CDL Practice Tests: Flatbed Cargo Securement
Choose A Section:
Go!If loading and securing paper rolls on a second layer:
- Make sure heavier rolls are on top.
- Lay the second layer horizontally.
- Stack the second layer at the back.
- Be sure the bottom layer extends to the front of the vehicle.
Stacked Loads
- Load paper rolls on a second layer only if the bottom layer extends to the front of the vehicle.
-
Prevent forward, rearward, or side-to-side movement:
- Either by the same means required for the bottom layer
- Or by the use of a blocking roll from a lower layer.
- A roll in the rearmost row of any layer must not be raised using dunnage.
When securing metal coils in a sided vehicle without anchor points:
- Use friction mats
- Follow general cargo securement requirements
- Use locking and bracing
- All of these apply
Securing Coils Transported in a Sided Vehicle or Intermodal Container without Anchor Points
To prevent metal coils from moving horizontally and/or tipping:
Follow general cargo securement requirements
Secure the coils using:
- Blocking and bracing
- Friction mats
- A combination of these.
The maximum distance from the rear allowed for attaching mechanisms used to secure roll-on/roll-off containers is:
- 6 1/2 feet
- 3 feet
- It doesn't matter.
- 2 feet
Attach mechanisms used to secure the rear end of a roll-on/roll-off or hook lift container no more than two meters (6.5 feet) from the rear of the container.
Within the requirements for concrete pipe, which of these requires specific securement methods?
- Concrete pipe loaded in a sided vehicle or container.
- Concrete pipe eyes vertical and concrete pipe loaded lengthwise.
- Concrete pipe loaded cross-wise on a flatbed trailer.
- Concrete pipe that is grouped together into a single rigid article and may not roll.
What is exempt from these specific requirements?
Follow general cargo securement requirements (Section 2) when transporting the following pipe:
- Concrete pipe that is grouped together into a single rigid article and may not roll.
- Concrete pipe loaded in a sided vehicle or container.
- Concrete pipe eyes vertical and concrete pipe loaded lengthwise.
What is covered under these specific requirements?
Any concrete pipe loaded crosswise on a platform trailer or vehicle that is not exempt.
In what circumstance can shortwood be treated as longwood?
- Right after it is cut down.
- When it is stacked long-ways on the trailer.
- When it is embedded in a stack of longwood.
- When it is painted green on the ends.
What's in a stack?
Some stacks may be made up of both shortwood and longwood. Any stack that includes shortwood must follow the shortwood securement requirements.
Exception: If shortwood is embedded in load of longwood, it can be treated as longwood.
Specific securement methods are required for boulders that:
- Weigh more than 11,000 lbs, or have a volume of more than 2 cubic meters.
- Have more than five distinct sides.
- 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.
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.
Which of the following is not true of Working Load Limit (WLL)?
- The Working Load Limit is the maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system.
- All of these are true.
- The minimum WLL requirement for the securement system is 25%.
- The WLL is usually assigned by the component manufacturer.
The Working Load Limit is the maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system during normal service.
The WLL is usually assigned by the component manufacturer.
Note: The minimum WLL requirement for the securement system is 50%. More tiedown capacity should be used if you need to secure an article against any movement.
In case of low friction between the cargo and deck, which of these is not a solution?
- Set the cargo on friction mats.
- Put something heavy on top of the cargo.
- Attach tiedowns to the cargo.
- Use some kind of blocking.
What should you use in low-friction situations?
When there is low friction between the cargo and the deck (for example, with snow, ice, sand, gravel, and oil):
- Use tiedowns attached to the cargo.
- Use a means to improve the friction such as friction mats or tiedown that pass over the cargo.
- Use blocking and tiedowns.
Which of the following are covered by the specific log securement requirements?
- All of these can be handled according to general cargo securement rules.
- Logs unitized by banding or other comparable means.
- Loads of no more than four processed logs.
- Firewood, stumps, debris, other short logs, and longer logs.
Exceptions to the specific requirements
The following types of logs are not covered by the specific logs requirements:
- Logs unitized by banding or other comparable means. [Secure according to general cargo securement requirements.]
- Loads of no more than four processed logs. [Secure according to general cargo securement requirements.]
- Firewood, stumps, debris, other short logs, and longer logs. [Transport in a vehicle or container enclosed on both sides, the front, and the rear and strong enough to contain them.]
Methods of securing building materials against forward motion include:
- Employing blocking equipment.
- Using tiedowns.
- Placing bundles against the bulkhead or front end.
- These are all valid methods.
-
Option #1
Place bundles against bulkhead/front end structure.
-
Option #2
When different tiers need to be secured, use a combination of blocking equipment and tiedowns.
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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