X Chaining Beams

A cross or X chain is a form of trip.

Start on the right side of the trailer, attach a chain just slightly behind the fron of the cargo, then go over the top, about 1/3 to 1/2 way across, then go under the cargo, attach chain to the left side of the trailler, just behind the front of the cargo. Place a binder, usually on top, and tighten. Do the same thing with one more chain in a mirror image. When you look at it from the end, the chain or strap will look like an X.

One important part of this is making sure you have no slack in the chains/straps. The idea is to stop movement before it starts. If the cargo can move, then the system will fail when it get stressed by the cargo.

You can do this on both the front and back of a load. Just depends on what it is.

 

Always a good idea to cross-chain anything steel unless shipper says no (such as rolled tube places that spray them in oil, warp them in plastic and say "straps only please!").

You don't want it joining you in the cab.

 

I don’t haul steel beams often enough... but I’d try to build a bulkhead in the front and I’d throw two chains across the bulkhead and create an x effectively blocking any forward movement.

I’ve done it before on a load of pipe. Thought it worked quite well despite taking a little extra time. Was something I was more or less curious to try.

 

On steel beams, throw everything you’ve got on it and if there’s room, also build a bulkhead. Then edge protect and strap it as well. Once secured, drive like your first born is in an unsecured car seat on the deck. That means you NEVER let yourself be caught by surprise and drive in such a way that you can roll #### near to a stop at lights and stop signs. If anything is going to bite you, it’s pipes, beams, coils or Swift.

 

I don’t know if an x chain is the best in this case preventing the beams sliding forward since there are so many but it definitely wouldn’t hurt. I would rather build a bulkhead touching the beams to be safe. An x chain is nice for something like slabs. Take a chain from 1 end pull half way over the top to the other side. Take another chain hook underneath from the other side pull half way over the top. Tighten both chains with binders where you please. If you haul haul plate or slabs they’ll never shift forward on you like this.

 

I hear about bulkheads all the time but how effective are they in reality? Anyone ever see one stop forward movement in a head on type crash?

 

I have seen them stop greasy bar in a hard brake situation. Not much is going to help in a head on collision.

 

I don't think any securement is going to stop anything from moving in a crash situation, just slow it down. Now in a hard stop situation, I can definitely see it being effective.

 

I haul 60 footers quite a bit. I’ll double up on dunnage on the ends to make the load go uphill if it wants to join me in the cab.

 

That load isn’t going anywhere. I wouldn’t bother “X Chaining” . That’s the first time I here that term. If you have a headboard , don’t worry about it. Just keep this in mind, always remember what your hauling, drive for conditions of the load(don’t drive like a mad man)..... if your so worried about it, throw a couple of belly wraps on it.