CDL Practice Tests: Flatbed Cargo Securement
Choose A Section:
Go!What types of freight need to be secured properly?
- Equipment used for vehicle operation.
- All freight should always be properly secured while driving.
- Hazardous materials.
- Intermodal containers.
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Any cargo and dangerous goods/hazardous materials, including:
- All general freight.
- All equipment carried for vehicle operation.
- Intermodal containers and their contents.
- Some specific commodities have additional or different securement requirements (see later sections of this Handbook).
- Additional requirements under separate regulations may also apply for transportation of certain types of dangerous goods or hazardous materials.
Cargo
The Aggregate Working Load Limit should, at minimum, be:
- Determined by the shipper.
- 50% of the weight of the cargo.
- 100% of the weight of the cargo.
- 80% of the weight of the cargo.
How much should the Aggregate Working Load Limit be?
The aggregate working load limit of any securement system must be at least 50% of the weight of the cargo being secured.
As part of their pre-trip cargo securement inspection, drivers should:
- Inform carrier of any inadequate packaging.
- Make sure cargo is properly secured.
- All of these apply.
- Check for anything that will obscure their vision.
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.
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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.
Working Load Limit (WLL)is defined as:
- The maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system during normal service, usually assigned by the manufacturer of the component.
- The number of hours that a tiedown can be used.
- The summation of the working load limits or restraining capacity of all devices used to secure an article on a vehicle.
- The acceleration due to gravity, 9.823 m/sec2 (32.2 ft/sec2).
Working Load Limit (WLL):
The maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system during normal service, usually assigned by the manufacturer of the component.
What is the minimum aggregate WLL of all tiedowns in a group of concrete pipe?
- 80% of the total weight of all pipes in the group.
- 5,000 lbs.
- It depends on the size of the pipe.
- More than 50% of the total weight of all pipes in the group.
General tiedown requirements
The aggregate working load limit of all tiedowns on any group of pipe must be more than half the total weight of all pipes in the group.
Methods of securing building materials against forward motion include:
- Placing bundles against the bulkhead or front end.
- Using tiedowns.
- These are all valid methods.
- Employing blocking equipment.
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Option #1
Place bundles against bulkhead/front end structure.
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Option #2
When different tiers need to be secured, use a combination of blocking equipment and tiedowns.
A dunnage bag is:
- A waterproof sheet used to cover cargo.
- A transverse load bearing structural component, particularly a part of a log bunk.
- An inflatable bag intended to fill otherwise empty space between articles of cargo, or between articles of cargo and the wall of the vehicle.
- A structure, device, or another substantial article placed against or around an article to prevent horizontal movement of the article.
Dunnage bag:
An inflatable bag intended to fill otherwise empty space between articles of cargo, or between articles of cargo and the wall of the vehicle.
The load carrying area of a truck, trailer, or intermodal container is referred to as the:
- Well
- Deck
- Bulkhead
- Headboard
Deck:
The load carrying area of a truck, trailer, or intermodal container.
An anchor point is defined as:
- A vertical barrier across the front of the deck of a vehicle to prevent forward movement of cargo.
- Part of the structure, fitting, or attachment on a vehicle or cargo to which a tiedown is attached.
- The load carrying area of a truck, trailer, or intermodal container.
- A rail along the side of a vehicle that protects the side of the vehicle from impacts.
Anchor point:
Part of the structure, fitting, or attachment on a vehicle or cargo to which a tiedown is attached.
When securing metal coils, it is acceptable to use nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure:
- Nailed wood cradles
- Chocks
- It is not acceptable.
- Timbers
The use of nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure timbers, chocks or wedges, or a nailed wood cradle, is prohibited.
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).
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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.
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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.
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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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