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Securing cargo and special loads

General Knowledge3 minManual section 3.3, 3.4

Cargo must be held so it cannot slide, shift or fall. You will use blocking, bracing, tie-downs, a header board and covers. Some loads — dry bulk, hanging meat, livestock and oversized loads — need extra care.

Blocking and bracing

  • Blocking is placed at the front, back and/or sides of cargo to keep it from sliding. It is shaped to fit snugly against the cargo and is fastened to the cargo deck.
  • Bracing also stops cargo movement. It runs from high on the cargo down to the floor and/or walls of the cargo area.

Cargo tie-downs

On flatbeds or trailers without sides, cargo must be secured so it does not shift or fall off. In closed vans, tie-downs can also matter, because shifting cargo can affect handling.

Tie-downs must be the right type and strength. Federal rules say the aggregate working load limit of the securement system for an article or group of articles must be at least one-half (½) the weight of that cargo.

Use proper equipment: ropes, straps, chains and tensioning devices (winches, ratchets, clinching parts). Fasten tie-downs to the vehicle the right way, using hooks, bolts, rails or rings.

  • Use at least 1 tie-down for every 10 feet of cargo.
  • No matter how small the cargo, use at least 2 tie-downs.
  • Example: a 20-foot load needs at least 2.
  • Heavy pieces of metal have special securement rules. Learn them if you will carry such loads.

Header boards and covering cargo

Front-end header boards (“headache racks”) protect you from your cargo if you crash or stop suddenly. Check that this front structure is in good shape and blocks forward movement of any cargo you carry.

There are two basic reasons to cover cargo: to protect people from spilled cargo, and to shield the cargo from the weather. Many states make spill protection a safety requirement — know the laws where you drive.

Every so often, glance at your cargo covers in the mirrors. A flapping cover can tear loose, uncover the cargo, and block your view or someone else's.

Sealed and containerized loads

Containerized loads are usually used when freight travels part of the way by rail or ship. Trucks carry them at the beginning and/or end of the trip. Some containers have their own tie-down devices or locks that attach to a special frame; others go on flatbeds and must be secured like any other cargo.

You cannot inspect a sealed load, but you should check that you do not exceed gross weight and axle weight limits.

Cargo needing special attention

  • Dry bulk tanks: their center of gravity is high and the load is able to shift. Be extremely careful (slow) in curves and sharp turns.
  • Hanging meat (beef, pork, lamb) in a refrigerated truck: a very unstable load with a high center of gravity. Take sharp curves such as on-ramps and off-ramps slowly.
  • Livestock: animals can move around and make handling unsafe. With less than a full load, use false bulkheads to keep them bunched together. Even then, livestock can lean on curves, shifting the center of gravity and making rollover more likely.
  • Oversized loads: over-length, over-width and/or overweight loads need special transit permits. Driving is usually limited to certain times. You may need “wide load” signs, flashing lights, flags, a police escort or pilot vehicles. Drive with special care.
Check your state

Rules on vehicle weight, covering loads and routes for large vehicles differ between states and cities. Check your state manual and the laws where you drive.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 3.3, 3.4

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

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Review questions with answers

  1. Blocking is used to:
    1. Cover the cargo from rain
    2. Lift the cargo off the deck
    3. Keep cargo from sliding, placed snugly at the front, back and/or sides
    4. Lock the trailer doors
    Show answer
    Keep cargo from sliding, placed snugly at the front, back and/or sides

    Blocking fits snugly against the cargo at the front, back or sides and is secured to the deck to stop sliding.

  2. Bracing goes from:
    1. High on the cargo down to the floor and/or walls of the cargo area
    2. The tractor to the trailer
    3. The front tires to the rear tires
    4. The landing gear to the kingpin
    Show answer
    High on the cargo down to the floor and/or walls of the cargo area

    Bracing runs from high on the cargo down to the floor and/or walls to stop movement.

  3. Cargo should have at least one tie-down for every:
    1. 5 feet
    2. 20 feet
    3. 15 feet
    4. 10 feet
    Show answer
    10 feet

    Use at least one tie-down for each 10 feet of cargo, and never fewer than two.

  4. A flatbed load is very short and light. At least how many tie-downs does it need?
    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. 4
    Show answer
    2

    Even the smallest load needs at least two tie-downs.

  5. What is the minimum number of tie-downs for a 30-foot load?
    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. 6
    Show answer
    3

    One tie-down per 10 feet: 30 feet needs at least 3.

  6. Federal rules require the aggregate working load limit of a cargo securement system to be at least:
    1. One-half the weight of the cargo
    2. One-quarter the weight of the cargo
    3. Twice the weight of the cargo
    4. Equal to the GVWR
    Show answer
    One-half the weight of the cargo

    The aggregate working load limit must be at least one-half the weight of the article or group of articles secured.

  7. Which is a tensioning device used with tie-downs?
    1. A glad hand
    2. A slack adjuster
    3. A header board
    4. A winch or ratchet
    Show answer
    A winch or ratchet

    Tensioning devices include winches, ratchets and clinching components.

  8. In a closed van trailer, tie-downs:
    1. Are never needed
    2. Can be important to keep shifting cargo from affecting handling
    3. Are illegal
    4. Are only for hazmat
    Show answer
    Can be important to keep shifting cargo from affecting handling

    In closed vans, tie-downs can prevent cargo shifting that may affect the vehicle's handling.

  9. The main purpose of a front-end header board (headache rack) is to:
    1. Hold the spare tire
    2. Improve fuel mileage
    3. Protect you from your cargo in a crash or emergency stop
    4. Mount the placards
    Show answer
    Protect you from your cargo in a crash or emergency stop

    Header boards protect the driver from cargo moving forward in a crash or emergency stop.

  10. The two basic reasons for covering cargo are:
    1. To protect people from spilled cargo and protect the cargo from weather
    2. To hide the cargo and lower wind drag
    3. To keep it cool and reduce weight
    4. To advertise and meet tax rules
    Show answer
    To protect people from spilled cargo and protect the cargo from weather

    Cover cargo to protect people from spills and protect cargo from the weather.

  11. Why should you check your cargo cover in the mirrors while driving?
    1. To see if it is clean
    2. To check its color
    3. To count the straps
    4. A flapping cover can tear loose, uncover the cargo, and block your or others' view
    Show answer
    A flapping cover can tear loose, uncover the cargo, and block your or others' view

    A flapping cover can tear loose, expose the cargo and block views.

  12. You are hauling a sealed load that you cannot inspect. What must you still check?
    1. The seal number only
    2. That you do not exceed gross weight and axle weight limits
    3. The cargo temperature
    4. The shipper's license
    Show answer
    That you do not exceed gross weight and axle weight limits

    You cannot inspect sealed loads, but you should check that you are within gross weight and axle weight limits.

  13. Containerized loads are generally used when freight is:
    1. Hazardous
    2. Refrigerated
    3. Carried part of the way by rail or ship
    4. Over 80,000 lb
    Show answer
    Carried part of the way by rail or ship

    Containers are used when freight travels part way by rail or ship, with trucks at the start and/or end.

  14. Dry bulk tanks need special care because they:
    1. Have a high center of gravity and the load can shift
    2. Are always hazardous
    3. Have no brakes
    4. Cannot be weighed
    Show answer
    Have a high center of gravity and the load can shift

    Dry bulk tanks have a high center of gravity and the load can shift; go slowly in curves and sharp turns.

  15. Hanging meat in a refrigerated truck is a dangerous load because:
    1. It is hazardous material
    2. It is very heavy
    3. It must be delivered fast
    4. It is very unstable with a high center of gravity
    Show answer
    It is very unstable with a high center of gravity

    Hanging meat is very unstable with a high center of gravity. Go slowly on sharp curves such as on- and off-ramps.

  16. When hauling less than a full load of livestock, you should:
    1. Drive faster to keep animals calm
    2. Use false bulkheads to keep the animals bunched together
    3. Leave them free to move
    4. Load extra weight on top
    Show answer
    Use false bulkheads to keep the animals bunched together

    Use false bulkheads to keep livestock bunched. Even then, they can lean in curves and raise rollover risk.

  17. Why can livestock make a rollover more likely?
    1. They are heavier than other cargo
    2. They block the mirrors
    3. They lean on curves, shifting the center of gravity
    4. They make the brakes fade
    Show answer
    They lean on curves, shifting the center of gravity

    Livestock can lean on curves, shifting the center of gravity and making rollover more likely.

  18. Over-length, over-width or overweight loads usually require:
    1. Special transit permits, and driving is often limited to certain times
    2. Only a hazmat endorsement
    3. Nothing extra if the driver has a Class A
    4. A second driver in the cab
    Show answer
    Special transit permits, and driving is often limited to certain times

    Oversized loads need special permits; travel is usually limited to certain times, and may need signs, lights, flags, escorts or pilot vehicles.

  19. Which might be required for an oversized load?
    1. A tank endorsement
    2. Snow chains
    3. A reefer unit
    4. A police escort or pilot vehicles with warning signs
    Show answer
    A police escort or pilot vehicles with warning signs

    Oversized loads may require a police escort or pilot vehicles with warning signs and/or flashing lights.

  20. Covering cargo to protect people from spills is:
    1. Never required by law
    2. A safety requirement in many states
    3. Only for hazmat
    4. Only required at night
    Show answer
    A safety requirement in many states

    Spill protection is a safety requirement in many states. Know the laws in the states you drive in.

  21. Tie-downs must be attached to the vehicle using:
    1. Tape and wire
    2. Rope knots on the tires
    3. Proper hooks, bolts, rails or rings
    4. The mud flap brackets
    Show answer
    Proper hooks, bolts, rails or rings

    Tie-downs must be attached correctly with hooks, bolts, rails or rings.