How bout just strapping the pallet down as soon as it's put in the back of your truck.

Do a walk around before you start the truck…problem solved. Make it a habit. Put a post it note on the dash that says “ is load secured dummy?” Something quirky to make you laugh a little but make you do a double check. If just becomes a habit it will be no problem to take the extra few seconds to look at the load to see if it’s secure…..secondly loads can shift and depending on how far you are going you should check the load anytime you stop to make sure it is still secure. A manual shut off sensor as you described won’t help to remind you of that.

I'd think any kind of proximity/limit switch flush mounted so the load completes the circuit. Picture instead of a leaf switch in a slingshot firing a solenoid it just turns on a light/buzzer instead.

A backup/ trailer camera, even better, keep an eye on it. 12 volt, starting at $15.99 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Backup-Reverse-Ultra-wide-Viewing-High-definition/dp/B09SWPDLJQ/ref=sr_1_omk_4

Do you have people randomly putting pallets in your truck that you somehow don't notice?

Fire the wearhouse guy. Eliminate phone usage on the job.

Backup camera mounted on the back of the cab.

You would need a load plate installed…think of the plate on a load scale for pallets…that’s the only thing I can think of that would handle loads being dragged over it and not get destroyed. This could be expensive but would be a practical way to rig up what you are wanting.

Sounds like you need a driver that can put the phone down and do their job. It’s not that hard….I would just find a driver that can do the job. An alarm is only as good as the action taken. Your driver would most likely just leave it turned off since it’s manual.

Since your driver is on his phone make them take and send a picture of the load strapped down BEFORE they drive off with the load. Problem solved. Every company I know that ships stuffs takes pictures of all loads for this reason.

Can this be adapted to a toilet seat so I remember to wipe my ass?

If you make such a system then you will also risk bugs or false reports by the system which could actually cause a mistake. It’s a bit of a Rube Goldberg. Seek the simplest solution would be my advice.

Backup camera mounted on back of cab...final answer.I

Not only see if there's anything there, monitor for movement during transit.

Require him to take pictures of the load secured….don’t know the guy but if he can’t remember to secure a load (pretty important part of the job)….then how good is he?

Put that sticky on the dash “ hey Dummy! Secure the load. Just kidding and don’t call him a dummy. But seriously companies have procedures in place for employees to do their jobs. If there is not a loading procedure then there needs to be one created. If it can’t be followed then disciplinary action should be taken. Employees that can not follow procedures are usually not employees very long.

As Smokey the Bear says “ Only you can prevent forest fires.” If this is a continuous problem it’s like throwing lit matches down in the forest.

You are trying to solve a process problem with a mechanical solution. Easiest solution is to hold your employee accountable.

Solution: buy a simple pressure/force sensor, an Arduino, a box, a power supply, a 5V cigarette converter, some LEDs, a large push button.

The pallet is set onto the truck, the pressure sensor sends a signal to the Arduino. The Arduino lights the LEDs, program the the Arduino to turn off the LEDs when the switch is pressed. The code needs to reset state when the load is lifted.

This won't guarantee the pallet is strapped down properly.

Google: pressure sensor projects, LED projects, Solder Skills, etc.

I deal with this sort of thing at my work all the time. Good labor is hard to come by right now so sometimes you need to come up with idiot proof solutions.

If only pallets were actually “set” onto trucks but that is far from the truth….most places don’t have long forks and pallets are set and usually pushed the rest of the way into the back of pick ups…unless it’s a solid load plate sensor designed for that abuse it will be destroyed quickly.

As mentioned…it’s a process problem. While a mechanical means can aide in alerting to the potential problem this device will not take action to correct the issue of a load not being strapped down. That will require action on the driver. This is a very simple issue to correct though you may not like what others have already said……

CB6F5472-7B07-4C1D-B1BD-DE8984E703F6.gif

If you want to consider something very simple this could be done with a couple well placed limit switches that the straps would hold in/activate when they are tightened.

https://au.rs-online.com/web/c/switches/industrial-switches/limit-switches/

I am thinking roller arm limit switches mounted so that when the ratchet strap is pulled down/tightened, the vertical parts of the strap going to the top of the load depresses the actuator arm of the switch

A couple relays and a buzzer would complete the circuit

If you wanted to get fancy you could wire off the normally open circuits and make it fail safe/ wire a relay as latching with a push button reset etc etc

If you are interested I can draw up a schematic later on

The most reliable method is an incentive.

Like make his payment contingent on texting you a picture of the secured load before you pay a “load bonus”.

Or lock the ignition with a code (simpler than a reliable load detection) until he texts a picture of the secured load.

He seems to like his phone so texting should be his thing.

Optical sensors. Think IR beam across the truck. There is a receiver and a emitter. Once the pallet slides in and breaks the beam that triggers the light or alarm. Which then can be de-energized by a simple switch somewhere.

Omg, seriously, nobody can get behind the idea of a friggin camera pointed at the bed of the truck?

If they are on the phone what are the odds of them looking at a monitor in the cab? And how would you tie an alarm in to that per his requirements?

I’m on a flight so you are getting a “quality” schematic sketch

Simple latching relay circuit that is latched on by the input (load sensor) being made.
It latches the relay on which will close the circuit activating the buzzer/lamp on the second contact of the relay.
You don’t “need” the push to make button as the input is your load switch but it’s good to have it as a test button to check the circuit.

The “push to break” butting will unlatch the circuit and stop the buzzer

Any 12v DPDT relay will do

I have made the assumption that everything else in the circuit is rated to switch at 12v and the load cell input is open when no load is present.

DBDB9FE9-E2AB-4C40-9ED3-47EF107328BC (resized).jpeg

I see where the OP is coming from. If a buzzer goes off, and the only way to shut it off is to get out and throw a switch at the back of the bed, then at that point there is no excuse to "forget" to strap down the load. To be any more foolproof, the cutoff switch would have to be part of the strapping down mechanism, but I suppose putting that much engineering into a one-off would probably be excessive.

I like the idea of an optical load detector, over something having to withstand sliding pallets. Something strong enough to bounce the beam back with a mirror, to save having to run wires on both sides. A laser, probably.

The core problem is you - you have a careless employee that you continue to empower by creating workarounds to cover for his shortcomings.

Seriously - stop making excuses for this guy and hold him accountable for his job. Check the load, get in the truck, program address, call customer and tell them you're on the way, set phone down. Once delivered, recheck load, program next address, call next customer, set phone down.

Are you gonna install retinal scanners on the building because he forgets his keys too? Or put air fresheners everywhere because he forgets to shower or wipe his ass?

Maybe it's not that simple, maybe it's family or charity or something else.

How does the system reset after the first load is unloaded?

That's different then, you're obviously trying to help the guy out. Kudos.