Hauling steel coils

I never gave it a second thought on being overkill I always thought like you do it keeps someone from getting killed ....But this is why we have new laws being wrote because somedont chain down like they should ....Loaded in Gary IN and the guy next to me put 2 chains on a 40,000 coil and left pitching a fit cause i put so many chains on mine

 

I always over secure. (really there is no such thing) The extra time that I put into the secure job does several things. It eases my mind rolling down the road. I am not worried about sudden stops. I know that I am safe. I know the innocent people around me are safe. The little kid waving to me as they pass me. In fact I would rather load suicide on coils. If the coil comes loose it is on account of the driver. Why should a poor little innocent kid with a big toothy grin have to give his life over mine if I did not properly secure? I have always shook my head and wondered at the many loads I have seen unsecured by lazy drivers.

It does not take me much longer to secure doing it the right way then cutting corners. How much time does it save having a wrecker picking up your lost load compared to the few minutes it takes to toss a few extra securements? Not to mention having DOT looking at a over sercured load or a under secured one. Which one do you think is going to fly under the radar?

 

All this information is very good. Another source is to check out FMCSA Regulation 393.120 on metal coils.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regu.../fmcsrruletext.aspx?chunkKey=0901633480023959

 

A wise man once told me you'll never know if you have an extra chain on, but if you have one less than you need you'll know before you get there.

 

I agree with notarps...110%.

But tonight I did see a guy go waaaaaay overboard.


6 chains, 4 straps, and a trip chain on a 42,000 lb. coil...loaded shotgun. And this guy had the big thick chains (3/8"...maybe thicker)...not sure what those are rated at.

5 trucks were in and out while I was there...this guy was there when I got there, he had just got his coil.

He had been driving for 26 years...only been flatbedding for about a month. I offered some friendly advice but DID NOT rush him (he was kinda holding up the line). I only wanted to let him know that he didn't have to do all that to be safe.

He was a CRST driver...SUPER nice guy, very polite...even after some of the other guys had been busting his balls.

 

It must be a CRST thing! They come and load at a place where I do, they get 2 coils and I get 4. At most they should be throwing 3 chains and a strap per coil and I have to throw 2 chains per coil. I waited on a guy for four hours to get chained and tarped and he had a sidekit! I can't see 4 hours unless your a complete idiot?

The best part is they cut our rates to get this stuff, they are only making alittle over a dollar a mile not counting surcharge...LOL.

Oh about forgot, one of their flatbedders took 6 hours!

 

What's the reason for the bulkhead? 48K lb coil will just roll over it. I to prefer suicide which is the safest way to haul coils but some receivers require coils to be delivered shotgun. If loading shotgun DOT requires either chains or straps over top of coil and a minimum of 4 chains thru the eye of the coil no matter the weight,you can crisscross or horseshoe the chains my company requires you to crisscross, a coil block is also a good idea on pickled coils, my company requires them on all shotgun coils . A good rule to follow is 1 securement for each 8K lbs. Keeping your chains a close as possible to the product is also a good idea.

 

Securement is a matter of pride for any real skateboarder.

You dont even have to go through the worst case scenario (losing a coil off a trailer). A coil, loaded wrong will damage a trailer. Put the coil rack in the wrong place and a heavy coil will push the racks through the decks of certain trailers.