A flatbed truck carrying 42,000 pounds of steel coils lost its load on an interstate outside of Atlanta in 2023. Two coils, each weighing approximately 20,000 pounds, rolled off the trailer and across three lanes of traffic. No one was killed, which was extraordinary given the circumstances. The driver was cited for inadequate load securement. The service center that loaded the truck faced a negligence lawsuit. The total cost of the incident (legal fees, settlements, fines, damaged material, and increased insurance premiums) exceeded $400,000.
Load securement is not a suggestion. It is a federal regulation, and the consequences of non-compliance are severe.
FMCSA Requirements for Steel
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) publishes specific securement requirements for metal coils, rolls, and bundles in 49 CFR 393.120. These requirements are in addition to the general cargo securement rules in 49 CFR 393.100-136.
For coils transported eye-to-sky (the most common orientation on flatbed trailers): each coil must be secured by at least one tiedown through the eye of the coil, attached to both sides of the trailer. Each coil must also be secured by at least two tiedowns across the top of the coil, from side to side. The total working load limit of all tiedowns must equal or exceed the weight of the coil.
For coils transported eye-to-the-side or eye-forward: the requirements are more restrictive, requiring additional tiedowns and blocking to prevent forward and rearward movement. The FMCSA has specific diagrams and requirements for each orientation.
For bundles of bar, angle, channel, and flat stock: the cargo must be unitized (banded together) and secured with enough tiedowns to meet the general requirement of one tiedown for the first 5 feet of cargo length plus one for every additional 10 feet. The working load limit of all tiedowns must be at least 50% of the cargo weight.
Equipment Requirements
Chain is the standard securement device for steel because of its strength and durability. Grade 70 transport chain is the minimum for steel hauling. Each chain has a working load limit (WLL) stamped on the tag or link: 4,700 lbs for 5/16-inch, 6,600 lbs for 3/8-inch, and 11,300 lbs for 1/2-inch are the most common. Never use chain with worn, deformed, or cracked links.
Binders (load binders or chain binders) must be rated for the chain they secure. A ratchet binder or lever binder should match or exceed the chain's working load limit. Mixing chain and binder ratings is a common violation.
Coil racks or cradles are required for coils transported on flatbed trailers to prevent rolling. These are typically steel V-shaped or U-shaped cradles that are permanently mounted or chained to the trailer deck. A coil sitting on a flat trailer deck without a cradle is a rolling hazard regardless of how many chains are attached.
Loading Procedures
Train every warehouse employee who loads trucks on proper securement procedures. The training should cover how to select the correct number and size of chains for the load weight, how to route chains through coil eyes and over cargo without creating pinch points or chain-on-chain contact, how to tighten binders to the correct tension (snug, not over-tightened to the point of damaging the chain or load), how to inspect chains and binders before each use (checking for wear, damage, and proper rating), and how to properly position dunnage, edge protectors, and blocking material.
Document the training and require annual refreshers. Keep a load securement reference guide on the loading dock that shows the required number of tiedowns by load type and weight. Make it easy to do it right and hard to skip steps.
Driver Responsibility
Under FMCSA regulations, the driver is ultimately responsible for load securement, even if the shipper loaded the truck. This creates a shared responsibility: you have an obligation to load properly, and the driver has the right (and the obligation) to refuse to move a load that is not adequately secured. Support drivers who raise securement concerns. A 10-minute delay to add another chain is far cheaper than the alternative.