Are you serious, an unsecured load ! Banning Scales

Oh God..... I have a headache!

 

Just wondering what trailers you use. Any and all of the flatbeds I've hauled had chain down rings or pockets that were only good for 5000lbs WWL. So, no matter the chain strength, you still need to use 1 chain per 5000lbs of cargo.

 

It was a Ravens all aluminum step, and the other was a doonan black gold, You know I have never had a rating for what the stake pockets were suposed to be good for, I knew the chains that you could pop out of the deck were a 3/8" chain, but if it was something heavy I would always run the chain around the spool and under a stake pocket hanging the hook on top.

When using the 1/2" chains I would loop them around 2 spools just incase one pulled out. I never had a single issue with it through.

 

Nope! thats 5000 per tie down most use 2 tie downs per chain so thats atleast 10000. If a chain or strap goes over, around or through the load and back to to the trailer its worth double the WLL. My tie downs are marked 6700 (j hooks) I use 3/8 G70 6600WLL that gives me 13200 per chain. What gets me is the 2 tie downs for the 1st 10ft and on for every 10 after. I haul mill rolls they are mostly over 10ft. Say I set 2 side by side that way 18000 apiece I can secure them with 3 chains and be leagle but if I put 1 in front and 1 in back setting them in saddle blocks and use 4 chains 2 per roll I have a unsecured load. If I toss a 1in strap from walley world over the middle I am leagle again. Yet which way is more secure?

 

This is true. A friend of mine drives for First Fleet out there and said it's like open season on truckers in the Grand Canyon State right now.

 

Each tie down is still only good for 5k. Any DOT I've talked to has said that you go by whatever is the least rated, and since one pocket is 5000, you go by one pocket. Not the 2 pockets you use for one chain or strap. I tend to agree with the DOT on that too. When I load 65k onto a tridem, I'm throwing 13 straps. No way in hell am I trying to go down the road with only 7 straps on.

 

I had that happen with a load of Washington apples at the Quad City scales on I-280 just as you come into Illinois a few years ago.

"HE" said I was 'overweight'.
I asked 'how much'.
He asked 'what you hauling'.
I said 'apples'.
He said 'about 50 boxes'.
He said 'take them off and stack them over there' pointing to a spot near the back of the building.
I got on the CB radio and found a driver willing to make an easy $50.
Offloaded them from mine onto his.
He hauled them to the next truck-stop (exit 19). I loaded them back on mine and gave him $50
The DOT looked pizzed he didn't get a bunch of apples for free.
I know for a FACT that I was less than 79,000
I complained about the scales, but the Illinois DOA said they allowed the scales to be off by 10%
(10%???????that's 8000lbs)
Hell, they could have been "off" in my favor as well.

 

Yep...........I got a ticket and shut-down at the Klamath Falls scales because my "OverSize" sign wasn't oversize enough. Then had to scramble to find one big enough on a Holiday weekend. Luckily, I found one (their LAST ONE) at the local NAPA just before they locked their door for the weekend.

 

The customers we haul for, the drivers are not allowed on the docks. The loads are SHIPPER LOAD, after which the shipper seals it.
I cannot; at any time break the seal, unless at the instruction of the shipper or receiver.

If the DOT want's to break the seal.......they will end up with several "Alphabet" Government Agencies breathing down their necks and hours of paperwork to boot.

 

No sir you don't add the WWL's of the anchor points. TheHealthyDriver is correct.
And you need to rethink the number of chains that you're using. You never get to double the WWL.
Protection against shifting and falling cargo

§393.106 What are the general requirements for securing articles of cargo?
(d) Aggregate working load limit for tiedowns. The aggregate working load limit of tiedowns used to secure an article or group of articles against movement must be at least one-half times the weight of the article or group of articles. The aggregate working load limit is the sum of:
(d)(1) One-half the working load limit of each tiedown that goes from an anchor point on the vehicle to an anchor point on an article of cargo;
(d)(2) One-half the working load limit of each tiedown that is attached to an anchor point on the vehicle, passes through, over, or around the article of cargo, and is then attached to an anchor point on the same side of the vehicle.
(d)(3) The working load limit for each tiedown that goes from an anchor point on the vehicle, through, over, or around the article of cargo, and then attaches to another anchor point on the other side of the vehicle.