Metal Pipe Securment

Oops, sorry about that photo. That was my first "ride along" with the owner of the truck I drove for 18 months before getting my own. The way he did the dunnage isn't correct. All dunnage should be straight on top of each other.

Pipe loads are so common in the oil industry I haven't taken any pictures. I will take pictures the next load I haul.

 

I'm going to add one more thing that is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to pipe loads. Let's say the diameter of pipe makes a nice tight layer of 20 across, from pipe stake to pipe stake. BUT, in order to maximize weight on your deck they need to load 85 pipes.

Usually drivers, and the forklift drivers, will want to "pyramid" five pipes in the middle of the top layer, with no dunnage between the last layer of 20 and the partial layer of 5. Now when you throw your top straps they only touch the outside pipes on the layer of 20 and the top of the layer of 5.

That's a problem. If you do it that way you have NO down force on most of the top layer. Any gapping in the pipes and half or more of that top layer can slide.

I always add an extra layer of dunnage for the 5 "joints" and chock and/or belly wrap them. In this situation I will treat the last layer of 20 as if it was the top of the load, throwing at least five or six straps on that layer. For the top layer of 5, in addition to two belly wraps I make sure I have a penalty strap (within 5' of the front) and a strap every 10 feet, including the belly straps.

I have 20 four inch winches. I've never come close to using all of them for a pipe load. Maybe the most was about 16.

Chains? Never. At least not with drill pipe or casing for oil rigs. That's a good way to get a cargo claim, get kicked off a lucrative account, and have a "company man" so far up your anal orifice you could swear he was shouting out your ears. Straps have more friction surface area anyway, and I exclusively use straps for all pipe loads, unless the customer requires chains.

 

You'll get a ticket if you are stopped without that extra dunnage on top. Most don't know this

 

Why did the rail boss care so much? Is it his wood?

 

Well down here in ALABAMER I would throw two and roll out

 

Good to know.

 

Don't worry, these crackerheads out here nowadays do it everywhere. Not just Alabamer.

 

Stroll through the New Waverly scale just south of Huntsville, TX with a partial layer cracked on the top full layer & you'll get a ticket & have to get those few joints up on wood before they'll let you roll.

Anything less than a full layer, 1 joint per crack, if you have 20 for a full layer you better have 19 cracked on top of it or you better put dunnage between the 2 layers.

By the way, the scalemaster has a brother with a forklift who will come out & help you, for a handsome price.

Didn't happen to me but helped a friend get the boards under the top partial layer, it sucks.

 

That's why I go up hwy 6.

 

This is the first of four pipe loads today. The pipe stakes are covered with 6" fire hose to protect the drill pipe. Note the dunnage is all on top of each other in a line. That way down force on the top layer next to the dunnage will keep it tight and prevent dunnage from walking out sideways.

I put two straps at either end of the first two layers. No belly straps (aka cinch straps).