- Cargo must be firmly secured on or within a vehicle by structures equipped to hold it, including dunnage (material used for cargo protection) or dunnage bags (inflatable bags used to fill space and prevent cargo shift); tiedowns; and shoring bars
- Cargo that is likely to roll must be restrained by wedges, chocks, or cradles
- Minimum requirements for tiedown restraints
- Special Purpose Vehicle requirements (vehicles carrying items such as heavy machinery, steel or concrete beans, crane booms, and other objects that require special restraining systems)
- Commodity-specific Securement Requirements (such as logs, metal coils, concrete pipe, heavy vehicles and automobiles.
- If a load extends beyond its width or projects beyond the rear of the vehicle by more than four inches, there must be various colored lights to the load to indicate the overhanging to other drivers [3].
Florida Truck Accidents Due To Improper Loading
When it comes to Florida truck accidents and improperly secured cargo, there are laws set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulating the proper way to secure loads. As such these Cargo Securement Rules by the FMCSA have been adapted based on the North American Cargo Securement Standard Model Regulations and have been in place since January of 2004. All of these rules have been carefully designed based off of a multi-year research program that evaluated cargo securement in both the United States and Canada. Every year, hundreds of commercial truck accidents are caused when cargo is improperly loaded or secured. When these federal regulations are violated, there is a serious risk of a trucking accident.
Furthermore, the rules necessitate that all devices used to secure cargo trucks must be functional enough to meet the performance standards set by the agency. The cargo securement rules need drivers and loaders to make sure that truck loads are tied down using a number of items, including: webbing, steel straps, and other devices. Tiedowns must be secure enough, so that they can prevent the cargo from becoming loose and flying off. When cargo is loaded on a truck, it must be perfectly secured with materials to support it or by using inflatable bags to fill up space between the load. These regulations are expected to be understood as every trucker should be instructed by their employer on proper loading techniques and, should be required to have a thorough understanding of the FMCSA guide. Additionally, when it comes to liability, not only is the trucker responsible for the proper loading techniques associated with a safe ride, but also, any other person who has helped load up the vehicle. Both the loader(s) and the truck driver share the responsibility and both may be found accountable in a case that claims improper loading [2].
FMCSA Loading Laws
These are some laws that mandate the proper way to secure items within the cargo load. These laws include: