Edge protection?

And trust me they will do that too when I rolled my truck at the quarry , that dip #### went down the mountain underneath my suspended trailer only held up by a tree and checked to make sure all those boulders were still attached or I was getting a ticket.

 

Always use edge protectors.....always. it's cheaper than the alternative.

 

Chains & bounce if customer doesn’t mind

 

I carry 14 chains/binders. I broke them out like.....5 times last year. I almost always use straps. It's so much easier. If they get loose, just walk over and Tighten the ratchet. No need to climb on top and Tighten them up. Then inevitably climb down to re adjust, then climb back up. Nah, I hate chains. To each their own though. Sometimes, chains are the way to go though.....no denying that.

 

You asked what they would do, and the varying answers should confirm what you should have done. I don't rely purely on references, when I have to meet requirements as some have alluded to you about the requirements of keeping the load on the vehicle. What I refer to, when possible, is the direct requirements of the legal documentation ruling our industry, and you'll find your answer to this question for now and future reference, in the Green and White we get issued:

§ 393.104 What standards must cargo securement devices and systems meet in order to satisfy the requirements of this subpart?
...
(f) Use of tiedowns.
(1) Tiedowns and securing devices must not contain knots.
(2) If a tiedown is repaired, it must be repaired in accordance with the applicable standards in paragraph (e) of this section, or the manufacturer's instructions.
(3) Each tiedown must be attached and secured in a manner that prevents it from becoming loose, unfastening, opening or releasing while the vehicle is in transit.
(4) Edge protection must be used whenever a tiedown would be subject to abrasion or cutting at the point where it touches an article of cargo. The edge protection must resist abrasion, cutting and crushing.​

§ 393.104 (f) Use of tiedowns - is the answer you should commit to memory. Technically, even on a rounded surface, that strap could be abraded and therefore requires edge protection, for both the freight and the strap well being. Notice all 3 requirements, that could potentially end up in that strap being rendered useless.

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My great grandfather use to say…. If a day goes by and you learn nothing, it was a sad day.

Personally, I myself would use edge protectors. For heavy plates I use rubber coated metal edge protectors, and for lighter stuff I use the plastic protectors with the strap loop on each end. I wanted to get my plastic protectors on and off faster without threading the strap all the way through, so I altered mine and it has worked great for me….

 

Agreed….

Some loads will shift / settle during transit on our over taxed smooth as glass well kept roads…. Yes sarcasm

When a load settles or shifts causing the strap to be loose the wind will whip the strap, the end result is usually a worn or frayed area where the strap was in contact with the load. A edge protector prevents that….