Cargo securement is one of two areas that is the focus of this year’s International Roadcheck. In this annual commercial vehicle inspection blitz, May 16-18, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced it will focus on cargo securement and antilock braking systems.

Cargo securement regulations aren’t limited to open-deck trailers, but because of the visibility of open-deck trailers, these loads tend to get the most scrutiny during inspections.

The last time Roadcheck focused on cargo securement was in 2017.

Inspectors found 3,282 cargo securement violations during the 2017 inspection blitz. Improper load securement was the most common cargo securement violation, followed by failure to secure vehicle equipment, and leaking, spilling, blowing or falling cargo.

Potential Trouble Spots for 2023

Ralph Abato, a cargo securement industry veteran and president of Doleco, pointed to two areas where fleets and drivers are getting into trouble lately during inspections.

The 10-foot tiedown rule is apparently getting folks into trouble. The standard says that there should be a tiedown every 10 feet. However, with some loads, a tiedown at the 10-foot mark is not practical or appropriate. Loads that are correctly secured based on every other metric and rule are still being cited on the 10-foot rule.

In fact, the CVSA added as a note in its Out of Service Criteria in the cargo securement section to alert inspectors:

“Position of tiedowns – If an article of cargo has the correct number of required tiedowns for length and/or weight, the US regulations/NSC Standard 10 do not specify where they have to be located on the article(s) of cargo.”

The periodic cargo inspection procedure is also tripping up drivers. With electronic logs, the officer can see that they did not stop and check the load at 49.7 miles (80 kilometers) from the loading site, or after a change in duty status, or every three hours, or after the vehicle has been driven 149.129 miles (240 kilometers). 

Learn More About Cargo Securement

To help fleets and drivers prepare for this year’s Roadcheck, here are five articles on load securement that can help:

1. Cargo Securement: What You Need to Know

Learn about tie-down ratings, strap placement, load securement in van and reefer trailers, and violations that aren’t cargo.

2. How to Secure Cargo on Open-Deck Trailers

4 keys to success in cargo securement on flatbeds, lowboys and other open-deck trailers.

3. Cargo Securement for Work Truck Fleets

Work Truck asked top cargo experts for their insight and advice to get you on the road to cargo securement success so your drivers can take off with peace of mind that precious cargo is safe and sound for top-notch transport.

4. Tips for Inspecting Tie-down Devices

Find out what’s on the menu of violations commercial vehicle inspection officers have to choose from in cargo securement, and what you should be looking for.

5. Don’t Overlook Trailer Anchor Points

Open-deck or platform trailers are a cargo conveyance. But because those trailers are also the device to which the cargo is secured for transport, they in fact become part of the cargo securement system.