Cargo Securement and Vehicle Loading
What the exam tests
Cargo Securement and Vehicle Loading tests load placement, weight limits, and tiedown strength. The exam expects you to know that securement is a system, not a single strap.
Core rules
- Do not exceed gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating, axle limits, or tire limits.
- Distribute weight so steering and drive axles keep proper traction; avoid overloading the front or rear axle.
- Use tiedowns with an aggregate working load limit of at least half the cargo weight.
- Use at least one tiedown every 10 feet of cargo length, with the first and last within 4 feet of the ends.
- Secure cargo against forward, rearward, and sideways movement. Use headboards, blocking, and friction devices where appropriate.
Worked example
A 20-foot load weighs 10,000 pounds. The tiedown system needs an aggregate working load limit of at least 5,000 pounds. If each strap is rated 1,500 pounds, four straps give 6,000 pounds, which meets the aggregate minimum, but placement and condition still matter.
Traps that cost marks
Counting one strong strap as enough, ignoring aggregate WLL, overloading an axle, and trusting friction alone. Check tiedowns for wear, cuts, and loose fittings before departure and during the trip.
Key idea
Legal securement requires both enough strength and correct placement.