Transporting Cargo Safely
Transporting Cargo Safely tests whether you can load, secure, and re-check freight so it does not shift, fall, or overload an axle.
Securing the load
- The combined working load limit (WLL) of all tiedowns must be at least 50% of the cargo weight.
- Cargo 10 feet or shorter needs at least two tiedowns; cargo longer than 10 feet needs at least four.
- Tiedowns must attach to the vehicle and to the cargo, and edge protectors keep straps from being cut.
Weight and placement
- Stay within axle ratings, tire ratings, and the 80,000 lb gross vehicle weight limit.
- Put heavy freight forward, but not so far forward that the steering axle is overloaded - you need weight on it for control.
Checking the load
- Inspect cargo and tiedowns within the first 50 miles, then every 150 miles or 3 hours, whichever comes first.
Worked example: A 12-foot steel beam weighs 4,000 lbs and each strap has a 1,000 lb WLL. Fifty percent of 4,000 is 2,000 lbs, so the straps' aggregate WLL must reach at least 2,000 lbs. Four straps give 4,000 lbs, which passes - and four is also the minimum tiedown count because the beam is over 10 feet long.
Traps: confusing a strap's breaking strength with its WLL; adding straps while ignoring weak anchor points; skipping the 50-mile recheck; loading until the trailer is full and discovering the drive axles are over the limit at the scale.