A loose stack shears
Composite decking flexes less than a cargo strap wants it to, and the capped surface is slick. Boards laid in a pile without a bundle will slide sideways as a layer when you turn, even if a strap crosses the middle. Build a bundle: boards aligned, ends flush, straps near both ends and one in the middle if the boards are long. A flush end lets the strap hold the whole layer. Staggered ends give the strap a ramp to walk off. Put a pad under the strap so the ratchet edge does not cut the cap. The pad also keeps the strap from slipping on the plastic skin. Keep the bundle below the rails. Composite is heavy. A bundle that looks like a small lumber order can be a large part of a half-ton payload. Stop and weigh the idea of a second trip before you add the railing kit on top.
Clips and grooved edges grab the wrong things
Hidden-fastener grooves will catch a strap and then release it with a pop when the board flexes. Run straps over the flat face, not hooked into a groove. Pull metal clips out before the haul so the bundle sits flat. A single clip between two boards is a rocker. Aluminum balusters, if they are riding along, are a separate slick bundle. Do not mix them into the composite stack where they can shoot out lengthwise. The lengthwise slide is the other failure. In a stop, boards shoot forward if the ends are not blocked by the cab wall or by a real stop. Set the flush ends against a blocked front, not an inch away so they can gain speed.
Two-person lift, then a recheck
Lift the bundle with two people or leave it as smaller bundles you can actually place. Dragging one end of a long composite board whips the other end into the truck glass. Once it is in, tighten the straps and push the side of the bundle with your boot. If a layer moves, add a strap. At the site, release the middle strap first only if someone is holding the bundle. Those boards will spread. Hand them off one bundle at a time. A composite board that hits concrete on its corner shatters into a sharp shard you then have to find before the next car.
Before you go
- Align boards into a flush bundle and strap near both ends to rated anchors.
- Keep straps on the flat face, and set the ends so they cannot shoot forward.
- Watch the payload, and keep aluminum parts in their own bundle.
- Push the bundle before you leave, and unload it with the straps released only while it is held.
A staggered pile of capped boards with one middle strap hooked in the fastener groove.
Questions people ask
Can I roll the boards into a carpet of straps?
If the bundle is tight and the ends are flush, extra straps help. They do not fix a staggered pile. Align the ends first.
Do grooved boards need to face down?
Face them so the bundle sits flat and the strap bears on a flat cap. A groove under the strap is a slip waiting for a turn.
Search Dumpmapper by ZIP code or city, then call the site before you load the truck. Hours and accepted materials change.