CDL Practice Tests: Flatbed Cargo Securement
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Go!Specific securement methods are required for boulders that:
- Weigh more than 5,000 lbs, or have a volume of more than 4 cubic meters.
- Weigh more than 5,000 lbs, or have a volume of more than 1.25 cubic meters.
- Weigh more than 11,000 lbs, or have a volume of more than 2 cubic meters.
- Have more than five distinct sides.
The requirements in this section apply to any piece of natural, irregularly shaped rock that:
Weighs more than 5,000 kg (11,000 lb.) or has a volume greater than two cubic meters
Is transported on an open vehicle or in a vehicle whose sides are not designed and rated for the transportation of boulders.
What is the minimum WLL of a tiedown used to secure logs?
- 4,000 lb
- 1,800 lb
- It depends on if you are hauling shortwood or longwood
- 50% of cargo weight
- Use tiedowns in combination with bunks, stakes, or standards and bolsters to secure the load.
- All tiedowns must have a working load limit not less than 1,800 kg (4,000 lb.).
- Tension tiedowns as tightly as possible but not beyond their working load limit.
A stack of shortwood loaded lengthwise can be secured with one tiedown if:
- All logs in the stack are less than 10 ft long.
- All of these apply.
- They are blocked in the front by a headboard or another stack of logs.
- They are blocked in the back by the vehicle's end structure or another stack of logs.
One tiedown
A stack can be secured with one tiedown if all logs in the stack less than 3.04 m (10 ft) are:
- Blocked in the front by a headboard strong enough to restrain the load or by another stack of logs.
- Blocked in the rear by the vehicle's end structure or another stack of logs.
When securing building materials, how many tiedowns are required for top tier bundles longer than 5 ft?
- 1
- 2
- It depends on weight
- 0
Tiedowns over the top tier of bundles with a minimum of 2 tiedowns over each top bundle longer than 1.52 m (5 ft).
A female housing fixed to the side or ends of a vehicle to receive a stake or peg, and may also be used as an anchor point is a:
- Void filler
- Cleat
- Stake pocket
- Bulkhead
Stake Pocket:
A female housing fixed to the side or ends of a vehicle to receive a stake or peg, and may also be used as an anchor point.
When loaded cement pipe over 45 inches in diameter, which pipes should be blocked, wedged, or otherwise immobilized?
- Front and rear.
- Front only.
- It depends on the weight of the load.
- Rear only.
Immobilize the front and rear pipe with on of the following methods:
- Blocking
- Wedges
- Vehicle end structure
- Stakes
- Locked pipe unloader
- Other equivalent means
Banding is:
- A device placed on the exposed edge of an article to distribute tiedown forces over a larger area of cargo than the tiedown itself, to protect the tie-down and/or cargo from damage, and to allow the tiedown to slide freely when being tensioned.
- Material used to fill a void between articles of cargo and the structure of the vehicle that has sufficient strength to prevent movement of the articles of cargo.
- A strip of material that may be used to unitize articles and is tensioned and clamped or crimped back upon itself. (same as "Strapping")
- A combination of securing devices which form an assembly that attaches cargo to, or restrains cargo on, a vehicle or trailer, and is attached to anchor point(s).
Banding:
A strip of material that may be used to unitize articles and is tensioned and clamped or crimped back upon itself. (same as "Strapping")
What is the minimum amount of rearward force that a cargo securement system must withstand?
- 100% of cargo weight
- 50% of cargo weight
- 20% of cargo weight
- 80% of cargo weight
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.
- This requirement is satisfied when the cargo is "Fully Contained."
As part of their pre-trip cargo securement inspection, drivers should:
- All of these apply.
- Make sure cargo is properly secured.
- Check for anything that will obscure their vision.
- Inform carrier of any inadequate packaging.
Driver inspection checklist:
Pre-Trip
- Make sure that cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured (in other words, according to the Standard).
- Make sure that all securement equipment and vehicle structures are in good working order and used consistent with their capability.
- Stow vehicle equipment.
- Make sure that nothing obscures front and side views or interferes with the ability to drive the vehicle or respond in an emergency.
-
Inform carrier if packaging is not adequate. For example:
- Banding is loose or not symmetrical on package.
- Banding attachment device(s) are inefficient.
- Wrapping is broken or ineffective.
- Pallets are broken.
When securing paper rolls with eyes vertical in a sided vehicle all of the following are acceptable except:
- Placing rolls against the doors.
- Placing the rolls against each other.
- Placing rolls against the front and walls of the vehicle.
- Placing the rolls against other cargo.
- Place paper rolls together in a group so that the structure of the group can be maintained.
- Place paper rolls against:
- The front and walls of the vehicle
- Each other
- Other cargo
About The Flatbed Cargo Securement CDL Manual
Studying the flatbed cargo securement CDL manual is not a requirement for getting your CDL permit or license. It is required knowledge for flatbed drivers.
Some questions you should be able to answer for flatbed cargo securement:
- What is the minimum Working Load Limit of a tiedown used to secure logs?
- What is the minimum weight of a shipment of paper rolls that would require specific securement requirements?
- When securing concrete pipe over 45 inches loaded crosswise, which direction must the tiedowns on the front half of the load run?
- What is a cab shield?
- When securing concrete pipe over 45 inches loaded crosswise, which direction must the tiedowns on the rear half of the load run?
- What is a dunnage bag?
- Who is responsible for inspecting securing devices and cargo within the first 50 miles?
- How many tiedowns are required on a stack of shortwood loaded crosswise?
- What is the minimum working load limit of each tiedown used to secure crushed or flattened vehicles?
- Define 'bolster'
- What is a hook-lift container?
- When a tiedown is attached directly to the cargo, what is the ideal angle where it attached to the vehicle?
What is a securing device?
Any device specifically manufactured to attach or secure cargo to a vehicle or trailer:
- Synthetic Webbing
- Chain
- Wire rope
- Manila rope
- Synthetic rope
- Steel strapping
- Clamps and latches
- Blocking
- Front-end structure
- Grab hooks
- Binders
- Shackles
- Winches
- Stake pockets
- D-rings
- Webbing ratchet
- Bracing
- Friction mat
What is a tiedown?
A combination of securing devices that forms an assembly that:
- Attaches cargo to, or restrains cargo on a vehicle.
- Is attached to anchor point(s).
Some tiedowns are attached to the cargo and provide direct resistance to restrain the cargo from movement.
Some tie-downs pass over or through the cargo. They create a downward force that increases the effect of friction between the cargo and the deck. This friction restrains the cargo.
Related Cargo Securement Terms That Every Driver Should Know:
-
Tiedown:
A combination of securing devices which form an assembly that attaches cargo to, or restrains cargo on, a vehicle or trailer, and is attached to anchor point(s).
-
Contained:
Cargo is contained if it fills a sided vehicle, and every article is in contact with or sufficiently close to a wall or other articles so that it cannot shift or tip if those other articles are also unable to shift or tip.
-
Blocking:
A structure, device, or another substantial article placed against or around an article to prevent horizontal movement of the article.
How should tiedowns be attached?
Tiedowns can be used in two ways:
-
Attached to the cargo:
- Tiedowns attached to the vehicle and attached to the cargo.
- Tiedowns attached to the vehicle, pass through or aroundan article of cargo, and then are attached to the vehicle again.
-
Pass over the cargo:
- Tiedowns attached to the vehicle, passed over the cargo, and then attached to the vehicle again.
Tiedown placement:
Place the tiedown as close as possible to the spacer.
Position the tiedowns as symetrically as possible over the length of the article.
Position the tiedowns to preserve the integrity of the article.
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