Flatbed Trucks
Flatbed drivers haul steel, lumber, pipe, machinery and building materials that ride exposed on the deck. They do much of the securing and tarping themselves, which means climbing on and off the trailer all day. Falls and shifting loads are the biggest hazards.
- Truck drivers
- Construction deliveries
How many tie-downs?
For cargo that isn’t blocked by a headboard or other structure, the federal minimum number of tie-downs depends on the length and weight of each article:
| Article | Minimum tie-downs |
|---|---|
| 5 feet or shorter and 1,100 pounds or less | 1 |
| 5 feet or shorter and over 1,100 pounds | 2 |
| Over 5 feet, up to 10 feet | 2 |
| Over 10 feet | 2, plus 1 for every additional 10 feet or part of 10 feet |
Separately, the combined working load limit (WLL) of all tie-downs must be at least half the weight of the cargo. Many loads (like steel coils, logs, heavy equipment and concrete pipe) have their own commodity-specific rules. See Cargo Securement Rules.
Securement gear
- Straps: use only straps marked with their WLL; replace any that are cut, burned or frayed.
- Chains and binders: use rated chain and binders; keep your body out of the path of a lever binder handle, which can snap back. Ratchet binders are safer.
- Edge protection: corner protectors keep straps from being cut by sharp edges and protect the cargo.
- Winches: use the winch bar properly and stand to the side; don’t use a “cheater” pipe.
Falls from the deck
A flatbed deck is about 5 feet off the ground, and loads can be much higher. Falls while securing, tarping or climbing on loads cause many serious injuries.
- Use a ladder or the trailer’s steps, not the tires or the load.
- Throw straps over the load from the ground instead of climbing up when possible.
- Use tarping stations with fall protection at shippers that have them.
- Watch for wet, icy or oily decks.
- Never jump down from the deck.
Loading
- Stay clear while forklifts and cranes load the trailer. Stand where the operator can see you.
- Center the load and keep weight distributed so axles stay within limits.
- Use dunnage (wood blocks) under the load so you can thread straps and so forklifts can unload without damage.
On the road
- Check securement within the first 50 miles
- Recheck every 3 hours or 150 miles, and at every duty change
- Retighten straps that loosened as the load settled
- Watch for shifting in turns and on rough roads
- Flag loads that stick out more than 4 feet from the rear, and light them at night
See Tarping Loads Safely and Oversize Loads.
Standards & references
- FMCSA: Driver’s Handbook on Cargo Securement
- 49 CFR 393.100–393.136: Protection against shifting and falling cargo
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