WARNING! ACCIDENT AHEAD!  DANGER ROLLOVER ACCIDENT - Vehicle overturned 2 miles - be prepared for possible delays - VEHICLE FIRE - Hand truck falls from delivery truck and ignites gas tank on mini van, children inside!  Fire Emergency vehicles on scene - Exit interstate and follow 10 mile detour - Beverage truck causes accident!  Delivery truck looses hand truck on highway. Interstate highway closed for 6 miles.  Hand truck falls from delivery vehicle and injures driver!    Welcome to HTS Systems Lock N Roll, LLC.  Hand Truck Transport Solutions   After years of refinement,  the new HTS Ultra-Rack is finally here!!   The Hand Truck Sentry System streamlines the process of loading, unloading and storing a hand truck aboard commercial delivery vehicles.   Saving a driver a minute or more during each delivery stop X 30 stops per day = a labor cost savings of 2.5 hours per week!  Unmatched safety, rock solid design and the latest built-in ergonomics makes the new HTS Ultra-Rack a must-have!  Remember your hand truck every time!  Save Time, Fuel and Money!  We may be new... but we have earned the approval of fleet managers and route driver from across the country.  The HTS can solve all of your hand truck problems on route. Your hand truck is always ready when you need it and out of your way when you don't.  The HTS Ultra-Rack was designed to deliver.  It's Here!... the new HTS-20S Swing Mount is designed for commercial delivery vans!  Equip your Sprinter Vans and Ford Commercial vans with the rear mounting HTS-20S Ultra-Rack. The HTS-20S is faster, easier and safer than inside storage and loading. Increase your Ford or Sprinter van payload capacity, reduce delivery time and freight damage, order today!    Start increasing your driver's route productivity, reduce delivery time and your monthly fuel expenses!  Order the powered HTS Ultra-Rack System for your route trucks today!   Please contact our HTS Systems' customer service center so we may direct you to a Hand Truck Sentry System (HTS) distributor within your local area. We apologize for any delays with your orders, the market demand for the HTS Ultra-Rack has surpassed our vendor lead times. We will process your orders as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience.   Material Handling and Truck Accessory Distributors welcome, please contact our Scranton facility for HTS volume pricing and marketing material available to qualified distributors.  Limited distributorships available,  for more information call toll free:  1-866 388-2102.   THE HAND TRUCK SENTRY SYSTEM IS THE ROUTE DISTRIBUTION HAND TRUCK TRANSPORT SOLUTION!!

   Carvel Ice Cream orders more Hand Truck Sentry units for fleet's trucks

   HTS SYSTEMS NEWS RELEASE

   CF Foods LLC Celebration Foods Carvel Ice Cream orders additional HTS units for Penske Arizona

   February 02, 2010 Press Release by: Mike W. Clifford - Fleet Safety and Productivity Priorities Saves Money

   CF Foods LLC Celebration Foods of New Britain, CT distributor of Carvel Ice Cream Cakes orders additional Hand Truck Sentry System units

   for their RSR’s to equip their new Penske Freightliner M2 fleet trucks arriving in Phoenix, Arizona April 2010. Celebration Foods’ National Asset

   Manager Jim Gust who also facilitates monthly safety meetings for Carvel Ice Cream, continues to research new truck equipment innovations,

   supply chain and logistics technology to make their Carvel Ice Cream delivery routes safer and more productive.

   HTS Systems National Accounts Manager Carl Boettcher stated, “It was Jim’s idea several years ago to take our HTS beverage products into the

   frozen foods industry. Carvel Celebration Foods has been using our HTS products on Freightliner M2 trucks in five states for over three years.

   The HTS Ultra-Rack is an ergonomic and safety device that reduces lifting, reaching, climbing, thereby preventing work related injuries.

   We now have our HTS units traveling down the highway on all types of ice cream and refrigerated trucks from Brooklyn, NY to Los Angeles, CA."

   The HTS Ultra-Rack is a safety ergonomic retaining apparatus for securing hand trucks aboard commercial delivery vehicles. It incorporates a cab

   dash release system for quick access of  the hand truck. Loose hand trucks that bounce or get thrown within a cargo area often puncture or break

   open food containers. The HTS eliminates cargo-to-container contamination caused by hand trucks. The HTS is commonly used by the beverage,

   freight, and the refrigerated frozen foods industry because it reduces open door time, saves fuel and delivery time, and increases cargo space.

   The HTS-10T works well with refrigerated, freezer or dairy body delivery trucks. It reduces dangerous lowering and lifting, and eliminates unnecessary

   climbing. After the delivery or pick-up, the driver fully inserts the hand truck into the HTS receiving chute and moves the hand truck forward contacting

   the HTS push-bar. The driver then rocks the hand truck forward firmly to a complete locked position for safe travel. This loading action can be done

   quickly and safely using one hand. If the hand truck is not loaded aboard the vehicle or the HTS Ultra-Rack is not properly locked, the LED indicator

   light and alarm will sound when the truck is started. © 2010 Penton Media Inc.

  "The HTS Ultra-Rack has really helped our RSR’s on the Carvel units we have installed the Hand Truck Sentry System, it has made their jobs safer

    and the equipment is lasting longer due to less wear and tear. We are very happy with the system as well as the excellent service and follow up."

    Jim GUST - National ASSET MANAGER - CHICAGO - Celebration Foods - Carvel Ice Cream - JULY 2009

   Philadelphia Harley Davidson motorcyclist receives $200,000 jury settlement in Maryland court for

   damages after colliding with a hand truck that fell from a passing delivery truck that landed in his lane.

   Friday, August 28, 2009

   Richard Stoler, a father of two, was biking from a family home in Chesapeake City to check on his boat at a local marina. He was traveling about 45 miles per hour

   on Route 213 in Cecil County when he approached the delivery truck driven by Larry P. Copper, who was delivering candy, cigarettes and other commodities to area

   convenience stores, Turney said. Stoler "saw the truck coming at him and then, all of a sudden, the hand truck popped out in front of him.

   Stoler claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, time missed from work as a general contractor and loss of consortium. The defense's final

   settlement offer was $300,000. A clause in the high-low agreement precludes an appeal. Stoler, now a real estate agent, suffered injuries along his left side and

   ended up having surgery on that bicep, according to Turney. The motorcycle was damaged but not totaled. During a four-day trial last month in Baltimore City

   Circuit Court, Turney called Stoler, his wife, Martha, Copper, and Mr. Stoler's accountant to the stand. He also played testimony from two medical experts, a

   vocational rehabilitation expert and an economist. Stoler will receive $200,000 in damages for the accident. But that's only because a Baltimore jury's verdict of

   $119,000 was superseded by an $800,000-$200,000 high-low agreement his attorney hatched with the attorney for the defendant company, Baltimore-based

   George J. Falter Company, Inc., before trial.

   source: Story by Brendan Kearney - Daily Record - The Balitmore http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4183/is_20090831/ai_n35573124

   Thank You for Your Comments.

   Subject: AWESOME product     Sent: Fri 11/13/2009 10:26 PM EST

   What a great looking product. I am a route driver for Coca-Cola in North Carolina. I am going to try and print the info off your website so I

   can present to my District Supervisors next week. I would love to have your product on my delivery truck. If you only knew how many

   times I have left hand trucks in accounts and had to turn around and go back and get them. We still use bungee cords as well as a metal

   cord for now as secondary back up, but they still break and even if the bungee cord snaps in two. The metal strap still allows the hand

   truck to hit the ground still not safe. I have been thinking of how I could come up with something better to present to my company.

   I think I have now found the solution. I will present this next week and we will see where it goes from here.

   Thanks for your time,

   Adam M.

   Hickory, NC.

 Duck Police Department News                 

   Town of Duck Police Department                          

   1259 Duck Road

   Duck, North Carolina 27949

   Ph. (252) 261-1112

   Chief Phillip Ferguson

   Duck Police Department Weekly Activity, July 28, 2008 - August 3, 2008    

   A hand truck fell from a Mickey Body side-loader beverage truck traveling southbound on NC12, owned by Pepsi Cola Bottling Ventures of Raleigh, NC.

   The hand truck hit the front of a 2007 Honda Accord traveling route 12 northbound, driven by Timothy Mitchell of Bridgewater, Virginia. The Pepsi Cola

   beverage delivery truck was driven by David West and was insured by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. This accident could have been much worse

   because the vehicles were traveling in opposite directions. No details were available on how the hand truck became unsecured and airborne. 

   MVA - July 31, 2008 - NC 12 - Vehicles were traveling on NC12 when a hand truck fell off vehicle one and struck  vehicle two.

   Damage listed at less than $1000.00 dollars, No injuries and drivers exchange information completed.

   source: Duck Police Department N.C. http://www.townofduck.com/duckncpolicenews.htm  

  Oct 31, 2008 8:12 pm US/Eastern                                                                             

  BOSTON (WBZT) 7 Car Pileup Creates Traffic Mess in I-93 Tunnel 

  Traffic in the Tip O'Neill Tunnel was halted while crews worked to clear a seven car pileup. Traffic was halted for a time

  Friday morning as crews worked to clear a seven-car pileup in the Tip O'Neill Tunnel. Early reports had said the

  accident involved 15 vehicles, but the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority later said it was only seven.

  Officials said the pileup happened in the northbound lanes of the I-93 tunnel. Police said the mess was caused by a

  hand truck that fell off of a truck. Fortunately no one was injured in the wrecks. Officials said they were able to 

  quickly clear the scene within 45 minutes.

  source: WBZT-TV Boston, MA. http://wbztv.com/local/Tunnel.pileup.tip.2.853651.html

 California Highway Accident - Hand Truck falls from delivery vehicle - December 2007

 I was involved in a freeway accident. A hand truck fell off of a semi truck, which kept driving, and

 the 1st vehicle came to a complete stop on the freeway after hitting the dolly, the 2nd car was 

 stopping, me the 3rd car was stopping, and the fourth car slammed into me, slamming me into the

 2nd car.

 Of course the 1st car that stopped like an idiot had no damage. The California Highway Patrol deemed the 

 accident as "other than driver" at fault. The report has not been completed and I already have the insurance

 company calling me and trying to make an offer to me. I had a 2004 Acura TSX, my dream car, which is

 now beyond fixable. I had severe whiplash and many bruises and seat belt burn, my boyfriend had about

  the same injuries.

 source: Auto Insurance Claims Advice

 http://www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com/auto-claim-question.html

   Interstate 40 Highway accident - hand truck falls off of Coca Cola beverage truck. 

   Greensboro News & Record - Greensboro, South Carolina

   CROWDED DOCKETS MEAN LESS JUSTICE FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

   Edition(s): ALL Page: A12 Section: EDITORIAL

   Column: Letters to the Editor

   I was recently in an accident on I-40 involving a truck, a van and myself. The investigating officer concluded the cause of the accident was a hand (dolly) truck

   that had fallen off the back of a Coca Cola beverage truck. The police officer could not give a ticket to the truck driver because the court dockets are too full

   and they have been asked not to give tickets for traffic accidents. This means it is in the hands of the insurance companies to interpret the laws and to decide who

   should pay. The truck owner's insurance company wrote me saying, "We have not been able to find any negligence on the part of our insured.

   "I cannot find a lawyer to help me fight this because there is not enough money involved and I was not injured.

   At this point the truck owner is going to walk away without paying a cent because, by some miracle, the dolly that fell off did not kill or seriously injure anyone.

   I just want the truck's owner to pay for damages to my car, which is only $1,600. But it will not because its insurance company says it was not negligent even

   though the police report says the cause of the accident was the unsecured load. The company has not even written a letter of apology to the driver of the van that

   was hit by the dolly. But the company is acting like nothing happened to me that day, and if something did happen it was not its fault. Is this how our system is

   supposed to work? Dr. Ellen C. Underkoffler Parkville, MO

   source: Greensboro News & Record http://www.news-record.com and Dr. Ellen C. Underkoffler - Parkville, MO 64152

  Tragic Hand Truck Accident Stories Told To Us:

   As our people travel across the country and meet with fleet managers and safety directors or attend trade shows we constantly hear new stories about different

   types of accidents caused by unsecured hand trucks. Some are common stories about hand trucks falling off moving vehicles resulting in auto accidents or

   personal injury. Many companies tell us about work related injuries from lifting, tripping or falling and resulting in shoulder, neck or back trauma. Often these

   incidents occur within the vehicle’s cargo area and are caused by hand truck impact, much result in freight damage and higher insurance claims.

   Hand trucks can also cause property damage caused by hazardous spill, resulting in expensive clean-ups.

   Over time we thought we’ve heard it all and then suddenly a new story comes our way!

   Three accidents stick in our minds as being the most serious and the most costly. We will leave out some of the specifics to protect our contacts and conceal

    the company’s identity, in order to insure our customer’s privacy. All events are true and have been corroborated by at least two employees and/or by public

    records. Two of these stories ironically began with, “Where were you guys a few years ago!” and one story ended with a beverage distributor executive concluding,

   “And… we’re still paying for that one!”

    Accident Summary:

    On a Thursday morning at 8:15am in Sept. 2007 during morning rush hour a soft drink semi beverage side-loader trailer from Pennsauken, NJ was traveling

    northbound on interstate 95, near exit 32 and Academy Road, between Philadelphia and Bensalem, PA. The soft drink truck driver was signaled by several

    motorists that one of his hand trucks had separated from the rear of the beverage truck and subsequently caused a serious automobile accident. Their rubber

    strap had failed to hold the hand truck safely to the soda truck when the vehicle encountered a small bump from an expansion joint on an over pass bridge. 

    When the hand truck hit the highway several cars were able to swerve and avoid impact. An SUV driver was not as fortunate and he had over swerved to avoid

    a collision with the hand truck, thereby overturning his vehicle on the road side. The SUV driver sustained injuries to his neck and shoulder and morning traffic

    was backed up for miles and delayed for 45 minutes. The beverage driver was very shaken-up and the Pennsauken soft drink company was liable for this rollover

    accident, agreeing to pay for all damages.

    Accident Summary:

    In Phoenix, Arizona in 2006 two executives from a very large beer distributorship described what happen to their company. Apparently one of their side-loader

    beverage trucks had hit a small bump on the interstate, causing one of their hand trucks to fly off the rear of the delivery truck. Their driver had no idea what had

    happen, but witnessed a large tractor trailer swerving behind him in his rearview mirror. As the semi swerved abruptly left and right to avoid the hand truck in his

    path, the operator had lost control of his vehicle. The tractor and its set of double trailers rolled onto its side. The parcel company that employed the injured CDL

    driver, who owned the equipment, responsible for their customer’s freight delays and claims damage, had calculated their financial losses of approximately

    $200, 000 dollars. The beverage distributor was liable for the accident, financial losses and was responsible for making full restitution to the parcel company.

    Their conversation ended with us by one executive concluding; “And we’re still paying for that one!” possibly implying that his company was self-insured, this we

    could not confirm.

     Accident Summary:

     In 2005 an accident was brought to our attention by a local parcel driver. The incident occurred on a highway in Virginia several weeks earlier. This accident was

     a topic of safety meetings at many parcel terminals. The safety meeting covered the safe handling of cargo and the proper securement of loading equipment.

     Safety managers had used this tragic accident as an example of what could happen. A female parcel driver had just completed a pick-up and was returning to

     finish her route. Her package car was loaded to capacity and she had very little room to store her hand truck. It is not known why she failed to properly secure

     the hand truck when it was loaded aboard the vehicle. However, we were later informed by the parcel company that she was not complying with their safety policy.

     According to statements the hand truck was in the upright position and weighted down with a shipping carton from the last pick-up. A few miles down the

     interstate the traffic increased as she entered the city. Some people were driving erratically and trying to pass larger vehicles by swerving in front of others.

     Suddenly a vehicle had cut in front of the parcel van while attempting to cross into another lane, panicked and then stopped abruptly. The action caused the

     parcel driver to swerve to avoid a collision. The centrifugal force had launched the hand truck into the driver seat. This impact caused the driver to lose control

     and roll the parcel van into the median several times, allowing the hand truck to continually strike her in the face and right eye. The female driver was seriously

     injured with permanent eye damage, the parcel van destroyed and their customer’s freight damaged!

    Summary: hand truck (dolly) stolen from a Coca Cola delivery truck.

    LARCENY-THEFT   Stealing Under $750 AUG 18 2003-Monday at 09:03
    Location: SNOW WAY 030479

    Washington University Police Department  WUPD
    Chief of Police - Don Strom

    source: Washington University in St. Louis Police Dept. http://police.wustl.edu0803.html

    Part 393: Parts and accessories necessary for safe operation - Cargo Securement Rules

    Many delivery companies are unaware of the federal safety rules and regulations of the FMCSA or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in 

    September 2002 and June 2006. All cargo and material handling (loading) equipment such as; pallet jacks, hand trucks and load lock bars must be

   secured safely before the vehicle is in transit. Loading equipment can not be transported loose within the driver cab or the cargo area. It is also a

    safety violation to secure hand trucks on the exterior of the vehicle using bungee cords. Failure to comply with these safety laws could result in

    expensive DOT fines, customer freight claims, equipment damage, worker injury, accident liability and personal injury lawsuits.

    Cargo Securement Rules:

    393.102 What are the minimum performance criteria for cargo securement devices and systems.

    1. (a) Performance criteria. Cargo securement devices and systems must be capable of withstanding the following

         three forces, applied separately:

         1. 0.8 g deceleration in forward direction

          2. 0.5 g acceleration in the rearward direction; and

         3. 0.5 g acceleration in a lateral direction.

    2. (b) Performance criteria for devices to prevent vertical movement of loads that are not contained within the structure of the vehicle.

        Securement systems must provide a downward force equivalent to at least 20 percent of the weight of the article of cargo if the article is

         not fully contained with the structure of the vehicle. If the article is fully contained within the structure of the vehicle, it may be secured in

        accordance with 393.106(b).

    3. (c) Prohibition on exceeding working load limits. Cargo securement devices and systems must be designed, installed, and maintained to

         ensure that the maximum forces acting on the devices or systems do not exceed the working load limit for the devices under the conditions

         listed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.

    4. (d) Equivalent means of securement. Cargo that is immobilized or secured in accordance with the applicable requirements of 393.104

        through 393.136, is considered as meeting the performance criteria of this section.

    393.106 What are the general requirements for securing articles of cargo?

          c. Cargo placement and restraint.

    
     1. Articles of cargo that are likely to roll must be restrained by chocks, wedges, a cradle or other equivalent means to prevent rolling.

          The means of preventing rolling must not be capable of becoming unintentionally unfastened or loose while the vehicle is in transit.

    Subpart I—Protection against shifting and falling cargo

    §393.104 What standards must cargo securement devices and systems meet in order to satisfy the requirements of this subpart?

    (a) General. All devices and systems used to secure cargo to or within a vehicle must be capable of meeting the requirements of §393.102.

    (b) Prohibition on the use of damaged securement devices. All tie-downs, cargo securement systems, parts and components used to secure

          cargo must be in proper working order when used to perform that function with no damaged or weakened components, such as, but not

           limited to, cracks or cuts that will adversely affect their performance for cargo securement purposes, including reducing the working

           load limit.

   (c) Vehicle structures and anchor points. Vehicle structures, floors, walls, decks, tie-down anchor points, header-boards, bulkheads, stakes,

        posts, and associated mounting pockets used to contain or secure articles of cargo must be strong enough to meet the performance

          criteria of Sec. 393.102, with no damaged or weakened components, such as, but not limited to, cracks or cuts that will adversely affect

        their performance for cargo securement purposes, including reducing the working load limit.

    (d) Material for dunnage, chocks, cradles, shoring bars, blocking and bracing. Material used as dunnage or dunnage bags, chocks, cradles,

         shoring bars, or used for blocking and bracing, must not have damage or defects which would compromise the effectiveness of the

          securement system.

    (e) Manufacturing standards for tie-down assemblies. Tie-down assemblies (including chains, wire rope, steel strapping, synthetic webbing,

         and cordage) and other attachment or fastening devices used to secure articles of cargo to, or in, commercial motor vehicles must

         conform to the following applicable standards.

     (f) Use of tie-downs. (1) Tie-downs and securing devices must not contain knots.

     (f) (2) If a tie-down is repaired, it must be repaired in accordance with the applicable standards in paragraph (e) of this section, or the

         manufacturer’s instructions.

     (f) (3) Each tie-down must be attached and secured in a manner that prevents it from becoming loose, unfastening, opening or releasing

         while the vehicle is in transit.

     (f) (4) Edge protection must be used whenever a tie-down would be subject to abrasion or cutting at the point where it touches an article

         of cargo. The edge protection must resist abrasion, cutting and crushing.

           [67 FR 61226-61227, Sep. 27, 2002; 71 FR 35833, June 22, 2006]

     source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

                    http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?chunkKey=0901633480023951

   Free tarps to be given out to help fight litter.

   A hand truck fell off a delivery truck and skidded down freeway, rupturing the van's fuel tank and setting it ablaze.

   By Gary Richards

   Mercury News

   Article Launched: 10/30/2008 12:04:55 PM PDT

   On Saturday, about 1,000 tarps will be handed out free at nine landfills across Santa Clara County, as an anti-littering group tries to put a dent in the growing

   problem of debris on the roads, which contributed to 155 deaths on California roads in 2005 and 2006. Dishwashers, car batteries, chairs, ladders, sofas,

   mattresses and other large items too often fall out of vehicles and end up on the pavement, causing motorists to take evasive action that can lead to crashes.

   A family riding in a van on Interstate 280 two years ago narrowly missed being killed when a hand (dolly) truck fell off a delivery truck and

   skidded down the freeway, rupturing the van's fuel tank and setting it ablaze.

   source: San Jose Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com/localnewsheadlines/ci_10856662

   Rappaport v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board 1/6/2005                                

   Herr Foods - Pennsylvania

   Cheryl Rappaport (claimant) petitions for review from an order of the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board (Board) that affirmed the decision of the workers'

   compensation judge (WCJ) denying her claim petition. We affirm.

   Claimant was employed as a sales route driver for Herr Foods (Employer). In that capacity, claimant was required to load the product on the truck and then

   make deliveries to customers.

   On June 26, 2000 claimant was hit in the head and neck area by a hand truck that fell out of her vehicle when she opened the door, and as a

   result was knocked unconscious. A notice of compensation payable issued for the injury, which notice was later suspended. On July 28, 2001, claimant

   pulled her right shoulder out picking up a case of pretzels. A temporary notice of compensation (TNCP) payable issued. Claimant was treated at

   Occupational Health and returned to light-duty work. Claimant returned to full regular duty on September 12, 2001. On that date, claimant's district manager,

   Dave Kinney, drove the truck.

   On November 5, 2001, claimant filed a claim petition, alleging that she sustained injuries to her shoulder, cervical spine, and lower back on July 28, 2001

   and re-aggravated the injury on September 12, 2001

   source: PE07.com  Professional Employer Organization  http://www.peo7.com  23945 Calabasas Road Suite 106, Calabasas, CA 91302  Ph. (818) 222-4572

News Release - New Jersey

This Just In!

 Spill shuts block of Willow Avenue

 Friday, June 16, 2006

     HOBOKEN - Brake cleaning fluid spilled across Willow Avenue yesterday after a hand truck punctured a 55-gallon drum of it, Deputy Fire Chief Richard Blohm said.

    According to Blohm, the spill took place at about noon on Willow Avenue between 10th and 11th streets. A tractor trailer, which originated in Paterson, was driving

    through Hoboken on its way to pick up a shipment at NJ Transit when the hand truck somehow punctured one of the drums.

    The Fire Department secured the block and notified the Department of Environmental Protection, Hudson County Regional Health, the Hoboken Office of Emergency

    Management and Hazmat, Blohm said. Firefighters were on the scene for roughly three hours. The cost of the cleanup will be paid by the trucking company,

    Blohm said.

    source: BONNIE FRIEDMAN - THE JERSEY JOURNAL

Emergency Rescue!

Highway Accident shuts down California freeway!  

   Images courtesy of Firedispatch.com /  Photos by David Quasney - Battalion Chief South SAN FRANCISCO FIRE Department