The Truckers’ Report flatbed Hall of Shame.

That’s a myth

 

Now this is true. I thought he said full truck load so was thinking 40 ft+

 

My DOT cop friend disagrees

 

I’ve pulled flatbed all across the country without a headache rack and never once been questioned about it.

 

Have him show us the statute or it's an urban legend.

 

The headboard is one I just heard about last week, myself. From one of our OTR guys. Never heard it before that.
Just seldom have I seen flatbed truckers without one.

 

paraphrasing here: One securement for every ten feet plus 1 in the first ten if forward movement is not blocked by a headboard or other device. I've heard it referred to as a penalty strap.

Now like most things in the rules it is open to interpretation. I interpret it to mean one additional piece of securement in addition to what is required for the WLL. Do i insist my interpretation is the 'right' way? Nope.

Link to the rules. But you have to scroll down a bit to get to that section. .

www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/cargo-securement-rules

 

The “penalty strap”

 

About 8 years ago or when ever the heck it was they removed the headach rack/ bulk head rule i was on a crane move. I was loading a tower section right in downtown Pittsburgh. Literally behind the hospital. One of the law enforcement personnel on site was there as they placed it down on the deck and i threw my straps. He walked over and informed me i needed another and my ####### thinking he was just a city cop directing traffic responded with some half joking smart ### comment like it only weighs 20k lbs im fine. He proceeded to show me his credentials with a firm "you are not fine, put another strap on it". Turns out he was dot enforcement or whatever they call them in pa. Now he wasn't a jerk about it or anything but he was firm and to the point and even cited the reg number so i could look it up. "You do have a copy of the green book in the truck don't you son?"

 

Used to be you needed either a bulkhead on the trailer or a headache rack on the truck for specific cargo. That was removed several years back.

In my posts above i was referring to either a fixed bulkhead on the front of the trailer with the load up against it or one built out of 4x4s right infront of the load.