Towing Safety (Please Read)

[rizzo]

this is a great thread. It is good to hear all the different discussion. You can never have enough safety reminders or talk.

 

[doghead]

On the chain connection thing(outside the pocket or rails), does anyone have a resource the shows that in writing(dot rules). I have heard that from several people, but never seen it in the rules. Never had an issue on the road with it either.

 

[rizzo]

On the chain connection thing(outside the pocket or rails), does anyone have a resource the shows that in writing(dot rules). I have heard that from several people, but never seen it in the rules. Never had an issue on the road with it either.

here are the regulations

All Regulations - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

 

[swbradley1]

Found it.

Let me google that for you

 

[doghead]

I'm not finding the answer to my question, in either of those links.

Sorry, need it handed to me. Like a newbie, hey getting info for the very first time, like a newbie...(sung like Madonna's like a virgin)

 

[rizzo]

(d) Safety devices in case of tow-bar failure or disconnection. Every full trailer and every converter dolly used to convert a semitrailer to a full trailer must be coupled to the frame, or an extension of the frame, of the motor vehicle which tows it with one or more safety devices to prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose in the event the tow-bar fails or becomes disconnected. The safety device must meet the following requirements:
(1) The safety device must not be attached to the pintle hook or any other device on the towing vehicle to which the tow-bar is attached. However, if the pintle hook or other device was manufactured prior to July 1, 1973, the safety device may be attached to the towing vehicle at a place on a pintle hook forging or casting if that place is independent of the pintle hook.
(2) The safety device must have no more slack than is necessary to permit the vehicles to be turned properly.
(3) The safety device, and the means of attaching it to the vehicles, must have an ultimate strength of not less than the gross weight of the vehicle or vehicles being towed.
(4) The safety device must be connected to the towed and towing vehicles and to the tow-bar in a manner which prevents the tow-bar from dropping to the ground in the event it fails or becomes disconnected.
(5) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(6) of this section, if the safety device consists of safety chains or cables, the towed vehicle must be equipped with either two safety chains or cables or with a bridle arrangement of a single chain or cable attached to its frame or axle at two points as far apart as the configuration of the frame or axle permits. The safety chains or cables shall be either two separate pieces, each equipped with a hook or other means for attachment to the towing vehicle, or a single piece leading along each side of the tow-bar from the two points of attachment on the towed vehicle and arranged into a bridle with a single means of attachment to be connected to the towing vehicle. When a single length of cable is used, a thimble and twin-base cable clamps shall be used to form the forward bridle eye. The hook or other means of attachment to the towing vehicle shall be secured to the chains or cables in a fixed position.
(6) If the towed vehicle is a converter dolly with a solid tongue and without a hinged tow-bar or other swivel between the fifth wheel mounting and the attachment point of the tongue eye or other hitch device—
(i) Safety chains or cables, when used as the safety device for that vehicle, may consist of either two chains or cables or a single chain or cable used alone;
(ii) A single safety device, including a single chain or cable used alone as the safety device, must be in line with the centerline of the trailer tongue; and
(iii) The device may be attached to the converter dolly at any point to the rear of the attachment point of the tongue eye or other hitch device.
(7) Safety devices other than safety chains or cables must provide strength, security of attachment, and directional stability equal to, or greater than, safety chains or cables installed in accordance with paragraphs (d) (5) and (6) of this section.
((i) When two safety devices, including two safety chains or cables, are used and are attached to the towing vehicle at separate points, the points of attachment on the towing vehicle shall be located equally distant from, and on opposite sides of, the longitudinal centerline of the towing vehicle.
(ii) Where two chains or cables are attached to the same point on the towing vehicle, and where a bridle or a single chain or cable is used, the point of attachment must be on the longitudinal centerline or within 152 mm (6 inches) to the right of the longitudinal centerline of the towing vehicle.
(iii) A single safety device, other than a chain or cable, must also be attached to the towing vehicle at a point on the longitudinal centerline or within 152 mm (6 inches) to the right of the longitudinal centerline of the towing vehicle.
[37 FR 21439, Oct. 11, 1972, as amended at 70 FR 48053, Aug. 15, 2005]

Coupling devices and towing methods, except for driveaway-towaway operations. - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

 

[rizzo]

On the chain connection thing(outside the pocket or rails), does anyone have a resource the shows that in writing(dot rules). I have heard that from several people, but never seen it in the rules. Never had an issue on the road with it either.

I found it

Proper Use of Tiedowns
The new regulations require each tiedown to be attached and secured in a manner that prevents it from becoming loose, unfastening, opening or releasing while the vehicle is in transit. All tiedowns and other components of a cargo securement system used to secure loads on a trailer equipped with rub rails must be located inboard of the rub rails whenever practicable. Also, edge protection must be used whenever a tiedown would be subject to abrasion or cutting at the point where it touches an article of cargo. The edge protection must resist abrasion, cutting and crushing.

Cargo Securement Rules - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

 

[doghead]

Thanks, Rizzo!

So, it looks like there is some room for interpretation there.

And, In my case(and Steve's with the picture he refrenced/posted), when you have stake pockets and no rub rail, this rule does not apply.

 

[dittle]

Big thing to remember on tying a load down is to use opposing pulls with the chains. For example, you're hauling a deuce on a flatbed trailer. You have the front chains (crossed or not, doesn't matter in this example) pulling the deuce towards the front of the trailer like you should. Then you also have the back chains pulling towards the front of the trailer. While you may say "Hey I have it chained down" it won't do you a whole lot of good because the load can move. The back set of chains in this example need to pull towards the back of the trailer rather than the front. There are many ways to do a proper tie down but the main thing is to have opposite pulls with the chains being used.

On the towbar application my above example does not apply.

 

[doghead]

I've also heard that loadbinders need to be screw type and not cam over/lever type. Is that true anywhere?

 

[stancanpara]

This is a very informative and useful string, needs to be 'bumped' to the top every once in a while. Thanks for the great information!

 

[swbradley1]

243 FW 5, Towing, Carrying Cargo, and Securing Loads, Fish and Wildlife Service Manual, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

You asked it was true anywhere........

 

[dittle]

My dad is an OTR trucker and uses the screw type due to it being easier on his body than the cam over type. Plus the screw type can be tightened down/adjusted much easier than the cam type. I've used both and prefer the screw type. The downfall with the screw type is if you have it going over something with a pull they will snap. Had it happen this summer when hauling a M75 APC, had chains going along the sides and the only spot to fit the binder was against a road wheel. I was pulling chase vehicle and saw a binder snap, replaced it with a cam binder and had no more issues on the trip.

 

[rizzo]

243 FW 5, Towing, Carrying Cargo, and Securing Loads, Fish and Wildlife Service Manual, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

You asked it was true anywhere........

Is that for FWS employees?

 

[m16ty]

Take for instace heavy lift crane operations. Often times you will see a "spreader bar" in use. This is used to reduce the angle of the rigging above the load in order to ensure angles as close to 90 as possible.

Crossing your chains reduces the capacity of your chains. It's simple physics (if there is such a thing).

I'm in the rigging business also and this info is wrong about why cranes use a spreader beam. As you can see in the pic of the post, without a spreader beam the rigging would damage the load because the angles will cause the rigging to pull into the load. This is the sole purpose of a spreader beam (to clear the load being lifted when the attachment points are at the corners of the load). Using a spreader beam actually increases the load on the rigging. While the lines coming off the bottom of the rigging are at 90deg, The lines going from the beam to the hook are actually much greater than if no beam was used.

 

[m16ty]

I've also heard that loadbinders need to be screw type and not cam over/lever type. Is that true anywhere?

As far as I know the lever type is still legal. Our insurance company doesn't like them though. We were urged by them to swap over to the screw type but it was just a suggestion. We have some screw type but still use the lever type mostly.

 

[swbradley1]

Is that for FWS employees?

DH just asked if it were true anywhere. Evidently the answer is yes. I know they use the old style on Ice Road Truckers. I have also seen the redo the rigging when they do not cross the chains or straps on a load. Common sense tells me that you have to cross chains in order to reduce the load moving side-to-side.

A simple test using a couple of children's toys would show exactly what everyone wants to know. Anyone want to rig a couple of toys? Better yet, someone hook up two Deuces and video them.

 

[dittle]

Crossing chains and having un-crossed chains will both (if done properly) prevent side to side movement. Only difference is with crossed chains you are trying to pull the load to the center of the trailer; with un-crossed the load is getting pulling to the outside of the trailer.

 

[gunboy1656]

While at work the other day I saw a tie down that confused me, mostly for the tie points that were used.

The truck was hauling this piece about 150 miles over all sorts of terrain. Is this the correct way to tie a track hoe down?

 

[dittle]

Perfectly legal gunboy