The Art Of Sound Company Logistics

The events my company handles run the gamut from simple to complex, and we end up with a lot of smaller items that need to get to the gig. Instead of schlepping a lot of individual small cases, we use some larger road trunks that can carry all of the little items in one package.

To make things more efficient during load out, we label the large trunks as to their contents so stage hands can figure out which trunk each item goes into.

Some folks prefer trailers on smaller shows, while others use cargo vans or small box trucks. Larger shows typically require big box trucks or even tractor trailers. No matter, securing the load in the truck or trailer in a safe manner so it will ride well down the road is a must.

There are a few options for cargo retention, with truck straps being the most common (and best) option. The straps can hook onto D-rings and truck cargo rails, or they can be used with E-track, a metal track that has a series of slots that allow straps to clip at any place along the track. Packing blankets can be used to pad items that are not in cases to keep them looking good.

Truck load bars are also a common way to secure cargo for over-the-road commercial trucks. They come in two main styles—bars that simply clip into E-track, and bars with a ratcheting system to expand and wedge themselves between the truck walls. The ratchet-style bars are not the best choice for cargo that’s on wheels, like road cases, because they rely on friction alone and can slip as the truck moves.

Moving & Protecting
We do a lot of corporate gigs at venues with loading docks, so we prefer dock-height trucks, but for those who rarely or never encounter docks, then a truck with a lower deck might be the better choice because it places the truck’s center of gravity lower, making for a more stable ride.

If you prefer ramps over lift gates (as we do), then a lower deck provides a more shallow ramp angle, making it easier to push heavy things into the truck. Lift gates are great in moving large, heavy items to the ground and back up, but they add some weight to a smaller box truck, lessening its overall carrying capacity.

Because we like a dock-height truck with a ramp, the ramp angle is pretty steep. A trick to get around this is to mount a 12-volt automotive winch in the box and use it to pull the heavy items up the ramp. Just don’t pull by the item’s handles or you might just pull them off. Instead, wrap a spanset or two around the item to distribute the force around the box, and hook the winch to the spanset.

Don’t forget to include truck and trailer maintenance on your equipment maintenance schedule. Regular lube and oil changes coupled with equipment and safety inspections help keep trucks in good shape and can also be useful in catching smaller problems before they turn into big ones.

To protect equipment and keep it looking good, consider investing in covers, cases and trunks. I like to think of them as an insurance policy that pays off bit by bit, every time we move gear. Sure, cases can cost quite a bit, sometimes even more than the items they carry, but every cost analysis shows they’re worth it in the long run.

Covers are normally used for loudspeakers, especially subwoofers because they’re often just too large to put in a road case. Many manufacturers offer covers for their products, and there are also several companies that provide quality padded covers and custom covers for just about anything you can think of.