The Truckers’ Report flatbed Hall of Shame.

Let’s do a science experiment. Put your fingers at the end of the 8’ timber and set the coil down. Then tell me it doesn’t carry any weight. You are right to a point. On a suicide coil once the weight is on the main beams the trailer isn’t benefiting from longer timbers. But on a shotgun the more cross members you spread the better.

 

Lets do another experiment. Put a sawhorse at the ends of an 8 ft 4by4 and measure the ''break strength at the middle then do the same with a 4 ft.
Now what does that have to do on a flat surface? Very little if any at all.

ALL the beveled lumber and friction mats do is make a slippery surface, IMO of course.
What about pickled in oil coils or when a worker comes on your trailer with a garden sprayer and coats the coil with oil?
What about slitters?
The driver is the most important tool in keeping the steel on the trailer. You ''can't'' be in a hurry.

 

I think the issue with crossing chains is you don't have consistent forces pulling front and back. You just have it pulling down and each chain takes the forces together but certainly won't be equally. More likely to cause twisting when braking.

 

Pretty sure you're reading it wrong. @kylefitzy seems to be pretty good with understanding the securement regulations maybe he can clear some stuff up here...

 

Correct, X chaining a suicide coil is prohibited.

 

found on the web. Anyone we know?

 

I didn't have the securement book with me earlier so didn't want to provide the wrong information. A strap/chain over the top of a suicide coil is not required.

Over a shotgun coil a tie-down is required...

 

That is correct. I personally see it as pointless, and won't critique anyone for not using this one. I will probably get a ticket for this someday.

It adds no forward or rearward securement. But my simple opinion.

 

A chain over the top helps increase the gravity and requires more force to overcome inertia.
If you have 2 rocks on your lawn, 100lbs and 1000 lbs, which rock is easier to push and why?
Chains over the top artificially increase the weight.
Why are they called tie DOWNS?

Is it possible to lose a heavy coil off the back of a trailer? How if so?

 

Technically, it does provide increased resistance to fore and aft movement the same way straps do on a load pipe: it increases the friction force between the load/dunnage/bed.
If I had to guess, the requirement was added because the shallower chain angle on the shotgun would give less downforce into the load, which the over the top adds back in.

For you doorslammers, a large part of securement forces aren't just the straps and chains directly restraining the cargo themselves, but using the downforces they generate to increase the friction between the load and trailer. This is also true with the newer strap carhaulers, it's less the strap holding the car in place and more increasing the tires traction.