CDL Practice Tests: Flatbed Cargo Securement
Choose A Section:
Go!In cargo securement, a wedge is defined as:
- A rail along the side of a vehicle that protects the side of the vehicle from impacts.
- A tapered piece of material, thick at one end and thin at the other, used to help keep cargo from moving.
- A short piece of material, usually wood, nailed to the deck to reinforce blocking.
- The depression formed between two cylindrical articles when they are laid with their eyes horizontal and parallel against each other.
Wedge:
A tapered piece of material, thick at one end and thin at the other, used to help keep cargo from moving.
What is the minimum weight of a shipment of paper rolls that would require specific securement requirements?
- 10,000 lbs
- It depends on how they're loaded
- 5,000 lbs
- 2,268 lbs
The rules in this section apply to shipments of paper rolls, which individually or together, weigh 2268 kg (5000 lb.) or more.
Note: Shipments of paper rolls that weigh less than 2268 kg (5000 lb.), and paper rolls that are unitized on a pallet may either be secured in accordance this section or with the general cargo securement requirements
What is the minimum requirement for securing roll-off and hook containers?
- Two hooks, or an equivalent mechanism, securing both sides of the container to the vehicle chassis.
- One tiedown attached to both the vehicle chassis and the container chassis.
- Two tiedowns installed lengthwise, each securing one side of the container to one of the vehicle's side rails.
- All of these are acceptable.
Secure to the rear of the vehicle with at least one of the following three mechanisms:
-
Rear Mechanism 1:
One tiedown attached to both the vehicle chassis and the container chassis.
-
Rear Mechanism 2:
Two tiedowns installed lengthwise, each securing one side of the container to one of the vehicle's side rails.
-
Rear Mechanism 3:
Two hooks, or an equivalent mechanism, securing both sides of the container to the vehicle chassis at least as effectively as the tiedowns in the two previous items.
'Blocking' is defined as:
- A structure, device, or another substantial article placed against or around an article to prevent horizontal movement of the article.
- A tapered or wedge-shaped piece used to secure round articles against rolling.
- A rail along the side of a vehicle that protects the side of the vehicle from impacts.
- A vertical barrier across the front of the deck of a vehicle to prevent forward movement of cargo.
Blocking:
A structure, device, or another substantial article placed against or around an article to prevent horizontal movement of the article.
Who is responsible for inspecting securing devices and cargo within the first 50 miles?
- The driver.
- The shipper.
- Your Moms.
- The D.O.T.
Inspect Cargo and Securing devices:
- Pre-Trip: Yes
- Within first 50 mi: Yes
- When duty status of driver changes: Yes
- At 3 hour intervals or every 150 mi, whichever is first: Yes
When securing building materials, spacer requirements include all of the following except:
- The length of spacers must provide support to all pieces in the bottom row of the bundle.
- Spacers must provide good interlayer friction.
- The height of each spacer must be equal or greater than the width.
- If spacers are comprised of layers of material, the layers must be unitized or fastened together to ensure that the spacer performs as a single piece of material.
Spacer Requirements
- The length of spacers must provide support to all pieces in the bottom row of the bundle.
- The width of each spacer must be equal or greater than the height.
- Spacers must provide good interlayer friction.
- If spacers are comprised of layers of material, the layers must be unitized or fastened together to ensure that the spacer performs as a single piece of material.
To secure paper rolls with eyes horizontal against rearward movement, you can use which of the following except:
- Friction mats.
- The vehicle wall.
- Other cargo.
- Blocking.
Direction of Potential Movement: Rearward
Methods to Prevent Movement:
- Other cargo
- Blocking
- Fiction mats
- Tiedowns
When securing concrete pipe with a diameter of more than 45 inches loaded crosswise, how many tiedowns are required through each pipe at minimum?
- 3
- 2
- 1
- It depends on the weight of the pipe.
Requirements for securing the pipe
Secure each pipe with tiedowns through the pipe.
Run at least one tiedown through each pipe in the front half of the load. This includes the middle one if there are an odd number. The tiedown must run rearward at an angle not more than 45° with the horizontal when viewed from the side of the vehicle, whenever practicable.
Run at least one tiedown through each pipe in the rear half of the load. The tiedown must run forward at an angle not more than 45° with the horizontal when viewed from the side of the vehicle, whenever practicable. This holds each pipe firmly in contact with adjacent pipe.
How much force is the securement system required to withstand in terms of cargo weight?
- 80% forward, 50% rearward, 50% sideways, 20% upwards.
- 50% forward, 50% rearward, 50% sideways, 80% upwards.
- 80% forward, 50% rearward, 80% sideways, 20% upwards.
- 50% forward, 20% rearward, 50% sideways, 20% upwards.
How strong must the vehicle structure and anchor points be?
All elements of the vehicle structure and anchor points must be strong enough to withstand the forces described on page 7.
- Forward force: 0.8 g (80%)
- Rearward force: 0.5.g (50%)
- Sideways force: 0.5 g (50%)
- Upward force: 0.2 g (20%)
When securing paper rolls with eyes horizontal, which of the following should be used to secure the rear-most roll?
- Secure roll against rear doors.
- All of these are acceptable
- Secure blocking against rear doors.
- Wedges or chocks secured by some means in addition to friction.
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.
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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