help - load securement

According to your pictures, you need straps front and back so that you have 2 within the first 5 feet with 1 additional strap for each 10 feet or parts thereof.

--emphasis added

Since there is no forward stop (headache rack doesn't count for this), you need two on the front, and since it often works out, the back also has 2 within the last 5 feet. A test often given is if you have a pipe less than 1,100 lbs. how many straps do you need to secure it?

The answer is 3, because of the part that has you put two within the first 5 feet and one additional for every 10 feet or fraction thereof. After the first 2 within the first 5 feet you still have 7 feet left which is a fraction thereof.

This helps as you look down your load, because you can count of the number of feet using the pockets and spools to figure out how long the pieces are you need to secure.... but the key is two on the front and back 5 feet sections.

 

Belly strap will tighten the load against it's self. making one object. I hauled a load of chain link fence once. Never again. It's like trying to keep a snake on a glass table top.

 

??? Who would know this ???

 

Belly wrapping is bad advice in this case. Those handrails (or bedsprings as we used to call them) aren't just pipe, they're pipe on the top (handrail), with a flat bar (kick plate) on the bottom, flat bar...you know as in sharp edges. Even if you managed to get them somewhat tight, the flats vibrating would cut through the straps in approximately 156 miles. I would have thrown a third strap on the back stack of rail, and gone back to thank the shipper profusely for his excellent packaging, and been on my way. I can't run down the road with just two straps on anything sitting up top by itself. If one strap breaks there's nothing to stop the end from going sideways. I reiterate thank that shipper next time you get by there, so they keep up the good work. They've put them on long pallets, with banding all over hell...awesome (took most of the spring out of those bedsprings).

 

Elevators are a tricky load too...especially tarping them...good job on getting it there safely!

Sent from your local FBI Surveillance Van

 

Ya, that banding was a nice addition for that load. It helps keep everything nice and solid together, and keeps it's on the dunnage. Like others have said, a 3rd strap on that back set would have been all that was needed to be 100% legal, but overall it looked fine to me.

 

Sounds like a load of pipe spools. That's where you buy one of those packs of 1 inch straps with ratchets, 6 in a pack, and strap all the little weird miscellaneous stuff to your bigger pipe, then throw your main straps over the top.

 

Good advice. I always say "no one ever gets stopped by a LEO for having TOO many straps on a load".

 

As a "rule of thumb" your post is not wrong, and more straps are better than fewer. However, the regulations don't require two straps in the first five feet, only two straps for the first 10 feet plus another strap for each additional 10 feet or fraction thereof. Nor do they require two straps within five feet of the end of the load.
(assuming the item to be secured is more than 1,100 lbs, the number of straps meets the aggregate WLL requirement and there is no bulkhead or similar)
5 ft long = 2 straps
7 ft long = 2 straps
10 ft long = 2 straps
11 ft long = 3 straps
20 ft long = 3 straps
47 ft long = 6 straps

After the straps are applied they may well be within five feet of each other at either end, but that is not a regulatory requirement.