Flatbed Terminology

Can someone define a point of contact. When I first started, I was using the wrong definition.

 

Point of contact- Where two or more objects occupy the same space at the same time.

 

That might be a technical definition but honestly I don't know what that means.

 

Fist meets nose. ...rubber hits the road. ....where the load contacts the deck

 

When I first started, I thought your x points of contact were on the machine, not on your trailer.

I've got a question though. I was told that my winch doesn't count.

What about if I have chains but no binder and use the winch to tighten the chains, is that legal?

aka if I'm carrying a forklift that is under 10 000, it is considered a truck or vehicle, so I only need 2 points of contact. If I have my winch on the back pulling the forklift (which doesn't count) and 2 chains on the front, on each side of the forks.

 

Ok first the way that the chain is hooked up all you really have for restraint is the chain going across the forks. Now if you ran the chain from the where you have it hooked and hooked it to the D rings.. Then that is a securement. But you only have the chain running through the D ring. The best places to attach to a piece of equipment is to locate the lifting eyes and use them . And in the back there might be a pin for pulling accessories .. You can use that.. But the lifting eyes are the best. Normally you will find a decal with something like an arrow and the word lift on it showing you where they are. And you say something about a wench.. As in? What like a wench to pull loads on the trailer? If so they don't secure the load . It will have a pull forward to it, but the load isn't secured as it could roll off the trailer. you need your securement to go down and either go back or forward, so the front and the back fight each other. That way it hold it down to the trailer and keeps the load from moving forward or backwards or sideways.. And it isn't a truck or vehicle.. It is a piece of equipment, no matter what it weighs. Also try to get the chains up higher than the chains by the forks.. So you have a better angle of the securement.. Like again the lifting eyes. Hope that answers your questions.

 

lol

I get the feeling that you think, that the pic is showing the only securement I have.

I guess I should have included the back picture, which shows the winch.

I drive a rollback



so I winch the forklift up my trailer, then I put my front chains on my forks, then I pull the winch tighter, to tighten the front chains. My binder on the front is so I have my "attachment" secured.

To me, I'm not sure having the chains without a binder is really a securement. I thought you needed a binder to make it a point of contact, I guess that is my question.

 

In the application I would rather put the chain on the forks with no boomer, then pull it back with the winch. But then put a chain and boomer on the back. Winch is good personal insurance but probably not a legal securement. To me so long as the chain has no slack, and no way to become slack it's all good. Now if you have enough boomers one on each front corner is best. As far as the pin in the back goes it is all that is keeping that machine from coming forwards, is it rated for 10000 pounds

 

The wench chain doesn't secure the back except keeping it from rolling back. That's it.. You need a chain going from the same point on the fork lift to the sides of the trailer to keep it from tipping to the side. One really needs to learn proper securement if one wants to haul flatbed/ roll off as it could hit ones pocketbook and CSA score rather hard. Big score no job in trucking.

 

Can you explain this please. I want to know how having a chain go to both sides will keep it from tipping. Because I honestly don't see how it will.