Cargo Securement
The securement rules
Cargo must be secured so it cannot shift enough to affect steering or stability. The federal standard requires the aggregate working load limit (WLL) of all tie-downs to be at least 50% of the cargo weight, and sets the number of tie-downs by cargo length and weight.
Number of tie-downs
- Cargo 5 feet or shorter and 1,100 lb or less: at least one tie-down.
- Cargo longer than 5 feet but 10 feet or less, or over 1,100 lb: at least two.
- Cargo longer than 10 feet: at least four. Tie-downs must attach to the vehicle and to the cargo; edge protection is required where a strap could be cut. Recheck within the first 50 miles and every 150 miles or 3 hours thereafter.
Worked example
A 20-foot steel bundle weighs 8,000 lb. It is over 10 feet, so four tie-downs are the minimum. The aggregate WLL must be at least 0.5 × 8,000 = 4,000 lb. Four straps rated at 1,000 lb WLL each total 4,000 lb-legal on the number and aggregate, but WLLs are not breaking strengths, and each strap must be rated and marked.
Traps
Counting straps instead of attachment points; using breaking strength instead of WLL; forgetting edge protection; assuming tarps secure cargo; skipping the 50-mile recheck. Loads that can shift laterally need side restraints, not just downward pressure.