One of the responsibilities of a truck driver is to make sure that their load is secure and tied down. This means using chains, straps, tarps and other means to make sure that the load is safely fastened to the trailer and has no risk of shifting or falling off while in transit.
On January 1, 2004 the FMCSAs current load securement rules took affect. The current rules are based on the North American Cargo Securement Standard Model Regulations. These regulations were based off of the results of the research to evaluate U.S. and Canadian cargo securement regulations, motor carrier best practices and recommendations with industry experts.
The current rules are a change to the way carriers use cargo securement devices to prevent articles from shifting on, within or falling from trucks or trailers. The changes require carriers to increase the number of tie downs they use to secure certain types of loads.
The point of the new requirements is to reduce the number of accidents caused by loads shifting or falling from trucks and trailers while in transit on public roads. Also, it was designed to work hand-in-hand with U.S., Canadian, and Mexican cargo securement regulations to allow easier cross border commerce.
What type of equipment do the load securement rules affect?
The current rules affect all types of articles of cargo, except commodities in bulk that lack structure or fixed shape and are transported in a tank, hopper, box or similar truck that forms part of the structure of a vehicle. These commodities are like items such as:
- Liquids
- Gases
- Grain
- Liquid concrete
- Sand
- Gravel
- Aggregates
Load securement falls under the FMCSAs Unsafe Driving BASIC which is one of the 7 CSA BASICs that is used to determine a carriers CSA score.
Performance requirements for proper load securement
The performance requirements for proper cargo securement under the current rules looked at how the load reacts when the truck does certain maneuvers. The forces that are applied to cargo are when:
- The truck accelerates and the load is pulled backward
- The truck brakes and the load is push forward.
- The truck turns and the load shifts left of right.
To handle these events the load secondment mechanism has to be able to tolerate the following "g" forces:
- 0.8 g deceleration in the forward direction;
- 0.5 g acceleration in the rearward direction; and
- 0.5 g acceleration in a lateral direction.
To arrive at these numbers the FMCSAs researchers did extensive testing for what a truck can handle. From the FMCSA findings:
The values were chosen based on researchers' analysis of studies concerning commercial motor vehicle performance. The analysis indicated that the highest deceleration likely for an empty or lightly loaded vehicle with an antilock brake system, all brakes properly adjusted, and warmed to provide optimal braking performance, is in the range of 0.8-0.85 g.
However, a typical loaded vehicle would not be expected to achieve a deceleration greater than 0.6 g on a dry road. The typical lateral acceleration while driving in a curve or on a ramp at the posted advisory speed is in the range 0.05-0.17 g. Loaded vehicles with a high center of gravity roll over at a lateral acceleration above 0.35 g. Lightly loaded vehicles, or heavily
Carriers are not expected to test their own load securement devices or verify that they these conditions are met. If the load is immobilized and unable to move then it is considered to meet the performance requirement.
All vehicle structures, systems, parts and components used to secure a load must be in proper working condition. There cannot be any damage or weak spots that could affect the ability to secure the load. The types of tie downs that can be used include:
- Steel strapping
- Chains
- Synthetic webbing
- Wire rope
- Cordage
Proper use of tie downs
When loads are being tied down it is important to make sure that the device used to secure the load won't become loosened, unattached, opened or released while driving. If the tie down is in a position where it could rub, get cut or snap then edge protection has to be used to maintain the integrity of the tie down. Any edge protection used will have to be able to handle fraying, cutting and crushing.
Cargo Placement
Cargo that is likely to roll must be restrained by chocks, wedges, a cradle or other ways to prevent rolling. However you prevent a load from rolling it must not be able to become loose or unfastened while driving. If you have multiple pieces of cargo that need restrained then they must be
- Placed in direct contact with each other or
- Prevented from shifting towards each other while in transit.
Working Load Limit for Cargo Securement Devices
The working load limit of the devices you use to secure loads must be one half of the weight of the piece you are tying down. For example if you are strapping down (4) 1,000lb super sacks on a flatbed then the strap must be rated for at lease 2,000 lbs.
This applies to any piece of cargo that you are using a tie down for that requires you go from an anchor point on the vehicle to an attachment point on an piece of cargo and that goes from an anchor point on the vehicle, through, over or around the cargo and then attaches to another anchor point on the vehicle.
Minimum Number of Tie downs
The device that you use to tie down a load to prevent it from moving must have a minimum number of tie downs. When the piece of your shipment is not blocked or positioned to prevent movement when the brakes are used then the number of tie downs needed depends on the length and weight of the piece. You will need 1 tie down for anything that is 5 ft in length or less and less than 1,100 lbs. You will need 2 tie downs if the article is more than 1,100 lbs or greater then 5 ft long.
An example of the number of tie downs needed for a load by the FMCSA
"one tie down is required because the article of cargo is 5 ft in length and does not exceed 1,100 lbs. If the article of cargo were greater than 5 ft in length but less than 10 ft, two tie downs would be needed regardless of the weight. When an article of cargo is not blocked or positioned to prevent movement in the forward direction, and the item is longer than 10 ft in length, then it must be secured by two tie downs for the first 10 ft of length, and one additional tie down for every 10 ft of length, or fraction thereof, beyond the first 10 ft. If an article is blocked, braced or immobilized to prevent movement in the forward direction by a header board, bulkhead, other articles that are adequately secured, or other appropriate means, it must be secured by at least one tie down for every 10 ft of article length, or fraction thereof."
Special Rule for Special Purpose Vehicles
Occasionally, some loads are unique and require special handling to haul the load. Loads like machinery or fabricated structural items (e.g., steel or concrete beams, crane booms, girders, and trusses, etc.) can have a unique size, shape and weight. These loads will have to be fastened by special methods but should still use devices that are capable of meeting the performance requirements for working load limits
Commodity-Specific Securement Requirements
For commodity specific securement the FMCSA has published the following requirements for how to properly secure loads of unique sizes and shapes. These were some of the more disagreed upon commodites during the FMCSAs public listening session.
393.116 - Logs
The rules for the transportation of logs are applicable to the transportation of almost all logs with the following exceptions:
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- Logs that are unitized by banding or other comparable means may be transported in accordance with the general cargo securement rules.
- Loads that consist of no more than four processed logs may be transported in accordance with the general cargo securement rules.
- Firewood, stumps, log debris and other such short logs must be transported in a vehicle or container enclosed on both sides, front, and rear and of adequate strength to contain them. Longer logs may also be transported in an enclosed vehicle or container.
393.118 - Dressed Lumber and Similar Building Products
The rules in this section apply to the transportation of bundles of dressed lumber, packaged lumber, building products such as plywood, gypsum board or other materials of similar shape. Lumber or building products that are not bundled or packaged must be treated as loose items and transported in accordance with the general cargo securement rules. For the purpose of this section, the term " bundle " refers to packages of lumber, building materials or similar products which are unitized for securement as a single article of cargo.
393.120 - Metal Coils
The rules in this section apply to the transportation of one or more metal coils which, individually or grouped together, weigh 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) or more. Shipments of metal coils that weigh less than 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) may be secured in accordance with the general cargo securement rules.
393.122 - Paper Rolls
The rules for securing paper rolls are applicable to shipments of paper rolls which, individually or together, weigh 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) or more. Shipments of paper rolls that weigh less than 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs), and paper rolls that are unitized on a pallet, may either be secured in accordance with the rules in this section or the general cargo securement rules.
393.124 - Concrete Pipe
The rules in this section apply to the transportation of concrete pipe on flatbed trailers and vehicles and lowboy trailers. Concrete pipe that is bundled tightly together into a single rigid article with no tendency to roll, and concrete pipe loaded in a sided vehicle or container must be secured in accordance with the general rules.
393.126 - Intermodal Containers
The requirements for intermodal containers cover the transportation of these containers on container chassis and other types of vehicles. Intermodal containers are freight containers designed and constructed to permit them to be used interchangeably in two or more modes of transportation. Cargo contained within intermodal containers must be secured in accordance with the general cargo securement rules or, if applicable, the commodity-specific rules.
393.128 - Automobiles, Light Trucks and Vans
This portion of the current standards applies to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans which individually weight 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs) or less. Vehicles which individually are heavier than 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs) must be secured in the same manner as heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery (see the rules under /393.126).
393.130 - Heavy Vehicles, Equipment and Machinery
These requirements are applicable to the transportation of heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery which operate on wheels or tracks, such as front end loaders, bulldozers, tractors and power shovels and which individually weigh 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs) or more. Vehicles, equipment and machinery which is lighter than 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs) may be secured in accordance with these rules, the rules for automobiles, light trucks and vans, or the general freight requirements.
393.132 - Flattened or Crushed Vehicles
The transportation of vehicles such as automobiles, light trucks and vans that have been flattened or crushed is covered by these requirements. The transportation of automobiles that are flattened or crushed in a crash or accident, as opposed to being intentionally flattened or crushed in preparation for transportation to recycling facilities, is not subject to these requirements. However, vehicles damaged in a crash or accident are subject to the general cargo securement requirements.
393.134 - Roll-on/Roll-Off or Hook-lift Containers
These rules apply to the transportation of roll-on/roll-off or hook lift containers. A hook-lift container is defined in 49 CFR 393.5 as a specialized container, primarily used to contain and transport materials in the waste, recycling, construction/demolition and scrap industries, which is used in conjunction with specialized vehicles in which the container is loaded and unloaded onto a tilt frame body by an articulating hook-arm. Section 393.134 is not, however, applicable to the operation of hoist-type equipment (or hoist equipment) as described in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) publication ANSI 2245.1. Hoist-type equipment should be considered separate and distinct from roll-on/roll-off equipment and, therefore, not subject to 393.134. Containers transported on hoist-type equipment must be secured in accordance with the general securement rules.
393.136 - Large Boulders
The rules in this section are applicable to the transportation of any large piece of natural, irregularly shaped rock weighing in excess of 5,000 kg (11,000 lbs) or with a volume in excess of 2 cubic-meters on an open vehicle, or in a vehicle whose sides are not designed and rated to contain such cargo. Pieces of rock weighing more than 100 kg (220 lbs), but less than 5,000 kg (11,000 lbs) must be secured, either in accordance with this section, or in accordance with the general cargo securement rules, including: (1) rock contained within a vehicle which is designed to carry such cargo; or (2) secured individually by tie downs, provided each piece can be stabilized and adequately secured. Rock which has been formed or cut to a shape and which provides a stable base for securement must also be secured, either in accordance with the provisions of this section or in accordance with the general securement rules.
