Why four binders?

[n8586m]

So, as I said I would, I loaded up the tractor and headed off to the nearest State Police post as a starter. Once there, I told what I want them to look at. They defered saying that they aren't versed in the motor carrier laws. The desk Sargent then called the nearest Motor Carrier Officer to get his location. We agreed to meet at an off ramp where he would inspect the load. When I met up with the Motor Carrier Officer, I asked him to look at the way the tractor was tied down. He said, " It is secured front and rear, it has an adjustable binder on the rear, it weights less than 10,000 lbs, it meets the requirement of the law." I told him to hold on, the experts at TBN claim that four adjustable binders are required. He repeated " It is secured front and rear, it has an adjustable binder on the rear, it weights less than 10,000 lbs, it meets the requirement of the law. If it was over 10,000 lbs then four binders would indeed be required."

So now we have a quandary, TBNers say four binders and the lowly Motor Carrier Officer ( the person who will be the one to issue any citations for violations) says that what I have is correct. What to do, what to do? I'm going to make a choice but I will let you guess whom I'm going with on this.

Photos showing what was inspected.

 

[n8586m]

One more thing, as Steve McQueen said in his portrayal of Tom Horn, this is my final word on the matter.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

So, as I said I would, I loaded up the tractor and headed off to the nearest State Police post as a starter. Once there, I told what I want them to look at. They defered saying that they aren't versed in the motor carrier laws. The desk Sargent then called the nearest Motor Carrier Officer to get his location. We agreed to meet at an off ramp where he would inspect the load. When I met up with the Motor Carrier Officer, I asked him to look at the way the tractor was tied down. He said, " It is secured front and rear, it has an adjustable binder on the rear, it weights less than 10,000 lbs, it meets the requirement of the law." I told him to hold on, the experts at TBN claim that four adjustable binders are required. He repeated " It is secured front and rear, it has an adjustable binder on the rear, it weights less than 10,000 lbs, it meets the requirement of the law. If it was over 10,000 lbs then four binders would indeed be required."

So now we have a quandary, TBNers say four binders and the lowly Motor Carrier Officer ( the person who will be the one to issue any citations for violations) says that what I have is correct. What to do, what to do? I'm going to make a choice but I will let you guess whom I'm going with on this.

Photos showing what was inspected.

Seems like the only one with a quandary is you I believe it was mentioned earlier that these regulations vary by state so all that really matters is what is required where you live and where you will be using your trailer. Four tie down points w/separate chains are required in PA not sure about the binder portion of your concern but for the record I use four. Happy towing!

 

[firemanpat2910]

well heck, if I had known we were talking about a riding lawn mower, it would have been different. I just put them in the back of mt Super duty and put a ratchet strap on them!

 

[George2615]

So, as I said I would, I loaded up the tractor and headed off to the nearest State Police post as a starter. Once there, I told what I want them to look at. They defered saying that they aren't versed in the motor carrier laws. The desk Sargent then called the nearest Motor Carrier Officer to get his location. We agreed to meet at an off ramp where he would inspect the load. When I met up with the Motor Carrier Officer, I asked him to look at the way the tractor was tied down. He said, " It is secured front and rear, it has an adjustable binder on the rear, it weights less than 10,000 lbs, it meets the requirement of the law." I told him to hold on, the experts at TBN claim that four adjustable binders are required. He repeated " It is secured front and rear, it has an adjustable binder on the rear, it weights less than 10,000 lbs, it meets the requirement of the law. If it was over 10,000 lbs then four binders would indeed be required."

So now we have a quandary, TBNers say four binders and the lowly Motor Carrier Officer ( the person who will be the one to issue any citations for violations) says that what I have is correct. What to do, what to do? I'm going to make a choice but I will let you guess whom I'm going with on this.

Photos showing what was inspected.

The Motor Carrier Officer is correct in what he told you. If under 10K it meets the requirement. I think most TBNers who use 4 chains and binders (like myself) do so as an added measure of safety. Don't forget that any added attachments need to be secured in addition to the tractor. Here is the Federal Motor Carrier link verifying what he told you is true.

Cargo Securement Rules - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

 

[boatyard]

Not attaching the load with any redundancy can only mean that you are unable to believe that you could just one time, sometime down the road, make a mistake or have some piece of equipment break. That would include the chain, the hooks, the attachment point on the trailer or the tractor[ or lawnmower], or the binders that started this thread.
I have never meet a piece of equipment that couldn't break, nor for that matter a human who couldn't make a mistake.
I never figured out why that boat went flying from the wagon. I missed something at the last inspection. The boat had been fine from Mass. to Arizona, and we were heading back east through Texas when it let loose. Redundancy would have solved the missed loose or frayed attachment.
Why is this so hard?

 

[RobertN]

Not so here. California requires four independant ties, one on each corner, adjustable. I have posted it here before. I contacted CHP directly for an answer; got one by phone, and one by email. They do not care if it is a chain/binder, or a ratchet strap. They do, however, want each corner secured independantly, and adjustable(binder on a chain, rachet strap). The chain or strap does need to meet strength requirements.

Ca DOT regs are more stringent than US DOT rules.

So... if you traveled cross country(Interstate) the rules may change when you cross state lines.

So, as I said I would, I loaded up the tractor and headed off to the nearest State Police post as a starter. Once there, I told what I want them to look at. They defered saying that they aren't versed in the motor carrier laws. The desk Sargent then called the nearest Motor Carrier Officer to get his location. We agreed to meet at an off ramp where he would inspect the load. When I met up with the Motor Carrier Officer, I asked him to look at the way the tractor was tied down. He said, " It is secured front and rear, it has an adjustable binder on the rear, it weights less than 10,000 lbs, it meets the requirement of the law." I told him to hold on, the experts at TBN claim that four adjustable binders are required. He repeated " It is secured front and rear, it has an adjustable binder on the rear, it weights less than 10,000 lbs, it meets the requirement of the law. If it was over 10,000 lbs then four binders would indeed be required."

So now we have a quandary, TBNers say four binders and the lowly Motor Carrier Officer ( the person who will be the one to issue any citations for violations) says that what I have is correct. What to do, what to do? I'm going to make a choice but I will let you guess whom I'm going with on this.

Photos showing what was inspected.

 

[KeithInSpace]

..unable to believe that you could just one time, sometime down the road, make a mistake or have some piece of equipment break.

Well, ya!

Kidding.

Why is this so hard?

For me (remember...3,000# Kubota BX TLB) it isn't a matter of it being HARD, it is just a real PITA to have long enough chains (or short enough binders in my case) on all 4 corners for the widely varying conditions under which I tow my tractor. Just yesterday, I moved my tractor rearward on my trailer 4 feet to offset 1,000# of landscaping material I picked up.

With a 2 chain 2 binder system, it was slick as snot to move everything back a notch. Didn't miss a beat.

Just curious: If I was hauling 2 tons of stone (heavier than my tractor), why aren't we having a discussion about the overwhelming need to "bind" that load?

Just trying to keep it real.

 

[Dargo]

OMG!!! I was in so much shock that I didn't get my cell phone camera out in time to get the picture. On the way back from my other property I was following a guy with a new looking JD110 TLB on what appeared to be a 7k utility (had the side rails as part of the strength - i.e. a lawn mower trailer) and it looked like it was moving on the trailer. As we were stopping for a light on Highway 41S I saw for sure that the tractor was moving a bit. I hit the power window on my passenger side to tell the guy that his load was loose but the light turned green and he took off. That is when I noticed that the only thing he had keeping the tractor on the trailer was one of the 1" wide, pull to tighten - like for a dirtbike, strap on the rear and one on the front.

At the next stop light I again tried to get his attention and let him know his new looking tractor appeared to be moving even more on his trailer. Of course, when I got his attention, he flipped me off. That was when I noticed that he had a new temp tag on both his 2009 F150 and his trailer. Based on that, I assume that he had just bought the whole shooting match and was completely new to everything. I just went ahead and powered by him just in case he lost his new tractor off his new trailer.

I mention this because it's for guys like that that I think these laws are in place. I don't know what a JD110 weighs, but I'd venture to guess that it's too heavy for a 7k trailer. I'd bet his straps were rated for about 300 pounds max. He likely figured that with the front bucket down and the brake set that he didn't need to secure his new tractor. It's people like that guy why scare me. Heck, I wonder what towing rating his F150 has for that matter. I was pulling about 15k and I was able to easily drive away from him with my slightly juiced F350 6.0.

 

[Dargo]

It all boils down to how the law is interpreted and enforced by the man with the badge and the gun. As with so many laws, you can argue extenuating circumstances, other viable options, and just "my opinion" until you're blue in the face. When "Smokey" has you sitting along side the road, and he's writing a citation that's longer than the GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL, MY opinion, YOUR opinion, and the next guys opinion matter little......only one that counts? SMOKEY's.

It's the law. Doesn't have to make sense.........Just has to be done that way.

My commercial liability insurance has a provision where certain claims can (and will be) voided if applicable laws are violated. ie.....4 chains, 4 binders, no matter if I think I can do it a better way or not.

Sit down...don't get too shocked, but I agree with you completely. I'm not even crossing my fingers behind my back. There are several things that are 'law' that I may not necessarily agree with, but I abide by them because I don't make a habit of breaking the law; especially when the consequences could be quite severe. Besides, dealing with a law enforcement officer with an attitude is never fun. I just have a suspicion that if someone were to start telling an officer what is and what isn't the law, you'd most likely end up on the losing end. I'm not trying to imply that the original poster has any intentions of breaking the law, but over the years I've seen many here on TBN say that they aren't going to abide by particular laws because they don't make sense to them.