Lumber Luggers....question about tieing down lumber

you have to have enough straps to equal the amount of weight you have on,,,,,,,,plus i would suggest you add a strap or 2 extra to be sure

 

I don't have my load securement book in front of me, its in my truck, but in general, you need 2 straps up to 10' long, then you need an extra one after 10' and another for every 10' after that. I assume you mean 2 straps for each pair of bundles sitting side by side on the trailer? 2 straps gets the job done most of the time with the stuff I've hauled. Or if there's any doubt in your mind about the way they are bundled, or sitting on the trailer, throw another strap on it, only takes a couple minutes. If you are hauling the 4 footer bundles they use to make pallets, you can get by with one strap over them if the sawmill bundled them tight.

Or if you live in southern MO, you just throw a single 2" strap over each long pair and run with it!

 

go to www.fmcsa.dot.gov for 393.100 through 393.114

§393.116 What are the rules for securing logs?
(a) Applicability. The rules in this section are applicable to the transportation of logs with the following exceptions:
(a)(1) Logs that are unitized by banding or other comparable means may be transported in accordance with the general cargo securement rules of §§393.100 through 393.114.
(a)(2) Loads that consist of no more than four processed logs may be transported in accordance with the general cargo securement rules of §§393.100 through 393.114.
(a)(3) Firewood, stumps, log debris and other such short logs must be transported in a vehicle or container enclosed on both sides, front, and rear and of adequate strength to contain them. Longer logs may also be so loaded.
(b) Components of a securement system. (1) Logs must be transported on a vehicle designed and built, or adapted, for the transportation of logs. Any such vehicle must be fitted with bunks, bolsters, stakes or standards, or other equivalent means, that cradle the logs and prevent them from rolling.
(b)(2) All vehicle components involved in securement of logs must be designed and built to withstand all anticipated operational forces without failure, accidental release or permanent deformation. Stakes or standards that are not permanently attached to the vehicle must be secured in a manner that prevents unintentional separation from the vehicle in transit.
(b)(3) Tiedowns must be used in combination with the stabilization provided by bunks, stakes, and bolsters to secure the load unless the logs:
(b)(3)(i) are transported in a crib-type log trailer (as defined in 49 CFR 393.5), and
(b)(3)(ii) are loaded in compliance with paragraphs (b)(2) and (c) of this section.
(b)(4) The aggregate working load limit for tiedowns used to secure a stack of logs on a frame vehicle, or a flatbed vehicle equipped with bunks, bolsters, or stakes must be at least one-sixth the weight of the stack of logs.
(c) Use of securement system. (1) Logs must be solidly packed, and the outer bottom logs must be in contact with and resting solidly against the bunks, bolsters, stakes or standards.
(c)(2) Each outside log on the side of a stack of logs must touch at least two stakes, bunks, bolsters, or standards. If one end does not actually touch a stake, it must rest on other logs in a stable manner and must extend beyond the stake, bunk, bolster or standard.
(c)(3) The center of the highest outside log on each side or end must be below the top of each stake, bunk or standard.
(c)(4) Each log that is not held in place by contact with other logs or the stakes, bunks, or standards must be held in place by a tie-down. Additional tiedowns or securement devices must be used when the condition of the wood results in such low friction between logs that they are likely to slip upon each other.
(d) Securement of shortwood logs loaded crosswise on frame, rail and flatbed vehicles. In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, each stack of logs loaded crosswise must meet the following rules:
(d)(1) In no case may the end of a log in the lower tier extend more than one-third of the log’s total length beyond the nearest supporting structure on the vehicle.
(d)(2) When only one stack of shortwood is loaded crosswise, it must be secured with at least two tiedowns. The tiedowns must attach to the vehicle frame at the front and rear of the load, and must cross the load in this direction.
(d)(3) When two tiedowns are used, they must be positioned at approximately one-third and two-thirds of the length of the logs.
(d)(4) A vehicle that is more than 10 meters (33 feet) long must be equipped with center stakes, or comparable devices, to divide it into sections approximately equal in length. Where a vehicle is so divided, each tiedown must secure the highest log on each side of the center stake, and must be fastened below these logs. It may be fixed at each end and tensioned from the middle, or fixed in the middle and tensioned from each end, or it may pass through a pulley or equivalent device in the middle and be tensioned from one end.
(d)(5) Any structure or stake that is subjected to an upward force when the tiedowns are tensioned must be anchored to resist that force.
(d)(6) If two stacks of shortwood are loaded side-by-side, in addition to meeting the requirements of paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(5) of this section, they must be loaded so that:
(d)(6)(i) There is no space between the two stacks of logs;
(d)(6)(ii) The outside of each stack is raised at least 2.5 cm (1 in) within 10 cm (4 in) of the end of the logs or the side of the vehicle;
(d)(6)(iii) The highest log is no more than 2.44 m (8 ft) above the deck; and
(d)(6)(iv) At least one tiedown is used lengthwise across each stack of logs.
(e) Securement of logs loaded lengthwise on flatbed and frame vehicles. (1) Shortwood. In addition to meeting the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, each stack of shortwood loaded lengthwise on a frame vehicle or on a flatbed must be cradled in a bunk unit or contained by stakes and
(e)(1)(i) Secured to the vehicle by at least two tiedowns, or
(e)(1)(ii) If all the logs in any stack are blocked in the front by a front-end structure strong enough to restrain the load, or by another stack of logs, and blocked in the rear by another stack of logs or vehicle end structure, the stack may be secured with one tiedown. If one tiedown is used, it must be positioned about midway between the stakes, or
(e)(1)(iii) Be bound by at least two tiedown-type devices such as wire rope, used as wrappers that encircle the entire load at locations along the load that provide effective securement. If wrappers are being used to bundle the logs together, the wrappers are not required to be attached to the vehicle.
(e)(2) Longwood. Longwood must be cradled in two or more bunks and must either:
(e)(2)(i) Be secured to the vehicle by at least two tiedowns at locations that provide effective securement, or
(e)(2)(ii) Be bound by at least two tiedown-type devices, such as wire rope, used as wrappers that encircle the entire load at locations along the load that provide effective securement. If a wrapper(s) is being used to bundle the logs together, the wrapper is not required to be attached to the vehicle.
(f) Securement of logs transported on pole trailers. (1) The load must be secured by at least one tiedown at each bunk, or alternatively, by at least two tiedowns used as wrappers that encircle the entire load at locations along the load that provide effective securement.
(f)(2) The front and rear wrappers must be at least 3.04 meters (10 feet) apart.
(f)(3) Large diameter single and double log loads must be immobilized with chock blocks or other equivalent means to prevent shifting.
(f)(4) Large diameter logs that rise above bunks must be secured to the underlying load with at least two additional wrappers.

 

Something else not mentioned. Dressed lumber will slide. Good idea to put a timber under the front of the trailer about a foot or so back to make it higher in the front and do the same on the rear of the trailer to make the back higher. This helps to keep the boards from walking out. One gets loose and they all can slide out. Also helps to be able to tuck the drops of the tarp under this area. If the bundles are flush with the trailer it is a pain to fold the extra length of the tarp ends and stow them away. You might have 2 or 3 foot of tarp left. With the room to tuck the tarp in you can take the winch bar and jam the extra in there.

Use a few bungees to put over the part you tucked in. Some loads have runners bundled on them and the shipper will say you don't need dunnage. Still a good idea to build it up like I said. Most lumber loads are floor length or stick over some, but some will not take up the whole deck. Some fork truck drivers try to argue with you on placement of bundles and want to space out the bundles. I want them end to end to help keep them from walking out. Don't worry about minimum security. Go over and beyond what the DOT specs are. Lumber can kill you just like coils. I seen a load of 4x4's go thru a cab in birmingham AL a few years ago. Hope this helps.

 

How I do it;

Use 1 strap per 5' of length. You can haul 5' fence boards with only 1 strap over each stack of units, but I still use a second strap over the front and rear stacks. If you have 16' units you need 4 straps.

If you are more than 2 units high you need a gut wrap over the second unit. (I don't always do this, sometimes it's impossible and I usually have a curtain van anyway)

If I'm loading units of various lengths I always try to get the short units on the bottom. If you put 3-8's on the deck & a 24' on top you need fewer straps than if the short units were on top.

The combined working load limit of all your straps needs to be at least equal to 50% of the weight of the cargo.

When I get a load like the one shown, I just do the best I can.

Certain types of lumber like to move more than others. Melamine sucks. Dry S4S pine is bad, plywood is too. I always check my straps within the first 50 miles, (sooner with melamine) if I get more than a click or two on them I stop again soon and continue stopping until I'm sure everything is settled into place. With melamine or plywood I always throw a third strap over the front and rear stacks.

 

That's all fine and good but what we really need to do is secure a better rate for hauling that crap....I won't even run in the northwest anymore because lumber pays so bad that it's not worth putting on a truck.

 

Ye gods, that load is ugly! Glad you got it and not me!

I get the joy of hauling mixed.. pallets (that may or may not be shrink-wrapped properly), PVC, Rigid Conduit, EMT (light conduit) and loose boxes. On a flatbed. Sure, it's local.. but you still gotta keep the goods from offloading too early.

And strapping down pallets of light fixtures or bulbs is an exercise in quantity over strength. Straping as tightly as I like to is not really an option unless I want to buy half the load Ergo, a zillion straps and a lot of packing tape.

Edit: Oh, forgot about the runners vs dunnage bit. I always use 4X4 dunnage, runners or no. Just makes it easier to load/offload. If I had to tarp, I'm sure it would make THAT easier, too.

(I'll have to remember that trick with the extra lift at the front and back of the bed. Even on short hauls, pipe (particularly PVC) tends to wander around a bit)

 

Actually loads like that are pretty routine for me- I usually have them in a curtain van though.

Plastic vee-boards are the greatest thing since straps when it comes to securing stuff like you mention. Now that I have them I don't see how I ever lived without them.