Equipment Tie-down Question

[Furu]

I did not find a direct answer to my question in a search so will try a post.
Of course there are two sides to it, the safety issue and the legal issue which most likely varies by state to a degree.


For non-commercial hauling, private/farm use.

Are transport grade 70 or better chains required to tie down legally. Can one use grade 43 chains with higher strength capability legally?

Using 4 chains to tie-down the unit what is the minimum chain and binder rating? 25% of total weight since each is carrying 25% of the load (assuming no chain breaks) or a 100% safety factor so each chain is rated at 50% of unit weight? Yes, I know a chain's working rating is different than their limit rating so I am talking working rating only here.

I have been using 5400 lb grade 43 chain with 5400 lb binders and wonder if I am undersized for my load. I see a lot of commercial folks with grade 70 4700 lb rated chain using 5400 lb binders with loads larger than mine but that does not make it correct.

For those that know the answer let the discussion begin.

 

[crash325]

Legal & Practical do not always match.
You didn't say how heavy the load you are talking about, be nice to know.

Best look the Department of Transportation in your state and go by it if you are going to travel on the highway.

:2cents:

 

[Furu]

The weight of the load is not germane to the question as to what the rules and regs are. Once you have the reference you can calculate for any weight load.

Got a PM from an individual that answered all questions and gave a reference
Aggregate working load limit for tiedowns - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
since my state employees seem unable to find the information when you call their offices.

 

[Ken45101]

The federal requirement are primarily on the rear chains. You can use any grade chain you want, even ungraded chain, as long as it has a high enough working load limit.

However, lower graded chains have a lower WLL so you would have to use heavier chain if you use grade 43 or ungraded chain than if you used G70. But as long as the chains you use have an adequate WLL, you can use any grade you want.

The above reference is good if you can wade through it. Basically, the two rear chains should have a combined WLL equal to the weight of what you are carrying.

Ken

 

[tcartwri]

The federal requirement are primarily on the rear chains. You can use any grade chain you want, even ungraded chain, as long as it has a high enough working load limit.

This is absolutely not correct.

All of your tie downs, wether they be straps or chain, must be marked with a grade. Unmarked chains, straps, and binders will not fly during an inspection.

 

[Ken45101]

This is absolutely not correct.

All of your tie downs, wether they be straps or chain, must be marked with a grade. Unmarked chains, straps, and binders will not fly during an inspection.

Yes, it is absolutely correct.

Have you read the current FMCSA regulations?

Use of Unmarked Tiedowns
The new rules do not prohibit the use of unmarked tiedown devices. Although many of the participants in the public meetings and numerous commenters to the rulemaking proposal argued the rules should include such a prohibition, FMCSA believes it is inappropriate to prohibit unmarked tiedowns at this time. However, in view of the potential safety hazards of motor carriers misidentifying unmarked tiedowns, there is a provision that unmarked welded steel chain be considered to have a working load limit equal to that of grade 30 proof coil, and other types of unmarked tiedowns be considered to have a working load limit equal to the lowest rating for that type in the table of working load limits.

Right from the FMCSA web page
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Cargo Securement Rules - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Now perhaps YOUR state doesn't follow the federal regs, but the fed regs are what they are.

Ken

 

[tcartwri]

Yes, it is absolutely correct.

Have you read the current FMCSA regulations?



Right from the FMCSA web page
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Cargo Securement Rules - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Now perhaps YOUR state doesn't follow the federal regs, but the fed regs are what they are.

Ken

I can tell you from first hand experience with enforcement officers, that it will not fly. They are the ones you will interact with on the side of the road and the ones that will ruin your day.

Been driving commercially for 25 years.

 

[Ken45101]

I can tell you from first hand experience with enforcement officers, that it will not fly. They are the ones you will interact with on the side of the road and the ones that will ruin your day.

Been driving commercially for 25 years.

Tim,

I've heard that some of the enforcement officers make up their own rules and/or states may vary.

But, in theory at least, those of us hauling our own tractors should not have to worry about enforcement officers in most states since we are not hauling commercially (yes, that varies, in some states non commercial may still be subject to the regulations.)

But from a "what is safe and reasonable" standpoint, I'm happy to follow the federal regs as they are just guidelines for us.

Ken

 

[tcartwri]

I agree, the risk to a non commercial hauler is almost nil.

 

[Dr Dave]

I would use G70, 4 corner tie downs. If backhoe is installed, it must be tied down. Have also heard of tickets issued for front end loader,bucket, not being tied down. There are gray areas in fed regs, depends on officer, and lawyers.:confused2:

 

[rasimmo]

The only regulations that get specific are for commercial use. Noncommercial laws that I have been able to find only say the load has to be secure. The federal regs from the link provided in a previous post says "commercial motor vehicles (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5) operated in interstate commerce". If you fall in this catagory you must follow the regs. If you are not commercial it is not a bad idea to follow them anyway for safety reasons, but not reauired.

 

[Ken45101]

The only regulations that get specific are for commercial use. Noncommercial laws that I have been able to find only say the load has to be secure. The federal regs from the link provided in a previous post says "commercial motor vehicles (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5) operated in interstate commerce". If you fall in this catagory you must follow the regs. If you are not commercial it is not a bad idea to follow them anyway for safety reasons, but not reauired.

Agreed.

But there is another issue: If you have an accident, you will be on a lot safer ground if you are meeting the federal regs rather than having your load tied down with bailing wire.


==========

Okay, I have to tell a little story. We saw a local tow company moving a small motorhome on a rollback without having it tied down at all! :confused2: Sure, they were probably only going a couple of blocks but..... this is the same outfit that had a neighboring city's fire department ladder truck come loose on the highway for a total loss! Hmmmm...... That city's paid fire department was without an aerial truck for a year and had to call on an out of state volunteer department for all major fires.

Ken

 

[rasimmo]

with the way lawsuits are nowadays, you need to take every precaution.

While we are telling stories, a couple weeks ago I saw a guy hauling two tractors on a tandem dual gn trailer. One was a M9540 Kubota with loader, the other was a T100 NH (I think). One was all the way forward on the trailer with bucket on the top of the hitch. the other was loaded backwards with the bucket on the top of the ramps. No straps, chains, or even baling wire holding them on. He was towing that with a 1 ton truck. there is no telling how many laws that thing broke. I just hope he made it where he was going without any problems.

 

[joshuabardwell]

there is no telling how many laws that thing broke. I just hope he made it where he was going without any problems.

It always amazes me what kind of BS people get away with when towing or loading their trucks.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think if I were the guy who got the ticket for not having the FEL tied down I would have asked for a jury trial. The federal regs are clear that a piece of equipment is treated just like a car. Tie off the axles and that is all that is required. I am pretty sure any judge would have thrown out the case by just quoting the regulation. A few photos wouldnt hurt either.
Regarding chains, the regs are also clear that straps and chains must be marked. An unmarked chain is automatically regarded as proof coil grade 30 (lowest grade made) regardless of actual grade. Binders must be rated for the max load that is applied regardless of chain load rating. That is why I have 9200# rated binders to bind my 4000# TLB. and my minimum chain WLL is 5400# so even one chain will hold the max load.

 

[boggen]

living on farm all my life. if it is not farm tuff, then it is a piece of junk.

torn up more chains, cables, straps, bolts, metal, than i care to admit.

in IL there is a catch them all phrase in the laws. ""load must be safely tied down"" for when you get in an accident.

my experience, if i try say 2 small chains vs a larger beefer higher grade chain. the 2 smaller chains rated half of the single large chain. both small chains will break first. before the larger chain.

ya you might have really put your muscle and body weight into tightening things down and perhaps even used a cheater bar to do so. but what ever you have in the bed of pickup truck or on the trailer. when ya get in an accident or hit large bumps, the load will shift and move around on you. and it will not move perfectly. it will cause one chain to loosen and another chain to get tighter. and as soon as you get in an accident. the one smaller chain taking all the weight. is going to bust first, then next one, and so on and so forth. and by the time tractor or what ever you are hauling moment slows down enough, what ever you are hauling is off and out of the pickup or off the trailer.

another thing to think about. smaller rated chains, the metal of the chains are more likely to stretch and individual pieces of the chain will pull apart. on a larger rated chain. the metal is thicker and will require that much more force to physically stretch the metal to point of pulling the chain apart.

i am not real keen on "straps" on some things. half the time hauling junk out that has "sharp edges" that could easily cut through portion of a strap. and weaken the strap enough to break. other times hauling stuff out i really do not want chains to scratch up and dent. and use straps.

 

[creekbend]

I am finding this thread informative. Especially in regards to the FEL bucket issue. It seems that if the FEL and bucket were attached to the tractor, there would be no requirement to secure it if the tractor, itself, was properly and lawfully tied down and secure.Thanks for posting.

 

[Dr Dave]

If you have a boom lock, and pivot lock, on a smaller backhoe and mechanical lock for outriggers, then they dont have to be tied to trailer. On older equiptment, my employer had us add restraint chains, from outriggers to each side of backhoe boom. This keeps outriggers up, backhoe up, and prevent swaying side to side. This was OK with DOT. Mini excavators and large backhoes, have buckets chained to deck. We run front tie down chains over FEL bucket, keeps DOT happy.
Tie down straps loose 25% rated capacity when wet, and if exposed to UV light,or chemicals they are also derated, interesting info, from a Dakota Riggers presentation.

 

[glkingar]

[/QUOTE] hit large bumps, the load will shift and move around on you. and it will not move perfectly. it will cause one chain to loosen and another chain to get tighter. and as soon as you get in an accident. the one smaller chain taking all the weight. is going to bust first, then next one, and so on and so forth. and by the time tractor or what ever you are hauling moment slows down enough, what ever you are hauling is off [/QUOTE]

This is why drivers of flat bed loads are required to check the load often. When I haul my tractor I always check my load about 15 minutes down the road or right after what passes as a road out of our property. Any shifting will happen by then for sure.

 

[Ken45101]

This is why drivers of flat bed loads are required to check the load often. When I haul my tractor I always check my load about 15 minutes down the road or right after what passes as a road out of our property. Any shifting will happen by then for sure.

^^^ What he said.

That too is an advantage of the ratchet type adjusters rather than the boom type. The ratchet types are easier to get tight and easier to take up the slack after a few miles.

Ken