Cargo Securement Handbook

Load Securement
One of the most important reasons as to why we must always ensure proper cargo securement is so as to prevent the loss
of life; be it ours or that of other road users and workers.

We also want to prevent injuries, safeguard the load from damage, as well as maintain the vehicle in good condition and
avoid getting into legal problems of citations and fines. The main objective here is to deliver the load safely and in good
condition.
Cargo Securement
U.S. Department of Transportation regulations require
over-the-highway truck drivers to properly distribute
and secure cargo. You must also follow Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules requiring
cargo securement devices to prevent articles from
shifting or falling from commercial motor vehicles.

Nova Lines requirements for cargo securement is a

little above the FMCSA and this is based on lessons
learned.
We are Safety focused!

FMCSA Cargo Securement

 Proper Load Securement for Safety
When loads are not properly secured onto the
trucks, several problems may occur.

The load can alter the center of gravity of the

truck and load ensemble, causing a serious
imbalance, basically a tip-over waiting to occur.

The load can shift forward and in serious

instances, could strike the front cabin with such a
huge force as to cause fatalities.

Another possibility is that the load could shift

laterally, blocking the rear view or altering the
balance of the truck and causing it to tip over.

Last but not least, the load could shift rearwards

onto other vehicles behind the truck. Poor
fastening can lead to the load totally spilling onto
the road.
Insecure Load
You should expect enforcement action to be taken when any of the following conditions are
present on your vehicle:

● Part of the load has fallen off.

● Any part of the vehicle, equipment or even items such as the spare parts are loose
enough that can fall onto the roadway.
● Any part of the load, this include the cargo itself or any dunnage that was used with it is
loose enough that it can fall onto the roadway.
● Articles of cargo are not restrained by chocks, wedges, a cradle or other equivalent means
to prevent shifting.
● Articles of cargo are placed beside each other and secured by tie-downs but they are
either not directly contacting each other or they are not prevented from shifting towards
each other with blocking or other dunnage.
Missing of Defective Tie-downs

You should expect enforcement action to be taken, including being placed out of service for the
following tie-down defects:
● Any of the required type and number of tie-downs that have been used are loose.
● Any of the required and number of tie-downs that have been used are defective.

Possible violations include:

● The aggregate working load limit of the tiedowns that were used to secure the cargo is
less than ½ the weight of the cargo being secured.
● An unblocked* article of cargo has less than the minimum number of tie-downs.
● A blocked* article of cargo has less than the minimum number of tiedowns.

Damaged or defective tie-downs are part of out of service criteria.

 Cargo securement SOP
1. Master (suicide) coils
● Use chains always as the main tie-downs to secure this type of load.
● Use as many chains as needed to cover 90-100% of the load weight.
● Use corner protectors or channel guides to maintain the tiedowns in place and not to damage the load and tie-downs as well.
● Additional tie-downs can be used for safety reasons (2 straps X-crossed over the coil).
● All tie-downs must be located within the rub rail.

2. Skidded coils/coils on skids

● Use corner protectors not to damage the load or tie-downs.

● Coil must be fastened to pallet so it cannot move on the pallet.
● Use two tie-downs(depending on the weight) X-Crossed per each coil – this is the best way to prevent a possible load shift.
● To prevent forward movement, use one of these: blocking bracing,
friction mats, a tie down passed around the front of coil.

3. Eyes lengthwise (shotgun)

● Attach tie downs diagonally/laterally through of the coil.

● Attach at least one tie down over the top of the coil.
● Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.
● Must be secured with chains along with corner protectors.
● The securement system used must prevent movement in directions.
 Coils - Eyes crosswise (Suicide/ Master coil)

X-pattern is prohibited for tie downs

Coils - Eyes crosswise
Coils - Eyes crosswise
Coils - eyes vertical (eyes to the sky)
Coils - eyes vertical (eyes to the sky)
 Coils - eyes lengthwise (shotgun)

rubber/blanked is needed
which will prevent
frictioning and warming up
Coils - eyes lengthwise
Coils - eyes lengthwise
 Cargo securement SOP
Metal commodities
(rebars, bars, steel plates, tubes, pipes, beams)

This kind of commodity should be secured in such a way that would prevent a load shift in case of hardbrake or
any evasive maneuvers – 393.100(c) FMCSA regulations

● If you have enough dunnage use them to build a bulkhead (strong enough
and secured only with chains).
● If there is not enough material: use chains as an X-Cross in the front of the
load (any way to create an obstacle that will block the potential shifting)
● If there is no possibility for an X-Cross/bulkhead and the product is loaded
in more than two stacks: Secure the load with belly straps or chock
straps (circle wraps/wrap around)
Failure to secure the load against any
load shift
Failure to secure the load against any
load shift
Failure to secure the load against any load
shift
Pipes
Pipes
Steel Plates
Steel Plates
Steel bars/rebars
Other steel commodity
Other steel commodity
Other steel commodity
Other steel commodity
 Logs

Requirements:
● Use tie downs in combination with bunks,
stakes, or standards and bolsters to
secure the load.
● Tension tie downs as tightly as possible
but not beyond their working load limit.
● Secure each stack of shortwood with at
least two tie downs.

● Shortwood must be cradled in a bunk or

contained by stakes.
● Longwood must be cradled in two or
more bunks or contained by stakes.
Logs
Dressed Lumber and Similar Building Materials

Requirements:
● Attached and secured in a manner that prevents them from coming loose during transit.
● Located inboard of rub rails whenever practicable.
● Edge protection must be used when a tie down would be subject to abrasion or cutting.
● If the product was loaded in 3 layers and more and is higher than 6 ft – the cargo must be secured
every single stack/layer.
● Use at least 2 tie downs over each bundle on the top tier that is longer than 5 ft.
● Lumber always must be tarped to avoid claims
Section 3.2.2 three and more layers higher than 6ft
Section 3.2.2 three and more layers higher than 6ft
Section 3.2.2 three and more layers higher than 6ft
Lumber
Lumber
 Light machinery and vehicles

The requirements in this section apply to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans that
individually weigh 10,000 lb or less.

Requirement:
Use at least two tie downs at both
the front and rear of the cargo to
prevent movement.
− Side-to-side
− Forward and rearward
− Vertically

These tiedowns must use the

securement mounting points on the
Can be secured with 2 chains (one in front, one in the
vehicle that have been designed for
rear) if the vehicle has special designed mounting points.
that purpose.
Automobiles, Light Trucks, and Vans
Automobiles, Light Trucks, and Vans
Heavy Vehicles, Equipment and Machinery
The requirements in this section apply to the transportation of heavy
vehicles, equipment, and machinery that:
● Operate on wheels or tracks, such as
front end loaders, bulldozers, tractors,
and power shovels.
● Individually weigh more than 4500 kg
(10,000 lb.).

Requirements:
● Lower and secure to the
vehicle all accessory
equipment (hydraulic shovels,
booms, etc.).
● Restrain articulated vehicles
to prevent articulation while in
transit
Heavy Vehicles, Equipment and Machinery
Heavy Vehicles, Equipment and Machinery
Heavy Vehicles, Equipment and Machinery
Wrong securement!!!

13,150 lbs

Violation 393.130 (out of service)

Pipes
Requirement:
● Load pipe as compactly as possible.
● Immobilize symmetrically stacked pipes by
securing them in groups.
● Use blocking systems and tie downs to
increase the effect of friction.
Pipes
Pipes
Concrete Pipes
Concrete Pipes
Intermodal Containers
Secure each intermodal container to the container
chassis with securement or integral locking devices that
cannot accidentally become unfastened. Integral locking
devices do not have to be adjustable.

Requirements:
● The container is balanced and positioned on the
vehicle so it is stable before adding tie downs or other
securing devices.
● The container does not hang over the rear of the trailer
by more than 5 ft and front by 2 ft.
● The container does not interfere with the vehicle’s
maneuverability.
● The container is secured to prevent side to side,
forward, rearward, and upward movement by:
1. Either by following the requirements for loaded
containers.
2. Or by following the general cargo securement
requirements for tie downs.
Containers
Containers
 Containers
Improper securement
The effectiveness of direct and indirect tiedowns depends on their angle
 Containers

Improper securement

The angle is less than 15 degrees!!!

Other commodities
All types of cargo must meet one of three conditions:

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.

Cargo is immobilized by structures of adequate strength or a combination of structure, blocking, and

bracing to prevent shifting or tipping

Secure the load in accordance with general cargo securement requirements.

Other commodities
Other commodities
Slinky coils
Bagged Material -2 straps in front and rear and at least one tie down on each pallet
Concrete, stone, boulders, ingots
● Boulders, stones, any other similar products metal made – always must be used corner protectors to
avoid damaging the tie-downs
● Use always chains to secure large boulders.
Boulders
 Boulders

Poor securement !!!

Requires chains as main tiedowns with edge protectors
 Ingots
Improper securement
393.104F4R - No edge protection for tiedowns
 Ingots
Re-securement
Ingots
Concrete/ingots - 2 straps in front and rear and at least one tie down on each pallet
Prohibited commodities
This commodity always must be tarped

393.100(b) - Leaking/spilling/blowing/falling
cargo
This can lead to an accident !!!
This commodity always must be tarped
Securement pictures policy
Why securement pictures are required:

● Requirement by our insurance company in case a customer files a claim.

● Insurance that the commodity was picked up doesn’t have any damages.
● For securement purposes so we can avoid any incidents, load shifts and DOT violations.
● For safety and securement purposes.

Pictures requirement:

● Complete visuals of the load is required (No Tarp).

● At least 4 pictures of the load from different angles.
● Preferably to send more pictures including truck
and trailer and to be sent by Vector.
 Keep in mind
● Not complying with the cargo securement regulation is a serious highway safety issue. You
need to understand the requirements and make sure you follow them all the time. This will
ensure your safety as well as the safety of others around you.
● We must be confident that the method used to secure the load is going to be strong enough to
withstand the forces of any emergency braking or evasive maneuver that might happen.
● You can be charged when you fail to comply with any part of the cargo securement
regulations and you can expect the most severe type of enforcement action to be taken
when your load is insecure (fuel card on holding, out of dispatch, restriction for holding
specific type of product, verbal warning, corrective letter, safety talk at the terminal/yard,
termination of the contract)
● You can avoid charges and delays associated with making adjustments to your cargo securing
method. To do this you need to: take pictures and send them through Vector to Nova Lines. To
avoid any safety calls from the safety department while you’re driving already - call Safety
department when at the facility and ask for advice/approval to make sure that you’re good to
go.
● For Nova Lines - Safety is alway first. We all are on the same boat and best results can be
achieved only as a TEAMWORK. Always drive safe and make sure that others participants on
the traffic are safe as well.