A side stanchion for load platforms of vehicles comprising a lower stanchion portion and an upper stanchion portion, wherein the lower stanchion portion and the upper stanchion portion have an extension in a first longitudinal direction of the side stanchion, wherein the upper stanchion portion interacts with and is movably arranged relative to the lower stanchion portion, whereby the lower stanchion portion at a lower end is arranged to be detachably connected to a fastener of the vehicle, and the upper stanchion portion at an upper end is arranged to be connected to a roof profile of the vehicle, wherein the roof profile has an extension in a second longitudinal direction across the first longitudinal direction, wherein the upper stanchion portion at the upper end comprises a carriage portion arranged to interact with the roof profile so that the side stanchion is displaceable relative to the roof profile in the other longitudinal direction, wherein the side stanchion comprises a closing mechanism arranged to connect the side stanchion with the fastener, whereby the closing mechanism, during closing, attaches the side stanchion to the fastener and displaces the lower stanchion portion relative to the upper stanchion portion in the first longitudinal direction from an extended position (L UT) to an inserted position (L IN), wherein the carriage portion comprises an abutment surface arranged to interact with the roof profile in the inserted position (L IN), wherein the carriage portion in the inserted position (L IN) is pressed against the roof profile in the first the longitudinal direction via the lower stanchion portion, wherein the side stanchion comprises a locking body for locking the lower stanchion portion and the upper stanchion portion to each other, wherein the locking body is arranged to engage with the lower stanchion portion and the upper stanchion portion in the inserted position (L IN), to prevent movement between the lower stanchion portion and the upper stanchion portion, characterized in that the carriage portion comprises a holder portion, a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm, wherein the holder portion comprises the abutment surface and is firmly connected to the upper stanchion portion, wherein the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are pivotally connected to the holder portion. whereby the lower stanchion portion at a lower end is arranged to be detachably connected to a fastener of the vehicle, and the upper stanchion portion at an upper end is arranged to be connected to a roof profile of the vehicle, wherein the roof profile has an extension in a second longitudinal direction across the first longitudinal direction, wherein the upper stanchion portion at the upper end comprises a carriage portion arranged to interact with the roof profile so that the side stanchion is displaceable relative to the roof profile in the other longitudinal direction, wherein the side stanchion comprises a closing mechanism arranged to connect the side stanchion with the fastener, whereby the closing mechanism, during closing, attaches the side stanchion to the fastener and displaces the lower stanchion portion relative to the upper stanchion portion in the first longitudinal direction from an extended position (L UT) to an inserted position (L IN), wherein the carriage portion comprises an abutment surface arranged to interact with the roof profile in the inserted position (L IN), wherein the carriage portion in the inserted position (L IN) is pressed against the roof profile in the first the longitudinal direction via the lower stanchion portion, wherein the side stanchion comprises a locking body for locking the lower stanchion portion and the upper stanchion portion to each other, wherein the locking body is arranged to engage with the lower stanchion portion and the upper stanchion portion in the inserted position (L IN), to prevent movement between the lower stanchion portion and the upper stanchion portion, characterized in that the carriage portion comprises a holder portion, a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm, wherein the holder portion comprises the abutment surface and is firmly connected to the upper stanchion portion, wherein the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are pivotally connected to the holder portion.