Securement Overkill?

I’ve lost track of what I’ve talked about, i just pointed out that the DOT doesn’t require friction mats under coil racks. If a shipper does that’s a different matter.

 

Me too.

I would argue that it isn't blocked. If you can stick you hand, or head, between the coils then it isn't being blocked by "other cargo". And there isn't anything blocking the end coils, like a bulkhead.

A place I loaded at in WA required friction mats because drivers were getting tickets at the scale. I don't think it was a state requirement. It was some "new" reg 3 years old or something? I'll try and find it.

 

Nope, can't find it..

All the fmcsa links I can find point to the "Handbook": Cargo Securement Rules

I don't like the "handbook", it's just another interpretation...

 

5/16 chain don't belong on a semi, especially a coil. Allways run One more chain than required, and I place rubber belting under it. My dad haul steel most of his life and said "son put chains on it till you feel good about it. Some thing I have seen is guys using crap lumber. If it ain't hard lumber, don't use it. You will know the difference. You either can pick it up and toss it around, or you can just pick it up.

 

All so in all reality the coil should never touch the trailer. It need to be up on the lumber and rubber. Put the weight on the beams, not the floor.

 

Would not want to be around that coil.

 

Nothing wrong with 5/16 chain if you use enough of it. Depending on the trailer a lot of tie down points are weaker than 3/8ths chain anyway so you aren't losing much with the 5/16.

Nothing magical about bigger chains. Just simple physics and math.

 

When I hauled flatbed, I put enough on each load to give me peace of mind. There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to securement. I can't even understand the laziness securing coils. Those are super easy, especially when loaded suicide

 

About 3 weeks ago, I was stuck for two hrs looking at this mess. This flatbed jack knifed and he lost a load of pipes all on I-35 just past the Pilot in Kearney, MO. I am only glad I pulled up after the fact. I can't imagine the panic when it actually happened

 

Professional coil hauler here.

Judging by size of coil and number of chains, I'm figuring those coils are in the 12-15,000lb. range. So yes, you did it right.

Personally, I would've thrown 4 chains at each, but I do a lot of major cities like Chicago and Cincinnati, dealing with the higher population of extreme idiots found therein.

The straps over top to hold the blankets in place are a good idea for protecting your tarps from the coils' edges, but I don't count them as part of the aggregate securement. I throw straps over coils myself (I drag a conestoga trailer), but they are extra "feel good". I depend fully upon my 3/8 chains, and throw as many of those as I think the coil needs, then throw one more.

Accreditation: Been hauling steel almost exclusively for more than six years without a load loss, load shift, or load claim.