Cargo Securement Rules
Cargo that shifts or falls off a truck causes crashes, kills other drivers and can crush the driver in the cab. Federal rules set how cargo must be contained, immobilized or secured, and drivers are responsible for checking it before and during the trip.
- Truck drivers
- Shippers
- Construction
The goal
Cargo must be secured so it can’t leak, spill, blow off, fall off or shift in a way that affects the truck’s stability. The system must hold against forces equal to at least:
- 0.8 g forward (hard braking)
- 0.5 g rearward (acceleration)
- 0.5 g sideways (turning and lane changes)
Cargo can be secured by being fully contained (in an enclosed trailer, for example), blocked or braced, tied down, or a combination.
Working load limits and the 50% rule
- Every tie-down (strap, chain, binder, hook) has a working load limit (WLL). Use gear that’s marked; unmarked gear gets a low default rating.
- The combined WLL of all tie-downs must be at least 50% of the cargo’s weight.
- A tie-down attached directly from the truck to the cargo counts at half its WLL; one that goes over or through the cargo and attaches to the truck on both sides counts at its full WLL.
- The weakest part of a tie-down sets its WLL.
Minimum number of tie-downs
For cargo not blocked at the front, the count depends on the length and weight of each article: generally one tie-down for short, light articles, two for longer or heavier ones, and one more for each additional 10 feet. See Flatbed Trucks for the table.
Commodity-specific rules
Extra rules apply to:
- Logs and dressed lumber
- Metal coils and paper rolls
- Concrete pipe and intermodal containers
- Automobiles, light trucks and vans
- Heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery (10,000 pounds or more)
- Flattened or crushed vehicles, roll-on/roll-off containers and large boulders
Heavy equipment
- At least four tie-downs, with a combined WLL of at least half the machine’s weight
- Tie-downs attached at the front and rear of the machine, at its designated points
- Buckets, blades, booms and other attachments lowered and secured
- Articulated machines locked so they can’t pivot
- Tracks or wheels blocked if needed
Inspection en route
- Inspect cargo and securement before the trip.
- Re-inspect within the first 50 miles.
- Re-inspect when you change duty status, every 3 hours, or every 150 miles, whichever comes first.
- Sealed loads you’re not allowed to open are an exception, but you still have to watch for problems.
Damaged tie-downs
Don’t use straps that are cut, burned or have broken stitching, chains with stretched or cracked links, or binders that are bent. Replace them. Protect straps from sharp edges with corner protectors.
Standards & references
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