The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a requirement that all interstate commercial motor vehicles comply with a new single set of performance standards.

Meeting these standards will help to ensure that all commercial motor vehicle loads are properly secured, and reduce the number of accidents caused by cargo shifting or falling from trucks.
This final rule sets new standards for securing cargo based on the North American Cargo Securement Standard Model Regulations. It is the result of an extensive research program evaluating current U.S. and Canadian cargo securing regulations; the motor carrier industry's best practices; and recommendations presented during public meetings with U.S. and Canadian industry experts, federal, state and provincial enforcement officials, and other interested parties.
Canada and Mexico are considering adopting provisions of the North American model regulations. This would enable the three neighboring countries to have compatible cargo-securing regulations for heavy trucks.
The final rule clarifies how to determine the working load limit of cargo-securing systems and the way carriers should use these tie-down devices to secure cargo so it does not leak, spill, blow or fall from a commercial vehicle.
The rule establishes new performance standards that apply to cargo-securing systems used in transporting general freight and loads that require specialized or unique methods. It also establishes standards for the transportation of logs, dressed lumber, metal coils, paper rolls, intermodal containers; cars, light trucks and vans; heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery; flattened or crushed cars; roll-on/roll-off containers; and large boulders.
In the process of developing these standards, participants in the public meetings identified these commodities as being the most difficult to secure.
The final rule becomes effective on Dec. 26, 2002 and can be viewed by searching for docket number FMCSA-97-2289 at http://dms.dot.gov/. It gives motor carriers until Jan. 1, 2004, to comply with the new requirements. Training materials for motor carriers and enforcement officials are being developed and will be available from the FMCSA before the compliance deadline for the final rule.