How's this for load securement?

Another thing that everyone seems to overlook is jail time. If you kill someone because your load was not DOT secured off to the jail house you can go. It's the difference between manslaughter and an accident.
Those chunks of concert are not moving unless you are involved in an accident. And DOT secured would not make difference..... until you go see the judge.

 

Those things are probably 10 thousand lbs apiece .......or more.

I've hauled the short ones 15 feet long and they were 4,400 lbs apiece.

 

Famous last words! These aren't going anywhere.

 

DOT be like:

 

It's not uncommon to short the securement when only going short distances. And there could be any number of reasons why.

Safety isn't one of those reasons.

I know a few companies picking up rebar or steel with only 3 or 4 straps or chains. They don't go very far. And they're out in the boonies. No traffic or deer to worry about.

 

I've done a few of those. I've seen guys do the 2 straps thing. I do 3 straps.. 2 for the X and then 1 regular across. Not questioning your method as I have seen others do it the same. I tend to over secure and err on the safer side.

Same with steel.. I always put blocker chains on the front to prevent the load from crashing into my sleeper if I need to stop hard. I see so many guys that dont.

I spent last summer doing RGN heavy haul and it was an honest eye opener regarding how I was securing my loads with step deck vs RGN. I learned to respect the weight and give a little more thought into making sure I am safe. I prefer my step... mad respect for the guys doing heavy on a regular basis.

Hurst

 

Back in the mid 80's when I first got into towing and transport.. I went out with one of the senior drivers to a police call. We needed to recover a car that had rolled over. Since I had never done one.. the owner thought it would be a good idea to tag along to help and observe.

He chained up the car.. hooked the winch cable.. started rolling the car back onto its wheels. It was a stick shift Toyota.. when the car landed on its wheels.. it chugged and bumped.. then it started up and took off like a ghost was behind the wheel.. and it crashed into the cop car.

Rule #1. Murphy's Law.
"What ever can go wrong.. will go wrong".
Guaranteed.

Hind sight.. he should have made sure the ignition switch was off before ever touching the car.

Hurst

 

Ugh..no you dont. The feds set securement regulations. Not the states.

 

That is unacceptable. I used to run for Flatbed Companies in my time. To see a load that lightly or unsecured tells me that driver is too lazy, too unprofessional and should not be in that industry. Whoever trained or failed to train that driver also is to share the blame. It only takes a few minutes to secure a load which should be routine and part of your loading. And a life time of regrets if you don't do so.

I hate to be harsh. But in this case I have to. And YES there will be that moment during a trip, however short that something will happen.

 

I wholeheartedly agree. At the very least should the minimum requirements be observed.