If you haul cargo on a flatbed, you have undoubtedly heard of the 10-foot rule: you need at least one tie-down for every 10 feet of cargo, plus an extra one if the cargo is not placed against a bulkhead.\u00a0 Although this \u201c10-foot rule\u201d (found in 393.10) addresses only how many tie-downs you need, it is generally understood to be a good directive about where to place your tie-downs as well.\u00a0 That is, most drivers believe you must have a tie-down situated within each 10-foot section of the load.\u00a0 As discussed below, that belief is not necessarily true.<\/p>\n
First, let\u2019s look at the rules themselves.\u00a0 In general, the North American Standard Cargo Securement Rules require you to use enough tie-downs so that their combined working load limit (WLL) is equal to at least one-half the weight of the cargo (or the full weight when using \u201cdirect\u201d tie downs).\u00a0 Then, you may need additional tie-downs, based on the cargo\u2019s length and weight, and whether or not the cargo is placed against a bulkhead.\u00a0 If the cargo is prevented from moving forward by being placed against a front-end structure, then you need to use at least one tie-down for every 10 feet or part thereof.<\/p>\n
If your cargo is loaded in a way that it is not prevented from moving forward by a bulkhead or other front-end structure, there are some additional requirements.\u00a0 If the load is 5 feet or shorter and 1,100 lbs. or lighter, use at least one tie-down.\u00a0 If the load is 5 feet or shorter and over 1,100 lbs. then use at least two tie-downs.\u00a0 If the load is between 5 feet and 10 feet, no matter the weight, then use at least two tie-downs.\u00a0 And lastly, if the load is longer than 10 feet, use at least two tie-downs plus one additional tie-down for every additional 10 feet or part thereof.<\/p>\n
So, how is the 10-foot rule enforced in the real world?\u00a0 Historically, the rule has been open to interpretation, with some officers claiming that tie-downs must be positioned every 10 feet no matter what, and\/or that you must have two tie-downs within the first 10 feet if you don\u2019t have a bulkhead.\u00a0 Guidelines from the CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) of which I was a past member, should help clarify the rules and make the enforcement (hopefully) more uniform.\u00a0 The CVSA produces the Out-of-Service (OOS) Criteria, which are used to guide inspectors in determining whether a vehicle is safe to be on the road.\u00a0 The OOS Criteria says that tie-downs can either be spaced 10 feet apart along the length of the vehicle or positioned in every 10-foot segment of the cargo.\u00a0 The criteria also says that tie-downs should be spaced or grouped at lengths greater or less than 10 feet, to accommodate anchor points or prevent cargo damage.<\/p>\n
This guidance is in agreement with the regulations which, again, do not specifically state that tie-downs must be positioned at every 10 feet.\u00a0 Of course, tie-downs should be evenly spaced whenever possible, and having one every 10 feet may make sense in most cases, but at least the CVSA recognizes that sometimes drivers need some flexibility when placing tie-downs.\u00a0 Now is a good time to review your cargo securement practices and make sure your drivers are aware of the 10-foot rule and the enforcement guidelines because cargo securement issues have the highest average per violation of CSA points.<\/p>\n