COILS: Chains+straps or just chains?

Unfortunately, Admiral, unless those chains were at least 1/2" Grade 80 or above capable of 12,000 lbs WLL value, they won't meet the required WLL values to restrain a 50,000 lb coil load by 1/2 its weight as required by § 393.106(d) What are the general requirements for securing articles of cargo?

Just because we didn't hear about things as easily in the "old days", Admiral, doesn't mean they weren't happening. Proper securement wouldn't have been an issue if everyone was doing it properly to begin with, but sometime back when these regulations were written, someone obviously wasn't doing it right, hence they made the proper minimum official.

 

I hear you Dirty, I was just using the "minimum" that I've seen used for calculations like Swift for example.

 

Yeah 10-4. I'm not scared of the coils or anything, I just wanna make 110% certain that if I were to wreck, nothing is coming off my trailer. That's why I use our 3/8's chains and do a lot of straps.

Like in our securement class, they told us on a suicide 20k lbs coil "technically" you could use one 3/8's chain and one strap and meet dot requirements. Then they asked us would we be comfortable
Hauling it like that? Definitely not lol

Roehls policy is meet dot requirements then add one more for roehl. I do what makes me comfortable and 100% of the time I know it meets dot and roehls requirements

Ethan

 

Same here, that's why I try to secure the full weight of the object with Aggregate WLL, instead of just half. Apparently it works, because no DOT ever even thinks of stopping/inspecting me for load securement issues. Yet!

 

What really matters here is if you are going to spend 4 hours securing and taping, throw enough on to get the hell out of the way and throw as many chains and straps as you feel you need to be comfortable. Just do it out of the way of the rest of us that want to go to work.


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I agree with this too. I've been to many places where there's no room to tarp/strap after you've been loaded and your waiting on the guy in front of you before you get loaded. At places like this, if its nice weather outside I'll throw a chain or two on and move outside. Even off the property, I'll bungie my tarp down a little just to show them it is tarped, then I usually can find a place to park and finish securing my cargo. I just drive in 3rd gear lol. Not on the highway or anything though .

Ethan

 

Well i disagree. The government created a good portion of their own problem by subsidizing Co's that trained inexperienced people to become drivers. They flooded the market and concentrated on teaching people to pass the test as opposed to educating on the nuts and bolts of the trade. And i was not using 1/2",i was using 5/16",not legal,but no mishaps either. P.S. all that can not be attributed to luck. Most of the guys i worked with did it the same way. Some used 5/16,some 3/8,no one used 1/2" back in the 70's & 80's. At that time the PUCO,MPSC,In. State Police were not interested in the size and or capacity of chain. Only the guys from out West used nylon straps at that time. I ran Ca. in the 70's and no one between Oh. and Ca. cared what you were using for chain or how many. Indiana's only deal they looked for was a chain every 10'. My opinion is the iron that winds up on the street is much more due to driver error than securment. In other words individuals may have a CDL but they can not drive.

 

I understand what your saying, but I secure my cargo by my preference. I use DOT/FMCSA requirements as a baseline for what I believe should be on my cargo. I just don't trust 5/16's chain, that's by personal choice, not science or facts or what happened back in the day.

 

Up until 02/2012 i was leased to Admiral Merchants. When i left(sold out) my CSA score was and still is 0,no tickets,no accidents. I am compliant. I secure beyond what the DOT requires. My point is that some of the new people on the block do not adjust their driving to the conditions and the cargo. I work local in Cleveland(as a driver) pulling a semi dump now. We have guys blasting down the shoreway(I90) at over 70mph. That is how people get hurt and loads wind up on the boulevard. If 100 chains make you feel safe then do it,but the other part of the equation is how you drive. Some people set themselves up for mishaps. Securment is only part of the situation.

 

I agree 110%. Ive seen the same crap, I don't allow myself to be like some guys like you describe.

It honestly freaks me out when new flatbedders under secure their cargo (by DOT standards) and they think its enough. Im talking one strap on a 20k lbs coil, then go off driving and braking like a maniac.