Climbing on and off vehicles is one of the most common accident spots in the transport and construction industries. Steps are wet, dirty or icy, load beds are walked on during ongoing operations, ramps stand in the rain. Targeted slip protection on vehicles, trailers and load beds reduces this risk with comparatively little effort – and can be retrofitted to almost any existing vehicle.

The critical points on the vehicle

Access points and steps: step treads, running boards and wing steps – this is where most falls occur, especially when climbing down.
Load beds: timber, aluminium, chequer plate and plastic floors quickly become slippery when wet or dusty.
Ramps and driveways: inclined surfaces require considerably higher slip resistance than level ones.
Roof access steps and working platforms on silo, tanker and special vehicles.
Drawbars, landing legs and control stands on trailers and semi-trailers.
Swap bodies and containers: door areas, thresholds and interior floors.

Solutions by component

Self-adhesive anti-slip coverings: the quickest retrofit for running boards, steps and smaller areas. As contour-cut custom-made products , they fit without any rework.
Coarse-grit coverings for outdoor use: provide grip even in mud, oil and frost.
Screwed-on profiles and sheets: for areas with high mechanical loads and abrasive contact from cargo.
Slip-resistant coating: seamless, elastic and abrasion-resistant for entire load beds, see Coating for chequer and tread plate.
Anti-slip mats for load securing: increase the coefficient of friction between cargo and load bed and reduce the number of lashing devices required – see Heavy-duty anti-slip mats.
Contrasting edge marking: makes step edges and load bed edges visible even in the dark.

Two different goals: personal safety and load securing

On vehicles, the term anti-slip covers two different tasks that should not be confused:

Sure footing for people: The covering must be grippy enough for a person wearing safety footwear to step securely – assessed according to German standard DIN 51130 in classes R9 to R13.
Load securing: Here, what counts is the coefficient of friction between cargo and load bed, which is used to calculate securing forces according to VDI 2700. Anti-slip mats increase this value significantly.
The two can be combined but require different materials: the best tread covering is not automatically the best underlay for cargo.

Special requirements in vehicle use

Temperature changes: A covering must adhere from frost to a metal surface heated by the sun.
Vibration and torsion: vehicles flex; rigid coverings come loose at the edges.
High-pressure cleaning: edges must not lift during cleaning – edge clearance and full-surface bonding are decisive.
Road salt and grit: place additional demands on abrasion resistance in winter.
Fuels, oils and cleaning chemicals: require a chemical-resistant material.
Weight: on commercial vehicles, every kilogram of payload counts – thin coverings have the advantage here.

Regulations and guidance

DIN 51130 – slip resistance ratings R9 to R13 for walking surfaces.
DGUV Regulation 70 – vehicles: requirements for safe access and egress (German Social Accident Insurance).
ASR A1.5 – floors in workplaces (German Technical Rule for Workplaces); Annex 2 assigns slip resistance ratings to work areas (the former DGUV Rule 108-003 has been withdrawn).
VDI 2700 ff. – load securing on road vehicles, including coefficients of friction.
DIN EN 12195-1 – calculation of lashing forces.
ASR A1.5 – for loading and ramp areas on company premises.

Retrofitting in practice

Prepare the vehicle in a dry, temperature-controlled place – retrofitting in the rain is guaranteed to fail.
Thoroughly clean and degrease tread surfaces; completely remove old coverings and adhesive residues.
Have parts contour-cut or mark them out precisely, and round off the corners.
Bond over the full surface and press down firmly, taking particular care at the edges.
Observe the curing time before the first journey and before the first cleaning.
Check the condition of the coverings during periodic vehicle inspections.

Conclusion

Well-thought-out slip protection on vehicles works exactly where most personal injuries occur in transport operations: when climbing on and off and when stepping onto the load bed. It is important to consider sure footing and load securing separately and to choose materials that withstand vibration, high-pressure cleaning and winter use. Retrofitting is possible on almost any vehicle – usually in a few hours.

Frequently asked questions about slip protection for load beds and vehicles

What is the difference between sure footing and load securing?

Sure footing protects people when climbing on and off. Load securing prevents cargo from shifting. The two goals require different products and test parameters.

Do adhesive coverings on vehicles withstand high-pressure cleaning?

Well-bonded coverings designed for this purpose are robust. Keep the nozzle away from the edges and check them regularly.

Can an entire fleet be fitted out uniformly?

Yes. With made-to-measure cut pieces, all vehicles receive the same version. This simplifies installation and reordering.

Slip Protection for Load Beds, Trailers and Vehicles