Load Securement
The North American Cargo Securement Standard provides the basis for the rules and regulations covering load securement on motor vehicles in the United States and Canada. It applies to all vehicles which use public highways and have a gross vehicle weight of over 4,500 kg (10,000 pounds), and all cargo and hazardous materials (aka dangerous goods), including general freight, equipment carried for vehicle operation, and intermodal containers and their contents.
The cargo securement standard was created because unsecured or under-secured loads can lead to loss of life and/or load, cargo damage, vehicle damage, crashes, citations and fines for drivers and carriers, and vehicles being place Out-of-Service. This course covers the purpose of load securement, load preparation, methods of load securement (including tie-down assemblies), working load limits (WLL), tie-down types, and safety guidelines.
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Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Specify where and when the North American Cargo Securement Standard applies
- List the three methods of load securement on a motor vehicle
- Define working load limit (WLL) and aggregate working load limit (AWLL)
- Describe how the number of tie-downs required for a load is determined
- List safety guidelines related to cargo securement
- Identify when vehicles and load securement devices should be inspected during transport
- List commodities which have special load securement requirements
Specs
| Course Level | Intermediate |
| Languages | English |
| Compatibility | Audio, Video, MobileReady, Responsive |
| Based on: | 49 CFR 393.100 |
Key Questions
What is the North American Cargo Securement Standard?
The North American Cargo Securement Standard provides the basis for the rules and regulations covering load securement on motor vehicles in the United States and Canada. The standard applies to all motor vehicles which use public highways and have a gross vehicle weight of over 4,500 kg or 10,000 pounds.
What are three ways that cargo can be secured for transport?
Cargo can be secured for transport by being fully contained, by being imobilized, or by being secured on a vehicle.
What is working load limit (WLL)?
The working load limit (WLL) of a securement device is the maximum load that device can handle during normal use.
What is aggregate working load limit?
The aggregate working load limit (AWLL) is the combined working load limit of all of the tie-downs and other restraint devices that are used to secure a particular load.
How is the number of tie downs required for a load determined?
First, the aggregate working load limit be equal to or greater than half the cargo weight. In addition, the required number of tie-downs also depends on the cargo’s length. The basic rule is that if forward restraint is present, there should be one tie-down for every 10 feet (3 meters) of cargo length. If forward restraint is not present, an additional tie-down is required.
Which commodities have special load securement requirements?
Commodities that have special load securement requirements include logs, lumber, metal coils, paper rolls, concrete pipe, automobiles, light trucks, vans, heavy vehicles, equipment, machinery, and large boulders
Sample Video Transcript
There are three ways cargo can be secured for transport. One, fully contained. In this case, the cargo must not be able to shift or tip, and it must be restrained from sideways movement either by other cargo or a vehicle structure. Two, immobilized. The cargo can be immobilized by structures or a combination of structure, blocking, and bracing. Or three, secured on a vehicle. The cargo must be secured by tie-downs which can be accompanied by blocking, bracing, friction mats, other cargo, dunnage, or a combination of these. This course focuses on loads secured on vehicles using tie-downs and other securement devices.
Additional Resources
- US Government Publishing Office – http://www.gpo.gov
- GPO Cargo Securement Standard 49 CFR 393.100 – http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CFR-2011-title49-vol5/CFR-2011-title49-vol5-sec393-100
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov
- FMCSA Cargo Securement Rules – http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/cargo-securement-rules
- FMCSA Driver’s Handbook – http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/drivers-handbook-cargo-securement-introduction
Course Applies To
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