converting a storage box into a cargo box

[Frank S]

A friend of mine has been hauling oil well completion explosives for several months now. there are 3 components to these the guns which are long tubes filled with charges, the detonators and the igniters. according to the regulations all 3 must be contained in separate secure areas the guns are on pallets and strapped down to the trailer bed then tarped the detonators are on small pallets and hauled in a drome box or the igniters can be hauled in the drome you can haul the guns and the detonators or the guns and the igniters on the same vehicle but not the detonators and the igniters. so generally the igniters are hauled in another vehicle meaning 2 trucks must be dispatched to meet the customer's needs, which is quite costly.
But until recently the customer had been telling the drivers to just put the igniters in the cabs of their trucks since they are small boxes and easily hidden from sight. The company my friend is leased on with refuses to allow this since it is not legal nor is it safe. Another hauling company had been doing this for the customer, but they got caught by the DOT when one of their hotshot trucks was involved in a minor accident
So the customer asked my friend if there was a legal safe way to haul all 3 components at the same time. As it turns out the tractor is considered as 1 vehicle and the trailer considered as another vehicle. According to the Federal Highway safety commission if the tractor is so equipped with the proper means to securely haul cargo.
so, He and I came up with converting an underbody trailer storage compartment into a small drome box and will mount it on the tractor behind the sleeper.
This is how the conversion looks the box is equipped with camlock door hardware a padlock and a security inspection seal can be attached to the locks bar

Mock up of the inside showing how even a small package can be secured in place

We can even utilize the shortened load bars I made, in it

the completed conversion. E tracks installed with 1/4" stainless structural watertight pop rivets the plywood lining is held in place with embedded T nuts and 1//4 20 stainless screws all rivets and screws are sanded flush on the inside so as not to cause damage to the cartons

the view from the back side