Transporting Cargo Safely
Transporting Cargo Safely tests load limits, weight distribution, securement, and inspection. A legal gross weight does not prove the axles or the load are safe.
Core rules
- Know the gross vehicle weight rating, axle limits, and tire limits. Distribute weight so no axle is overloaded.
- Inspect cargo and tiedowns before driving, after the first 50 miles, and every 150 miles or 3 hours afterward. Recheck after any emergency stop.
- Use tiedowns with an aggregate working load limit at least half the cargo weight, plus enough tiedowns and anchor points to prevent forward, rearward, and sideways movement.
- Close cargo doors and check that nothing can fall or shift. Do not carry passengers in a trailer.
- Keep the load low and centered when possible; high loads raise the center of gravity and increase rollover risk.
Worked example
An 8,000-pound skid is loaded on a flatbed. The minimum aggregate working load limit is 8,000 divided by 2, or 4,000 pounds. Two tiedowns rated at 2,000 pounds each meet that total, but the driver still must confirm the required number and placement for the skid's length and that each anchor is sound. Reasoning: the half-weight rule is a minimum, not a substitute for correct tiedown count and geometry.
Traps
Checking only total weight and ignoring axle loads; assuming a shipper's seal proves securement; and using damaged or unmarked tiedowns whose working load limit cannot be verified.