Severe weather, rough and steep roads, and congestion are only a number of of the countless aspects that may contribute to cargo becoming dislodged or shifting mid transit. Proper cargo securement is a must to guard freight, prevent claims and most significantly, keep drivers and the general public secure.
While not all cargo securement violations are out-of-service violations, cargo securement violations were the fourth commonest variety of violation in the course of the Industrial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA’s) 2023 International Roadcheck, a three-day enforcement effort in May.
Improper cargo securement can lead to out-of-service violations and fines. Further, unsecured cargo can fall onto the road, causing significant risk of injury and even death to motorists.
Daniel Vega, director of safety at Reliance Partners and former inspector for the Industrial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau, found during his time as a state trooper that cargo securement was a prevalent issue. One of the vital common violations he noticed was a scarcity of tie-downs appropriate for the cargo’s length and weight, in addition to not having an additional tie-down if the trailer didn’t have a header board.
Cargo securement issues are more noticeable on flatbed operations, but they’ll occur on other kinds of trailers when items aren’t loaded properly and secured with essential measures like shoring bars and dunnage. Freight can shift around and cause issues for drivers upon opening the trailer.
One other cargo securement violation Vega noted was drivers’ failure to secure their spare tire.
“You’d be surprised what number of tires you’d see on the side of the road on an interstate,” he added.
Vega advises carriers and drivers to take the next measures to avoid common cargo securement violations and keep drivers and roadways secure:
1. Provide drivers with more in-depth cargo securement training. Carriers should thoroughly train drivers on cargo securement expectations, especially for flatbed operations, starting at orientation and ongoing during employment. Managers should set clear expectations of company policies and procedures and reiterate Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations.
2. Check securement during pre-trip inspection. Drivers are the essential individuals interacting with a vehicle every day, so their pre-trip inspections are vital to catch vehicle maintenance issues before they turn into a security problem or violation. Drivers should double-check that freight is correctly tied down in accordance with each load’s requirements.
3. Complete en-route inspections. Intermittent checks of apparatus during a visit are essential to be certain that all tarps, tie-downs and other equipment are secure. In keeping with 49 CFR 392.9, checks have to be accomplished throughout the first 50 miles. Drivers must also check their cargo at whichever of the next occurs first:
- An obligation status change,
- After three hours of driving, or
- After 150 miles or more of driving.
4. Check securement post-trip. After a visit is complete, drivers should double-check the integrity of tie-downs and tarps and replace them before the following trip.
5. Don’t be afraid so as to add more tie-downs. “If you happen to’re ever doubtful in the event you should add an additional tie-down, the reply is ‘yes,’” said Vega. There may be all the time a minimum variety of tie-downs needed. If a load is just secured with the minimum variety of tie-downs and, for some reason, considered one of them becomes loose or is in poor condition on the time of inspection, it could lead on to being placed out of service.
Click here to learn more about Reliance Partners, a trucking insurance agency helping businesses on their safety compliance journeys.
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