When tieing down equipment and hooking trailers wrong kills people

[Gary Fowler]

Speaking of proper chaining, I just passed a heavy hauler with a humongous Volvo rubber tired loader (tires on it were over 8 feet tall) and what I noticed was that it was secured with 4 ea 3/8" chains. Even if they were grade 100 or higher, there is no way that 4 of the 3/8" chains would equal the weight of that equipment. I doubt the chains capacity would even hold the weight of the tires on that machine and yet here he was cruising down I30 at 70 MPH.

 

[DeereMann]

It must have been on a different thread, but you guys spurred me to buy these for my UTV..........

ATV Tire Bonnets - Set of Two

A similar product here..................

Wheel Net with Twisted Snap Hook - Car Tie Downs | USCargoControl

When hauling vehicles that have suspenstion systems, it is important to tie down the unsuspended components (wheels) - otherwise strapping the bouncing suspended body causes straps to snap, or break, or loosen, or bounce off.

Since tractors don't have suspensions, no issue with straps / binder chains there.

 

[Shenandoah]

Speaking of proper chaining, I just passed a heavy hauler with a humongous Volvo rubber tired loader (tires on it were over 8 feet tall) and what I noticed was that it was secured with 4 ea 3/8" chains. Even if they were grade 100 or higher, there is no way that 4 of the 3/8" chains would equal the weight of that equipment. I doubt the chains capacity would even hold the weight of the tires on that machine and yet here he was cruising down I30 at 70 MPH.

Actually, the FMCSA states, "The aggregate working load limit of any securement system used to secure an article or group of articles against movement must be at least one-half the weight of the article or group of articles."

But I'm with you, I think loads should be 'radically' secured. My big trailer is just a 20' 10k unit but I carry 5/16th chain with 3/8" binders, welded on 4400# D-rings, and also have those 5K strap winches with 4" straps for my loads, depending on the loads. I like the peace of mind...

 

[Tea4me]

Almost every load you see on a semi is not secured in a way to prevent it from becoming unsecured in an accident. I don't even think laws are written to prevent a load from coming unsecured during an accident.

Actually yes there is. I drive truck and have hauled almost everything you can imagine. Some things you can't secure how you would like to because of damages that occurs during securment. DOT is rather strict on keeping the roads save now days but not everything being ship is safe to haul. I always hated to haul 46k pounds of drywall because you can't tighten down the straps... just like vynal siding and fencing. Gotta drive the load but like all professions, there's always some that take short cuts and not do their job correctly.

 

[CalG]

Not too many years ago there was a fatal wreck when a roll of paper came off a trailer on a steep dowhill bend. the fatal was in the auto coming up the hill being struck by the free rolling paper. The roll was 8 feet dia, and a bit longer than that, so no small piece of cellulose.

The conjecture was if the roll had not broke free, would the full loaded trailer not come around? Either way, the uphill lane would have been instant death. I'm not sure if it would matter if you were struck by the loader alone, or the loader trailer combination. both are mighty lethal.

 

[FatTire]

We had a incident out here at the coast where someone was pulling an ATV to the dunes resulting in a severe collision. Dodge Ram pulling one of those small utility trailers with a 4 seater Polaris RZR as a load. Looks like the trailer was too small and unbalanced and maybe improper hitch height or ball size and started fishtailing and then broke loose going into oncoming traffic and collided with a Toyota Sienna where upon impact the RZR broke loose from trailer and impacted the front of the van with the side of the RZR taking out the front row seats of the van. This resulted in a double fatality. I heard this dispatched on radio and the facts were not clear exactly until the troopers got on scene.

Here is a link to one of the news stories with pictures

Terrible accident just north of Waldport Two Yachats women killed ｻ News Lincoln County

I hope that this will prompt people to take steps to inform some of these uneducated people about properly securing equipment or heavy equipment to trailers when it is observed. I have personally observed an RTV held by one 300lb rated rachet strap across the floor board.


David Kb7uns

David- Any chance you could find out why the trailer disconnected? Broken coupler? Coupler not closed? No safety chains?

 

[buickanddeere]

Father-Inlaw had a sad incident to attend. Husband and wife on a Motorcycle met a vehicle pulling a trailer with plywood as cargo. A sheet of plywood flipped off and did a frizby over the bike driver's helmet. Husband said to wife " wow that was close" but she wouldn't answer on the two way helmet radio communication . Biker pulled over and the wife wouldn't get off the bike and stayed leaning against his back. Husband turned around and found her helmet gone and from her forehead up missing.

 

[ray66v]

You can't just secure things, so they don't fall off the truck, or trailer, That is a common mistake.

Throwing a bag of concrete on top of the load, or some carelessly placed tie downs may keep it from falling off.

It doesn't always keep it from flying off, when the truck, or trailer is involved in an accident.

If it does, even if the wreck isn't your fault, you will become liable.

I doubt anyone was ever sued, for over securing a load. I know no one has ever been convicted.

 

[bdog]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but you may still find yourself in trouble.

Last year, my cousin was given a ticket for an "unsecured load." The officer was a La State Policeman "Truck Safety" guy. (aka: DOT, Weight watcher)
Load was a CAT D3 dozer on a 12 ton g/n trailer, pulled by a Dodge 1 ton truck. Had two 4" nylon straps on it. (his trailer has the big strap winches, just like a 18-wheeler trailer) One strap across the C-frame and another across the floorboard. Straps were rated at 40,000 pounds each. The kind officer pointed out that it must be tied down with two chains.

BTW, this is the same officer that wrote me a ticket because my Kenworth had one brake that was 1/8" out of adjustment.

I know I am replying to a two year old post but I have never seen 40k rated straps. That may be the breaking strength but I have 4" straps on a winch track down the side of my step deck and the WLL of a 4" strap commonly seen on semi's is 5,400'. A strap with a 40k WLL would likely be over two feet wide.

Where they likely got him was any equipment over 10k requires a minimum of four tie downs. One on each corner. Under 10k two will suffice provided the WLL requirements are met.

 

[bcp]

Strongest 4 inch strap a quick search found:

BlackLine 4"x3' Winch Strap w/ 2, lb Black Flat Hook

Specifications
Working Load Limit: 6,670 LBS
Assembly Break Strength: 20,000 LBS
Overall Width x Length: 4" x 30'

Component Information:
Webbing Color: Black & Gray
Webbing Break Strength: 24,000 lbs.
Hooks: Black Flat Hook

Description
Our 4" BlackLine heavy duty tie downs for flatbed trailers have a webbing break strength of 24,000 lbs. and a 20,000 lbs. assembly break strength- the strongest available on the market.