DOT Cargo Securement Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FMCSA regulations, what is the minimum number of tiedowns required for cargo that is 5 feet or less in length and weighs 1,100 pounds?
- One tiedown
- Two tiedowns (Correct answer)
- Three tiedowns
- Four tiedowns
Correct answer: Two tiedowns
Cargo 5 feet or less in length and weighing 1,100 lbs or more requires a minimum of two tiedowns.
Question 2: What is the maximum allowable aggregate working load limit (WLL) for all tiedowns used on a load when compared to the cargo's weight?
- 50% of cargo weight (Correct answer)
- Equal to cargo weight
- 1.5 times cargo weight
- Twice the cargo weight
Correct answer: 50% of cargo weight
The aggregate WLL of all tiedowns must be at least 50% of the total weight of the cargo being secured.
Question 3: When inspecting a flatbed carrying steel coils, which securement method is considered the most effective for preventing forward movement?
- Binder chains only
- Cradles or chocks with tiedowns (Correct answer)
- Rubber mats and friction alone
- Cross-chaining without cradles
Correct answer: Cradles or chocks with tiedowns
Cradles or chocks prevent rolling and, combined with tiedowns, provide the best resistance to forward movement for steel coils.
Question 4: How far from the front of the cargo must the first tiedown be placed?
- Within 1 foot
- Within 2 feet
- Within 4 feet (Correct answer)
- Within 10 feet
Correct answer: Within 4 feet
The first and last tiedowns must be placed within 4 feet of the front and rear ends of the cargo.
Question 5: What does the term 'working load limit' (WLL) mean for a tiedown?
- The load at which the tiedown will break
- The maximum load a tiedown is rated to restrain in normal use (Correct answer)
- The load applied during pre-trip inspection
- The combined weight of cargo and tiedown hardware
Correct answer: The maximum load a tiedown is rated to restrain in normal use
WLL is the maximum load a tiedown component is rated to withstand during normal service use.
Question 6: A cargo securement violation is found during a roadside inspection. Under what condition would the driver be placed out of service?
- Any single tiedown is damaged
- Cargo is improperly loaded but all tiedowns are intact
- Securement system is so deficient that it poses an immediate safety threat (Correct answer)
- Cargo exceeds length by more than 6 inches
Correct answer: Securement system is so deficient that it poses an immediate safety threat
Out-of-service criteria require that the securement deficiency poses an immediate threat to public safety.
Question 7: When securing logs on a truck, which requirement applies to the front-end structure?
- No front-end structure is required for short logs
- A front-end structure or equivalent is required to prevent forward movement (Correct answer)
- Logs may be secured using only side boards
- A front-end structure is only required when load exceeds 20,000 lbs
Correct answer: A front-end structure or equivalent is required to prevent forward movement
Logs loaded lengthwise must be prevented from moving forward, requiring a front-end structure or equivalent restraint.
DOT Cargo Securement Requirements 2
Under FMCSA regulations, what is the minimum number of tiedowns required for cargo that is 5 feet or less in length and weighs 1,100 pounds?