement of the load in relation to the vehicle. Regulation 100(1) adds that the weight, distribution, packing and adjustment of the load must be such that no danger is caused or likely to be caused. The rule applies to anyone driving a van or trailer to a recycling centre as well as to commercial waste operators.

What GOV.UK says about every load

GOV.UK’s guidance on securing loads on HGVs and goods vehicles applies to England, Scotland and Wales and covers HGVs, trailers, vans and cars. It states that all loads must be secure regardless of the vehicle, the size or type of the load or the length of the journey. Unsecured loads can affect handling, increase braking distance and the risk of a rollover, and items that fall can hit other vehicles or pedestrians or cause road closures. The guidance says even small, light items can kill someone if they fall from a vehicle travelling at speed.

Covers, sheets and nets for waste loads

For open vehicles and tippers, the guidance lists construction waste and scrap metal among loose loads that can be carried in bulk tippers. It says the body of the tipper prevents the load moving forwards, backwards and sideways, and that covering the load prevents it bouncing out of the vehicle on the road. Where a risk assessment shows a cover is needed, a sheet or net can be used if the load sits below the height of the vehicle sides, though a sheet provides better containment. If the load sits above the sides, a sheet must completely cover the load bed with no gaps on any side. Divisible loads like aggregate or scrap metal higher than the sides need a suitable sheet or solid cover, a net must not be used where the load is higher than the sides, and a driver must not rely on the load settling below the height of the sides.

Who is responsible

The guidance says everyone involved in loading a vehicle or managing a transport operation is responsible for making sure the load is safely loaded, secure during transport and safely unloaded. Operators, drivers and the “consignor”, the person or company putting the load onto the vehicle, must secure all loads and make sure they are transported, loaded and unloaded safely. Operators must make sure vehicles are suitable and roadworthy and give drivers who secure loads training, equipment and instructions, and a driver who does not load the vehicle should check the load if they can and should not proceed if in doubt. A skip company or man and van service that loads a customer’s rubbish is therefore responsible for how it is secured, as considered in the guide to checking a waste carrier.

During the journey

The guidance advises checking load restraints regularly on a journey, particularly for lashing straps and chains, which may lose tension over time, for loads that are likely to settle, such as sand or aggregate, and after any harsh braking or swerve. This is directly relevant to a trailer of garden rubble or a van of house-clearance items on the way to a tip. The wider process of a clearance is in the guide to house clearance, and access rules at tips are in the guide to household waste recycling centre permits.

Penalties and other laws

GOV.UK says a driver can receive an unlimited fine, be banned from driving and get penalty points for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition. It lists section 40A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, regulation 100 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 among the legislation covering load securing, along with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 for asbestos loads, discussed in the guide to suspected asbestos waste. Waste carriers separately need registration, explained in the guide to waste carrier licences.

FAQs

Do the load security rules apply to a householder taking rubbish to the tip?

Regulation 100 applies to any motor vehicle or trailer, so yes: the load must be secured so that neither danger nor nuisance is likely to be caused by it falling, being blown off or moving.

Do I need a sheet or net over a trailer of rubbish?

GOV.UK says a cover may be needed following a risk assessment; a sheet or net can be used if the load is below the sides, and a sheet must completely cover a load above the sides, with no reliance on the load settling.

Who is responsible if a skip company’s van loses a load?

GOV.UK says operators, drivers and the person or company loading the vehicle all have responsibilities to secure the load and make sure it is transported safely.

The bottom line

Every load of rubbish carried on a vehicle or trailer in Great Britain must be secured so that no danger or nuisance is likely, whether it is a householder’s trailer or a skip lorry. GOV.UK guidance explains covers, nets, tipper loads and the shared responsibilities of drivers, operators and loaders, and the penalties for dangerous loads include unlimited fines and driving bans. Regular checks during a journey help keep loads secure. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Securing loads on HGVs and goods vehicles: 1. Responsibility for load security”
• GOV.UK, “Securing loads on HGVs and goods vehicles: 5. How to load different HGVs, light goods vehicles, small vans and cars”
• legislation.gov.uk, “The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, regulation 100: Maintenance and use of vehicle so as not to be a danger, etc”

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