Iam Anupong / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

When you are driving down the highway and notice a semi hauling a flatbed with cargo, do you ever think to yourself “how does that not fall off?” or “what’s really keeping that cargo in place?” I know I have asked these questions to myself from time to time on the road with my family; after all, safety on the roads impacts everyone.

Commercial motor vehicles have a strict obligation to comply with several federal regulations to ensure that our roadways are safe for travelers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA regulation subpart 392.9) requires commercial vehicle drivers to inspect and properly secure all cargo before starting and operating their vehicles.

An unofficial rule to load securement is also that the driver is the captain of their own ship and is ultimately responsible for the safety of themselves and those around them. FMCSA regulation subparts 393.100-393.136 provide specific details on the types and minimum requirements for tie downs allowed and rules for securing cargo such as pipe, steel, heavy equipment, etc.

The consequences for not following FMCSA and DOT regulations can be costly to operators and companies due to the number of accidents that may occur. The benefits of proper cargo securement and training are of the utmost importance for all drivers operating a vehicle on the roadways.

So, what does this all mean? Let’s break it down to the basics for flatbed cargo securement to help simplify and refresh what some of you may already be aware of.

The consequences for not following FMCSA and DOT regulations can be costly to operators and companies due to the number of accidents that may occur. The benefits of proper cargo securement and training are of the utmost importance for all drivers operating a vehicle on the roadways.

Ensure the equipment being used to tiedown and secure cargo is properly rated. With the help of these ratings, you will know the overall strength, break strength, and working load limit (WLL);

These general rules applicable to vehicles can be found on The Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) website under part number 1917 subpart C for cargo handling gear and equipment. Along with current totals of crashes, injuries, fatalities and acute/non-acute violations on The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website.

In 2021 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 180,316 total crashes, 5,414 total fatalities and a total of 89,313 injuries involving both large trucks and buses. There were 1,368,270 inspections performed with 4,976 Acute/Critical violations, and 30,543 Non-Acute/Non-Critical violations also reported for both large trucks and buses in 2021 alone. These are truly eye-opening numbers for not only the safety aspect, but for the public. These totals and more information can be seen on The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations website.

Always remember that it is very important to a have the correct and sufficient tie down equipment for your load/cargo. According to FMCSA in terms of aggregate working load limit, the equipment used for load securement must be at least half of the weight of the cargo. Depending upon the weight load limit, make sure to use the sufficient number of tiedown equipment required (more if applicable).

Also remember, these mistakes can be avoided by proper inspection of equipment and keeping securement methods in top working condition. Report or replace all equipment deemed unsafe for safe load securement methods. Precautions are in place so the cargo and everyone on the roadways always remain safe. Leave no room for the question “how does that not fall off?”

Justin Sassen is the safety manager for Porter Pipe & Supply and a member of the American Supply Association Safety Committee, which contributes the Eye on Safety column each month.

You must have JavaScript enabled to enjoy a limited number of articles over the next 30 days.

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Supply House Times audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep.

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

Copyright ©2022. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing