Handling and Documenting Cargo Flashcards

According to FMCSA general cargo securement rules (49 CFR §393.110), what is the minimum number of tiedowns required for a 25-foot-long piece of equipment that is not blocked or braced to prevent forward movement?

Answer: 4 tiedowns

The rule is two tiedowns for the first 10 feet of length, plus one additional tiedown for each additional 10 feet or fraction thereof. For a 25-foot item, this is 2 (for the first 10 ft) + 1 (for the next 10 ft) + 1 (for the final 5 ft fraction) = 4 tiedowns.

A driver is loading a single, heavy 40,000 lb steel coil onto a flatbed trailer. To ensure stability and legal axle weights, where is the ideal placement for this item?

Answer: Centered over the trailer's axle group or slightly forward of it.

Placing a heavy, concentrated load like a steel coil low and centered over or slightly forward of the trailer's axle group helps maintain a low center of gravity and properly distributes the weight across the axles. This prevents overloads and improves vehicle handling and stability.

When a driver signs the bill of lading for a load they have watched being loaded, what are they legally confirming?

Answer: That the cargo's piece count and description are accurate to the best of their knowledge.

The driver's signature on a bill of lading, especially when they can observe the loading, serves as a receipt. It confirms that the type of freight and the number of pieces listed on the document match what was actually loaded onto the trailer.

Per 49 CFR §392.9, after beginning a trip with a new load, a driver must stop to inspect the cargo and securement devices at what point?

Answer: Within the first 50 miles.

Federal regulations (49 CFR §392.9) mandate that the driver must check their cargo and securement system within the first 50 miles of a trip. This allows for adjustments after the load has had a chance to settle. Subsequent checks are required after 3 hours of driving, 150 miles, or a change in duty status.

You are assigned a pre-loaded trailer with an intact seal and a bill of lading marked 'Shipper Load and Count'. Upon delivery, the receiver breaks the seal and finds a shortage of 10 boxes. Who is generally held responsible?

Answer: The shipper, who loaded and sealed the trailer.

The term "Shipper Load and Count" (SLC) signifies that the shipper, not the driver, loaded the trailer and is responsible for the description and quantity of the items. As long as the seal is delivered intact, the carrier and driver are generally not liable for shortages, as they had no way to inspect the cargo.

Which of the following BEST describes the primary function of using blocking and bracing to secure cargo?

Answer: To prevent the forward, rearward, and lateral sliding of cargo.

Blocking and bracing involves using materials to fill empty space and create physical barriers that prevent cargo from sliding forward, backward, or side-to-side within the transport vehicle. Tiedowns are primarily used to prevent vertical and tipping motions.