One of these things is not like the others….

Knapheide Truck Bodies uses only nylon banding to secure complete truck bodies to preloaded trailers. I see them leaving out of Quincy, IL, all the time.

 

I've seen a few of those. Makes me do a double take every time!

 

Are you sure that plastic bands count as securement according to the DOT 393.100?

 

That’s true, it shouldn’t be on a flat bed.

well no it isn’t.

sent this to my lawyer and he said two words, lawsuit and millions.

 

As not only a former trucker, but also as a licensed engineer who knows nothing about the ratings of either your straps or that nylon strapping the shipper uses, I'd suggest maybe using more of the truck straps. That said, there is no flippin' way that shipping-dock plastic strapping is sufficient for loading onto a flatbed; NO WAY AT ALL. That stuff is meant to hold pallets together (and lids on...) for STATIC purposes, and is in no way meant to contain the freight during a rapid deceleration event in an unconfined space (like a flatbed trailer). Also, was the dock strapping at least CLAMPED at the joins? It probably only adds a little safety margin if it is, but if those plastic straps are of the heat-joined type, all you need to break them is to pull the 2 ends of the join apart with your fingers!

I'm hoping that those transformers were not filled with transformer oil when shipped.....

 

In the securement section of the regs, 393.100, it will have guidelines about securement and the WLL of each (working load limit). Most DOT don’t know the regs in 393.100, but there’s always that one…

Flatbed drivers will usually get ticketed for unsecured loads when they have their boards bungeed to the landing gear under the trailer because bungees do not have a WLL printed on them by the manufacturer. Last I saw, banding didn’t have a WLL and thus was not considered securement.

 

I see lots of guys hauling stand up rock the same way. Just strap the pallet and roll. Not happening for me.

I've never loaded transformers, but I would have had to do something different.

They look top heavy. One came loose driving, imagine what would happen in a hard brake.

 

Like @Ridgeline stated, if one of those fell off and hit a car. DOT would send that one cop out who knows the regs. The entire load is unsecured. That one hit would sink a small company. The company would not be able to get insurance. Sudden death.

 

As someone who has never secured a single flatbed load in his entire driving career, I, too, believe those sketchy as heck plastic bands are hardly enough to secure those transformers and do not have a WLL rating.

Those transformers should each be sitting in its own crate.

 

@Nahbrown, As a guy with no securement training, I've utilized the flatbed forum a bunch. Not saying you need it, but other opinions can make a guy see posiible better ways.

Post a pic, and a thread title needing advice.