Cargo Securement Rules are the FMCSA standards that control how cargo must be loaded, blocked, braced and tied down on commercial motor vehicles. Found in Subpart I of 49 CFR Part 393, sections 393.100 through 393.136, they set performance criteria for securement systems, rules for working load limits and the number of tiedowns, and extra requirements for commodities such as logs, metal coils and heavy equipment.
Shifting or falling cargo can cause rollovers, loss of control and debris in the roadway, and roadside inspectors check securement whenever an inspection includes the cargo.
What Are the Cargo Securement Rules?
FMCSA published the current rules on September 27, 2002, and motor carriers operating in interstate commerce had to comply beginning January 1, 2004. The rules are based on the North American Cargo Securement Standard Model Regulations. See 49 CFR Part 393, Subpart I for the full text and FMCSA's cargo securement rules page for background.
The subpart has two layers. Sections 393.100 through 393.114 are the general rules that apply to most cargo. Sections 393.116 through 393.136 add commodity-specific rules, and where a commodity-specific section applies, its additional requirements take precedence.
Who Must Comply?
Under 393.100, the rules apply to trucks, truck tractors, semitrailers, full trailers and pole trailers. FMCSA states that motor carriers operating in interstate commerce must comply, and that the rules cover cargo-carrying commercial motor vehicles as defined in 49 CFR 390.5. That definition generally includes vehicles rated or weighing 10,001 pounds or more, so service trucks, stake beds and box trucks are covered along with tractor-trailers. Many states apply the same standards to intrastate carriers.
Section 393.106(a) excludes bulk commodities that lack a fixed shape, such as liquids, gases, grain and sand, when they are carried in a tank, hopper or box that is part of the vehicle.
Key Requirements
General rule: contain, immobilize or secure
Section 393.100 requires that cargo be contained, immobilized or secured so that it does not leak, spill, blow or fall from the vehicle, and so that it cannot shift in a way that affects the vehicle's stability or maneuverability.
Performance criteria
Under 393.102, securement systems must withstand the following forces, each applied separately, without exceeding the breaking strength of the devices:
- 0.8 g deceleration in the forward direction
- 0.5 g acceleration in the rearward direction
- 0.5 g acceleration in a lateral direction
When cargo is not fully contained within the vehicle's structure, the system must also provide a downward force equal to at least 20 percent of the article's weight. Cargo is treated as meeting the performance criteria if it is immobilized, if it is carried in a sided vehicle with walls of adequate strength and each article is in contact with or close to a wall or other cargo, or if it is secured according to sections 393.104 through 393.136.
Securement devices
Section 393.104 requires tiedowns, anchor points, dunnage and blocking to be in proper working order and free of damage, such as cuts or cracks, that would reduce their working load limit. Tiedowns must meet the listed manufacturing standards, such as NACM specifications for chain, WSTDA-T1 for synthetic webbing and ASTM D3953 for steel strapping. Tiedowns may not contain knots, must be attached so they cannot loosen or release in transit, and need edge protection wherever cargo could cut or wear them. Under 393.112, tiedowns other than steel strapping must be adjustable so the driver can tighten them during a trip.
Working load limits
The working load limit (WLL) is the maximum load a device may carry in use. Under 393.108, the WLL of a tiedown is the lowest rating of any of its components, including the tensioner, or of the anchor points it attaches to. Unmarked devices are assigned default values; for example, unmarked welded steel chain is treated as grade 30 proof coil chain.
Aggregate working load limit
Section 393.106(d) requires that the aggregate WLL of the tiedowns securing an article or group of articles be at least one-half the weight of that cargo. The aggregate is calculated as the sum of:
- One-half the WLL of each tiedown that runs from an anchor point on the vehicle to an anchor point on the cargo (a direct tiedown)
- One-half the WLL of each tiedown that passes over, through or around the cargo and attaches to an anchor point on the same side of the vehicle
- The full WLL of each tiedown that passes over, through or around the cargo and attaches to an anchor point on the other side of the vehicle
Section 393.106 also requires articles likely to roll to be restrained by chocks, wedges, a cradle or equivalent means, and articles placed side by side and secured with transverse tiedowns to be in direct contact or kept from shifting toward each other.
Minimum number of tiedowns
Section 393.110 adds a minimum count on top of the aggregate WLL rule. For an article that is not blocked or braced against forward movement by a headerboard, bulkhead or other cargo:
- 5 feet or shorter and 1,100 pounds or lighter: 1 tiedown
- 5 feet or shorter and heavier than 1,100 pounds: 2 tiedowns
- Longer than 5 feet but not longer than 10 feet: 2 tiedowns, regardless of weight
- Longer than 10 feet: 2 tiedowns for the first 10 feet, plus 1 for each additional 10 feet or part of 10 feet
If the article is blocked or braced against forward movement, it needs at least 1 tiedown for each 10 feet of length or part of 10 feet. For example, an unblocked 12-foot article weighing 8,000 pounds needs at least 3 tiedowns, and their aggregate WLL must be at least 4,000 pounds.
Front end structures
When a headerboard or bulkhead is part of the securement system, 393.114 requires it to be at least 4 feet high or high enough to block forward movement of the cargo, whichever is lower, and at least as wide as the vehicle or the cargo it blocks. Structures under 6 feet tall must withstand a forward static load equal to 0.5 times the weight of the cargo, and structures 6 feet or taller must withstand 0.4 times that weight.
Commodity-specific rules
Sections 393.116 through 393.136 set additional rules for:
- Logs (393.116)
- Dressed lumber and similar building products (393.118)
- Metal coils weighing 5,000 pounds or more, individually or grouped (393.120)
- Paper rolls (393.122)
- Concrete pipe (393.124)
- Intermodal containers (393.126)
- Automobiles, light trucks and vans weighing 10,000 pounds or less, which need at least 2 tiedowns restraining the front and rear of each vehicle (393.128)
- Heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery weighing 10,000 pounds or more, which need at least 4 tiedowns (393.130)
- Flattened or crushed vehicles, where synthetic webbing may not be used as a tiedown (393.132)
- Roll-on/roll-off and hook lift containers (393.134)
- Large boulders weighing more than 11,000 pounds (5,000 kg) or larger than 2 cubic meters (393.136)
Driver Inspection Duties
The driver shares responsibility for the load. Under 49 CFR 392.9, before driving the driver must confirm the cargo is properly distributed and secured, and that tailgates, doors, tarps and spare tires are secured. The driver must then inspect the cargo and securement devices within the first 50 miles of a trip and adjust them as needed, and reexamine them whenever the driver changes duty status, after the vehicle has been driven for 3 hours, or after 150 miles, whichever comes first. These duties do not apply when the vehicle is sealed and the driver has been ordered not to open it, or when the load makes inspection impracticable.
Many fleets add a cargo and strap check to the pre-trip inspection and the driver vehicle inspection report process so damaged equipment is caught before the truck leaves the yard.
Penalties and Enforcement
Cargo securement is checked during roadside inspections, and serious defects such as missing or damaged tiedowns can lead to the vehicle being placed out of service until the load is fixed. Violations found at roadside are recorded in FMCSA's inspection data and feed into the carrier's results in the CSA Safety Measurement System.
Civil penalties are set in Appendix B to 49 CFR Part 386 and adjusted each year for inflation. The current schedule lists maximums of $19,246 per violation for non-recordkeeping violations by a carrier or other person and $4,812 for non-recordkeeping violations by a driver.
Common Compliance Mistakes
- Counting tiedowns but not checking the aggregate WLL, or the reverse
- Using straps or chains with no legible WLL marking, which then default to lower values
- Worn, cut or knotted webbing and missing edge protection
- Skipping the 50-mile check or the 3-hour or 150-mile rechecks
How to Comply: Step by Step
- Identify your cargo types. List the loads your fleet hauls and flag any covered by commodity-specific sections.
- Inventory securement equipment. Confirm each strap, chain and binder is marked with a WLL and meets the standards in 393.104.
- Write load securement procedures. Show the required tiedown count and aggregate WLL for common loads, with diagrams where helpful.
- Train drivers and loaders. Cover WLL math, tiedown counts, edge protection and the 392.9 inspection intervals. Short toolbox talks work well for refreshers.
- Inspect equipment regularly. Remove damaged tiedowns from service and check anchor points, headerboards and decking.
- Review roadside results. Track cargo violations by driver, load type and terminal, and use root cause analysis to fix repeat problems.
How SMS360 Helps
The SMS360 DOT Compliance module gives fleets one place to manage the procedures, training and inspection records behind a load securement program. Teams can store written securement procedures, document driver training, run digital checklists for strap and anchor point inspections, and assign corrective actions when equipment is damaged or a roadside inspection finds a violation. Dashboards show recurring cargo issues by driver or location so they can be addressed before the next inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tiedowns do I need?
It depends on the article's length, weight and whether it is blocked against forward movement. An unblocked article longer than 5 feet needs at least 2 tiedowns, plus 1 more for each 10 feet or part of 10 feet beyond the first 10 feet. You must also meet the aggregate WLL rule, so you may need more tiedowns than the minimum count.
What is the aggregate working load limit rule?
The combined WLL of all tiedowns securing an article must be at least one-half the article's weight. A tiedown that goes over the cargo and attaches on the opposite side of the vehicle counts at its full WLL, while a direct tiedown or one that attaches on the same side counts at half its WLL.
How often must drivers check cargo securement?
Drivers must check the load before departure, within the first 50 miles, and again whenever they change duty status, after 3 hours of driving or after 150 miles, whichever comes first. The checks are not required for sealed loads the driver has been told not to open or loads that cannot practically be inspected.
Do the rules apply to enclosed vans and box trucks?
Yes. Cargo in a sided vehicle still has to be secured, but it can meet the performance criteria by being in contact with or close to the walls or other cargo so it cannot shift or tip. Cargo with open space around it may need load bars, blocking or tiedowns.
