IT PAYS TO BE SAFE

No. 11, March, 2010
Advanced Load Securement

It Pays to be Safe No. 3, in January of this year, addressed the general regulations concerning load securement. 49 CFR 392.9 requires that a vehicle's cargo be properly distributed and adequately secured, identifies the means to secure a load and provides when a driver must inspect that cargo after commencing their trip in order to assure load integrity. In addition to the general regulation, certain types of freight have their own regulation applicable for the securement of that specific commodity. Below is an easy reference for you as to the load securement regulations that apply to specific types of freight:

• Logs, not including firewood, stumps, log debris and other such short logs--§393.116
• Dressed lumber and other similar building products, such as plywood or gypsum board--§393.118
• Metal coils in excess of 5,000 pounds--§393.120; metal coils weighing less than 5,000 pounds may be secured in accordance with the general provisions of §393.100 through 393.114
• Paper rolls in excess of 5,000 pounds--§393.122; paper rolls with a weight less than 5,000 pounds may be secured subject to the requirements of §393.100 through 393.114
• Concrete pipe transported on flatbeds or low boys--§393.124
• Intermodal containers--§393.100 through 393.114, or if applicable, the commodities specific rules of this part--§393.126
• Automobiles, light trucks and vans, which individually weigh less than 10,000 pounds--§393.128
• Heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery, with a weight of 10,000 pounds or greater--§393.130
• Flattened or crushed vehicles, such as automobiles, light trucks and vans--§393.132
• Roll-on/roll-off or hook-whiffed containers--§393.134
• Large boulders in excess of 11,000 pounds or a volume in excess of 2 cubic meters--§393.136

Each regulation concerning the securement of freight provides the information you need concerning proper placement, required spacing, as well as the location that restraint, blocking and/or securement devices are to be placed, as well as the method to be used-whether it be strap, tie-down or chain.

Remember to refer to the rules concerning the type of freight you are carrying to insure your safety as well as that of your fellow drivers.