Equipment Transport, Trailer Loading, and Load Securement
What the exam tests
This domain tests whether you can match machine to trailer, distribute weight legally, and secure a load that stays put at highway speed and under braking.
Core rules and concepts
- Ratings: machine plus attachment weight must not exceed the trailer GVWR, axle ratings, or the tow vehicle rated towing capacity. Know the tare and payload before loading.
- Weight distribution: aim for roughly 10 to 15% of loaded trailer weight on the tongue for a bumper-pull, and keep the centre of gravity over or slightly ahead of the trailer axles. Too little tongue weight causes sway; too much overloads the rear axle.
- Securement, following National Safety Code Standard 10 principles: tiedowns must have an aggregate WLL of at least 50% of the cargo weight, with a minimum of two tiedowns for cargo over 1.52 m or 1,100 kg, spaced no more than 3 m apart, anchored to both the trailer and the machine tiedown points. Tiedowns must resist forward, rearward and lateral movement.
- Equipment: Grade 70 transport chain with binders, or rated straps; edge protectors at sharp corners; anti-slip pads under the undercarriage; re-check after the first few kilometres and at every stop.
- Machine setup: low attachments, boom pinned, blade or bucket lowered and secured separately, arm locked, caps tight, loose items removed.
- Oversize: check height, width and weight against permit limits, and use signs, flags and pilot cars as required.
Worked example
A 9,000 kg excavator is loaded. Reasoning: aggregate WLL required is 4,500 kg. With 3/8 in Grade 70 chain rated at roughly 2,600 kg WLL, two chains give 5,200 kg and satisfy the 50% rule, but the machine still needs four corner points and the bucket secured with its own tiedown. Then check axle loads and deck height against the permit.
Traps that cost marks
- Counting a strap that only holds an attachment as one of the load tiedowns.
- Securing the bucket but not the machine.
- Loading tail-heavy so the trailer sways.
- No edge protection where chain crosses a cutting edge.
- Driving off without re-checking tension.