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LOCK IT DOWN – LOAD SECUREMENT
Securing your load properly isn’t just about following the rules—it’s about keeping you, your materials, and everyone else on the road safe. Whether you’re hauling concrete supplies, tools, or equipment, making sure everything is tightly strapped down and stable can help prevent accidents, damage, and delays. A few extra minutes spent on load securement can save a lot of trouble later. Let’s make safety a habit, not an afterthought.
BY THE NUMBERS
According to the FMCSA, load securement remains one of the most frequently cited safety issues across the trucking industry. These figures highlight how important it is to take a few extra moments to make sure every load is properly secured.
- 10,919 violations: Cargo not secured to prevent leaking, spilling, or falling from the vehicle.
- 7,237 violations: Vehicle components or dunnage not secured.
- 6,396 violations: Failing to secure vehicle equipment.
- 5,310 violations: Leaking, spilling, blowing, or falling cargo.
GENERAL CARGO SECUREMENT PRINCIPLES
- Immobilization or Securement: Cargo must be firmly immobilized or secured using strong structures, dunnage, dunnage bags, shoring bars, or tiedowns, or a combination of these.
- Preventing Rolling: Items prone to rolling, such as concrete pipes, must be secured with chocks, wedges, or cradles to prevent movement during transit. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), see rule 49 CFR 393.124 for concrete pipe securement.
- Adjacent Cargo: Articles placed side by side and secured by transverse tiedowns must either be in direct contact or have measures in place to prevent them from shifting towards each other while in transit.
- Minimum Working Load Limit (WLL): The total WLL of the securement system must be at least half the weight of the cargo.
- Tiedown Requirements:
- Tiedowns should be secured to prevent loosening during transit.
- They should be located inboard of rub rails, where possible.
- Edge protection is required if the tiedown could be subject to abrasion or cutting.
- Regular Inspections: Inspect cargo and restraint devices within the first 50 miles of the trip, and re-examine them at regular intervals (every 3 hours or 150 miles, or when a new driver takes over).
In addition to these general rules, for specific commodities like concrete pipe, there are specific securement regulations:
The FMCSA provides details on these commodity-specific rules.
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