So you were told that the type of hook that has a little clevis built in and connects the chain with a pin is no longer allowed? Did they say where it specifies that?recently had a equipment customer call in panic had driver stopped in atlanta ga by dot was told and we verified heavy equipment chains must have the hooks as part of chain not clevis pinned our chain supplier has not had this style in years are now in production
IIRC, the requirements call for your tiedowns assemblies to be rated for something like 1.5g of force in a forward direction, 0.8g backward and 0.75g lateral.I also beleive if you ask dot the chain binder requirements will change with weight and i also think the same amount of binder/chains for front and rear binding as one of my customers told me one time not enough hold down will kill you or someone else and make an ugly mess better to be on safe side
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/drivers-handbook-cargo-securement-chapter-1-fundamentals-cargo said:Each cargo securement system must be able to withstand a minimum amount of force in each direction.
Forward Force = 80% of cargo weight when braking while driving straight ahead.
Rearward Force = 50% of cargo weight when accelerating, shifting gears while climbing a hill, or braking in reverse.
Sideways Force = 50% of cargo weight when turning, changing lanes, or braking while turning.
Upward Force = 20% of cargo weight when traveling over bumps in the road or cresting a hill.
I looked through the FMCSA handbook again (Cargo Securement Rules | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and found nothing requiring welded clevises. Looking online, I found many reputable places (such as Fastenal) selling Grade 70 chains with clevis hooks and stating that they meet FMCSA standards. Some examples include: https://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/45001 and Transport Grade 70 - Laclede Chain Manufacturingit seemed from the driver a section directly related to heavy equpiment in the DOT bible and they verified the customer which happens to be hertz equipment in atlanta also have a dump truck heavy equipment company i deal with called him about the situation he was told of this but has yet to be stopped but has ordered all new chains with hooks a part of chain as with most dot stops lots depends on the officer if like most government companies no body there knows for sure about all the regulation anybody on here with dot could you help