CDL Practice Tests: Flatbed Cargo Securement
Choose A Section:
Go!When securing building materials, how many tiedowns are required for top tier bundles longer than 5 ft?
- 2
- 0
- 1
- It depends on weight
Tiedowns over the top tier of bundles with a minimum of 2 tiedowns over each top bundle longer than 1.52 m (5 ft).
When securing paper rolls on a flatbed or curtainside vehicle, it is acceptable to stack rolls with eyes vertical:
- When using tiedowns that wrap twice around the load.
- Stacking rolls with eyes vertical is not acceptable
- When total weight is less than 5,000 lbs.
- When temperature is 63 degrees F or more.
Special Circumstances: Loading and Securing Paper Rolls on a Flatbed Vehicle or a Curtain-Sided Vehicle
Requirements for eyes vertical or with eyes horizontal and lengthwise
Load and secure the paper rolls as described for a sided vehicle.
Attach tiedowns to secure entire load according to the general cargo securement requirements in Section 2.
Note: Stacked loads of paper rolls with eyes vertical are prohibited
The term 'edge protector' refers to:
- 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.
- A rail along the side of a vehicle that protects the side of the vehicle from impacts.
- A vertical barrier placed directly behind the cab of a tractor to protect the cab in the event cargo should shift forward.
- A structure, device, or another substantial article placed against an article to prevent it from tipping that may also prevent it from shifting.
Edge protector:
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.
What is the minimum WLL of a tiedown used to secure logs?
- 50% of cargo weight
- 1,800 lb
- 4,000 lb
- It depends on if you are hauling shortwood or longwood
- 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.
When securing rows of coils, requirements include all of the following except:
- Attach at least one tiedown over the top of each coil or side-by-side row, located near the front of the coil.
- Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.
- Attach at least one tiedown over the top of each coil or side-by-side row, located near the rear of the coil.
- Attach at least one tiedown through the center of each row of coils.
Tiedowns
Attach at least one tiedown over the top of each coil or side-by-side row, located near the front of the coil.
Attach at least one tiedown over the top of each coil or side-by-side row, located near the rear of the coil.
Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.
Specific cargo securement rules on automobiles and light trucks apply to vehicles of what weight?
- It depends on what the vehicle is used for.
- 10,000 lbs or less
- 4,500 lbs or less
- 12,000 lbs or less
What Does This Section Cover?
The requirements in this section apply to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans that individually weigh 4500 kg (10,000 lb.) or less.
When securing paper rolls with eyes horizontal, which of the following should be used to secure the rear-most roll?
- Wedges or chocks secured by some means in addition to friction.
- Secure blocking against rear doors.
- All of these are acceptable
- Secure roll against rear doors.
Note: Chocks, Wedges, or Blocking Securing the Front or Rear Roll - Hold in place by some means in addition to friction so they cannot become unintentionally unfastened or loose while the vehicle is in transit. This is often accomplished with nails.
Requirements for eyes crosswise: secure rearmost roll
Do not secure the rearmost roll with:
- Either the rear doors of the vehicle or intermodal container
- Or blocking held in place by those doors.
While driving, the freight must not:
- Obscure the driver's view ahead, left, or right.
- All of these things should be avoided.
- Prevent the exit of a person from the cab.
- Interfere with the free movement of the driver's arms or legs.
- Obscure the driver's view ahead or to the right or left sides (except for drivers of self-steer dollies).
- Interfere with the free movement of the driver's arms or legs.
- Prevent the driver's free and ready access to accessories required for emergencies. OR
- Prevent the free and ready exit of any person from the commercial motor vehicle's cab or driver's compartment.
Concrete pipe loaded crosswise generally:
- All of these things apply.
- At least one tiedown through the rear pipe of the bottom tier must run forward at an angle not more than 45 with the horizontal when viewed from the side of the vehicle, when ever practical.
- Note: At least one tiedown through the front pipe of the bottom tier must run rearward at an angle not more than 45 with the horizontal when viewed from the side of the vehicle, when ever practical.
- Concrete pipe with an inside diameter up to 1.143 m (45 in) can form a complete single tier on a typical flatbed vehicle. Larger pipe often can only be carried as a partial tier.
Special Circumstances: Securing Pipe with an Inside Diameter Up to 1.143 mm (45 in)
Concrete pipe with an inside diameter up to 1.143 m (45 in) can form a complete single tier on a typical flatbed vehicle. Larger pipe often can only be carried as a partial tier.
Note: This pipe diameter of 1.143 m (45 in) is simply a convenient breaking point between "medium" and "large" diameter pipe.
Note: At least one tiedown through the front pipe of the bottom tier must run rearward at an angle not more than 45 with the horizontal when viewed from the side of the vehicle, when ever practical.
At least one tiedown through the rear pipe of the bottom tier must run forward at an angle not more than 45 with the horizontal when viewed from the side of the vehicle, when ever practical.
As part of the log packing requirements:
- Outer bottom logs must be in contact with and rest solidly against bunks, bolsters, stakes, or standards.
- The center of the highest log on each side or end must be above the top of each stake, bunk, or standard.
- Logs must be loosely packed.
- Each inside log on the side of a stack of logs must touch at least two bunks, bolsters, stakes, or standards.
Packing requirements
- Logs must be solidly packed.
- Outer bottom logs must be in contact with and rest solidly against bunks, bolsters, stakes, or standards.
-
Each outside log on the side of a stack of logs must touch at least two bunks, bolsters, stakes, or standards. If one end of the log doesn't touch a stake:
- It must rest on other logs in a stable manner.
- It must extend beyond the stake, bunk, bolster, or standard.
- The center of the highest log on each side or end must be below the top of each stake, bunk, or standard.
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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