Opinions On: Securing Steel Coils - Use of chains / straps / dunage

Whatever you decide; I always put an extra on coils. Coils ain't nothing to fool around w/ "maybe" or "probably". They are a killer if done wrong. There's a reason many States had a Coil Endorsement requirement to be able to haul coils in or through their State. Turned out the endorsement was almost impossible to enforce because not every State required it, but they had it for a reason, like Hazmat requiring an endorsement. It's cause if you do it right - there's no problem. If you do it wrong it's a HUGE nightmare and a high probability of death, dismemberment and at the very least - BIG time property damage. Don't fear coils - but the minute you lose respect for them and get slack: Look out. You just had a BAD day. See, coils WANT to leave your trailer. You set flatplate or rebar or lumber down on your back and it wants to stay there unless an outside force causes it to want to move. Not coils. they don't want to be on your trailer from the second the crane sets them there. Never forget that. That's my take on coils.

 

Great stuff i never got to do coils but i did do steel blocks.

 

Eyes to the sky, I would x strap each coil along with a choker front and back to keep from sliding in a sudden stop. I brought them from Weirton WV to S FL all the time during the building boom. These days I'd probably x chain them, but I have a bit more experience.
As far as big coils either suicide or homicide (shotgun), I just go with my chains ( I primarily have 5/16"). Gross weight divided by WLL with an extra chain if it's close to the limit. It's not rocket science really.

 

Picture worth 1000 words.

This was a 43k lb coil.. set suicide style.



Hurst

 

That's why headache racks or headboards haven't been required since 2008. They do nothing on a 15mph head on crash.

 

I was at Alcoa in Bettendorf, IA Monday, a driver pick up to aluminum coils, 1 12,000 lbs, the other 32,000 lbs, both where load shot gun, on the 12,000 lbs he used two chains criss crossed, and the 32,000 lbs, he used 4 chains, 2 of them criss crossed, I asked if he was going to put anymore securement on the coils, get said he didn't have anymore chain or binders, asked if he had 4 inch strap? If so, at least put dome straps over them, how can anyone run a flatbed, with only 6 chains and binders?

 

Hurst-

I'm not saying this is wrong or inadequate just different than I would do.

I would add one more chain pulling to the rear and alternate pulling direction of binders (left to right).

I do tend to over do it a bit though

 

Yep.. you are right. I thought about adding another drag chain for a wtf moment. Certainly not enough chain to hold that monster if I hit something.

That was the 3rd coil I ever hauled.. guy at the shipper said I would he fine.

I hauled two 17k coils last tues and I used 4 chains in each.. 1 forward, 1 down in the middle and 2 draggers in each. I was very lucky when I did that 43k coil. I know better now.

Hurst

 

The theory is to pull the coil down into the 4X4's held by the coil racks, which I was taught 1 coil rack for every 10K. Not to be pulling the coil backwards and forwards. If you put as much down pressure as possible on the coil it can not move. Also I was taught to put the binders on the drivers side so they are easier to see. In other words I would put more chains in the middle pulling down and less pulling back and forth. The widest point of the coil racks should be should be close to the width of the coil. I either look at the paper work for the width or ask the shipping clerk for it. It also helps preserve the trailer (when possible) to try and put the coil racks over the crossmembers on a shot gun. When I load a suicide I try to get the 4X4's over the crossmembers.

 

I was just told that dot requires that if a load is suicide loaded, any angle on the chains that is 90 degrees does not work towards the working load limit only 45s. Any one heard of this. It's fairly recent