2. General Cargo Securement Requirements

The Securement System
What is a securement system?

A securement system is a securement method that uses one or a combination of the following elements:

1. Vehicle Structure.
2. Securing Devices.
3. Blocking and Bracing Equipment.

What securement system should you choose? (Section 2.1.2)

The securement system chosen must be appropriate for the cargo's size, shape, strength, and characteristics.

Are there any requirements for the cargo? (Section 2.1.2)

The articles of cargo must have sufficient structural integrity to withstand the forces of loading, securement, and transportation.

This includes packaged articles, unitized articles, and articles stacked one on the other.

• Floors
• Walls
• Decks
• Tiedown anchor points
• Headboards
• Bulkheads
• Stakes
• Posts
• Anchor points.
  

• Forward force: 0.8 g (80%)
• Rearward force: 0.5.g (50%)
• Sideways force: 0.5 g (50%)
• Upward force: 0.2 g (20%)

• No obvious damage.
• No distress.
• No weakened parts.
• No weakened sections.

• Synthetic Webbing
• Chain
• Wire rope
• Manila rope
• Synthetic rope
• Steel strapping
• Clamps and latches
• Blocking
• Front-end structure
• Grab hooks
• Binders
• Shackles
• Winches
• Stake pockets
• D-rings
• Pocket
• Webbing ratchet
• Bracing
• Friction mat

• Attaches cargo to, or restrains cargo on a vehicle.
• Is attached to anchor point(s).

Some tiedowns are attached to the cargo and provide direct resistance to restrain the cargo from movement.

Components of a Securement System
Securing devices (Section 2.1.3) (continued)

Some tiedowns pass over or through the cargo. They create a downward force that increases the effect of friction between the cargo and the deck. This friction restrains the cargo.

Tiedown passes over cargo

• No knots or obvious damage
• No distress
• No weakened parts
• No weakened sections

Tiedown use

Each tiedown must be attached and secured so that it does not become loose or unfastened, open, or release during transit.

All tiedowns and other components of a cargo securement system must be located within the rubrails (when present).

This requirement does not apply when the width of the load extends to or beyond the rubrails.

Tiedown within rubrail

Components of a Securement System
Securing devices (Section 2.1.3) (continued)

Edge protection

Edge protection must be used if a tiedown could be cut or torn when touching an article of cargo. The edge protection itself must also resist crushing, cutting, and abrasion.

Use of edge protection                Edge protector

Blocking and bracing (Section 2.1.4)

Material used

The material used for blocking or bracing and as chocks and cradles must be strong enough to withstand being split or crushed by the cargo or tiedowns.

This requirement also applies to any material used for dunnage.

If wood is used:

• Hardwood is recommended.
• It should be properly seasoned.
• It should be free from rot or decay, knots, knotholes, and splits.

• Three ways to transport cargo ..........................p. 16
• Loading the cargo properly ..............................p. 19
• Restraining the cargo correctly .........................p. 21
• Using adequate securing devices ......................p. 27
• Aggregate Working Load Limit ........................p. 29

These requirements cover all types of cargo except:
Commodities in bulk that lack structure or fixed shape (for example, liquids, gases, grain, sand, gravel, aggregate, liquid concrete). Commodities that are transported in the structure of a commercial motor vehicle such as a tank, hopper, or box.

 

The Standard sets forth specific securement requirements for certain loads. When transporting these commodities, you must use the specific requirements for that commodity.

• Logs
• Dressed Lumber and Similar Building Products
• Metal Coils
• Paper Rolls
• Concrete Pipe Loaded Crosswise on a Platform Vehicle
• Intermodal containers
• Automobiles, Light Trucks, and Vans
• Heavy Vehicles, Equipment, and Machinery
• Flattened or Crushed Vehicles
• Roll-on/Roll-off and Hook-Lift Containers
• Large Boulders

• Condition 1: Cargo is fully contained by structures of adequate strength.
  • Cargo cannot shift or tip
  • Cargo is restrained against horizontal movement by vehicle structure or by other cargo. Horizontal movement includes forward, rearward, and side to side.
    

• Forward force: 0.8 g (80%)
• Rearward force: 0.5.g (50%)
• Sideways force: 0.5 g (50%)

Fully contained

• Condition 2: Cargo is immobilized by structures adequate strength or a combination of structure, blocking, and bracing to prevent shifting or tipping.

Immobilized

Immobilized

• Condition 3: To prevent shifting or tipping, cargo is immobilized or secured on or within a vehicle by tiedowns along with:
  • Blocking.
  • Bracing.
  • Friction mats.
  • Other cargo.
  • Void fillers.
  • Combination of these.
    

Secured on a vehicle

Secured on a vehicle

• Either place them in direct contact with each other
• Or prevent them from shifting towards each other in transit by using blocking or filling the space with other cargo.

• Lift the cargo off the deck AND/OR
• Place chockes, wedges, a cradle, or other equivalent means that prevent rolling. These must be secured to the deck.

The method used to prevent rolling must not become unfastened or loose while the vehicle is in transit.

For articles that have a tendency to tip:

• Prevent tipping or shifting by bracing the cargo.

Containing, Immobilizing, and Securing Cargo
Restraining the cargo correctly (Section 2.2.3.1)

How many tiedowns are required?

If cargo is not prevented from forward movement (for example, by the headboard, bulkhead, other cargo, or tiedown attached to the cargo), secure the cargo according to the following requirements:

Article Description	Minimum # of Tiedowns
1.52 m (5 ft) or shorter 500 kg (1,100 lb.) or lighter	1

Article Description	Minimum # of Tiedowns
1.52 m (5 ft) or shorter Over 500 kg (1,100 lb.)	2

Article Description	Minimum # of Tiedowns
More than 1.52 m (5 ft) but 3.02 m (10 ft) or less	2

Containing, Immobilizing, and Securing Cargo

Restraining the cargo correctly (Section 2.2.3.1) (continued)

Article Description	Minimum # of Tiedowns
Longer than 3.02 m (10 ft)	2 + 1 tiedown for every additional 3.02 m (10 ft), or part thereof

When cargo is prevented from forward movement (for example, by the headboard, bulkhead, other cargo, or tiedown), secure the cargo according to the following requirements:

Article Description	Minimum # of Tiedowns
All Cargo	1 tiedown for every 3.04 m (10 ft), or part thereof

Exceptions to the Minimum Tiedown Requirements (Section 2.2.3.2)

A vehicle transporting one or more articles of cargo such as, but not limited to, machinery or fabricated structural items (e.g., steel or concrete beams, crane booms, girders, and trusses, etc.) which, because of their design, size, shape, or weight, must be fastened by special methods.

However, any article of cargo carried on that vehicle must be securely and adequately fastened to the vehicle.

• Attached to the cargo
  • Tiedowns attached to the vehicle and attached to the cargo.
  • Tiedowns attached to the vehicle, pass through or aroundan article of cargo, and then are attached to the vehicle again.
• Pass over the cargo
  • Tiedowns attached to the vehicle, passed over the cargo, and then attached to the vehicle again.

• Place the tiedown as close as possible to the spacer.
• Position the tiedowns as symetrically as possible over the length of the article.

• Position the tiedowns to preserve the integrity of the article.

Containing, Immobilizing, and Securing Cargo
Restraining the cargo correctly (Section 2.2.3.1) (continued)

Tiedowns attached to the cargo

Tiedowns attached to the cargo work by counteracting the forces acting on the cargo.

The angle where the tiedown attaches to the vehicle should be shallow, not deep (ideally less than 45).

To counteract forward movement, attach the tiedown so it pulls the cargo toward the rear of the vehicle.

To counteract rearward movement, attach the tiedown so it pulls the cargo toward the front of the vehicle.

Containing, Immobilizing, and Securing Cargo
Restraining the cargo correctly (Section 2.2.3.1) (continued)

To counteract movement to one side, attach the tiedown so it pulls the cargo toward the opposite side of the vehicle.

 

To counteract upward movement, attach tiedowns to opposing sides of the cargo so they pull the cargo down.

Containing, Immobilizing, and Securing Cargo

Restraining the cargo correctly (Section 2.2.3.1) (continued)

Tiedowns that pass over the cargo

Tiedowns that pass over the cargo work by increasing the effective weight of the cargo (make the cargo seem heavier). This increases the pressure of the cargo on the deck and keeps the cargo from shifting.

Tension these tiedowns to as high an initial tension as possible.

The steeper the tiedown angle, the less shifting (ideally more than 45).

What should you use in low-friction situations?

When there is low friction between the cargo and the deck (for example, with snow, ice, sand, gravel, and oil):

• Use tiedowns attached to the cargo.
• Use a means to improve the friction such as friction mats or tiedown that pass over the cargo.
• Use blocking and tiedowns.

Containing, Immobilizing, and Securing Cargo
Using adequate securing devices

What is a Working Load Limit (WLL)?

The Working Load Limit is the maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system during normal service.

The WLL is usually assigned by the component manufacturer.

Indicator of Working Load Limit

WLL for tiedowns (Section 2.1.6)

The WLL for a tiedown is the lowest WLL of any of its parts or the WLL of the anchor points it is attached to, whichever is less. Every device contributes to the WLL of the securement system.

For a synthetic webbing tiedown, the WLL is the working load limit of the tiedown assembly or the anchor point it is attached to, whichever is less.

The minimum WLL requirement for the securement system is 50%. More tiedown capacity should be used if you need to secure an article against any movement.

WLL for blocking systems (Section 2.1.5)

The WLL of all components used to block cargo from forward movement must be 50% (or more) of the weight of the article being blocked.

• 50% of the WLL of each end section of a tiedown that is attached to an anchor point.
• 50% of the WLL of each end section that is attached to the cargo.

Example:
   50% of A
+ 50% of B
+ 50% of C
+ 50% of D
+ 50% of E
+ 50% of F
+ 50% of G
+ 50% of H
= Aggregate Working Load Limit

 

Example:
   50% of A
+ 50% of B
+ 50% of C
+ 50% of D
= Aggregate Working Load Limit

Containing, Immobilizing, and Securing Cargo

Aggregate Working Load Limit (Section 2.2.3) (continued)

Example:
   50% of A
+ 50% of B
+ 50% of C
+ 50% of D
= Aggregate Working Load Limit

 

How much should the Aggregate Working Load Limit be?

The aggregate working load limit of any securement system must be at least 50% of the weight of the cargo being secured.

Inspection Requirements (Section 2.3.2)

The driver is responsible for the following cargo securement inspection activities.

Driver action required	Pre-Trip	Within first 80 km (50 mi)	When duty status of driver changes	At 3 hour intervals or every 240 km (150 mi), whichever is first
Inspect Cargo and Securing devices
Inform Carrier if Packaging is Not Adequate
Adjust Cargo and/or Securing devices	As necessary	As necessary	As necessary	As necessary
Add Additional Securing devices	As necessary	As necessary	As necessary	As necessary

• Make sure that cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured (in other words, according to the Standard).
• Make sure that all securement equipment and vehicle structures are in good working order and used consistent with their capability.
• Stow vehicle equipment.
• Make sure that nothing obscures front and side views or interferes with the ability to drive the vehicle or respond in an emergency.
• Inform carrier if packaging is not adequate. For example:
  • Banding is loose or not symmetrical on package.
  • Banding attachment device(s) are inefficient.
  • Wrapping is broken or ineffective.
  • Pallet are broken.

• Inspect cargo and securing devices.
• Adjust cargo or load securement devices as necessary to ensure that cargo cannot shift on or within, or fall from, the commercial motor vehicle.
• As necessary, add more securing devices.

Law enforcement inspections

Law enforcement is responsible for roadside inspections in accordance with federal, state, or provincial laws.