Handbook

Driver’s Handbook on Cargo Securement – Metal Coils

What Does This Section Cover?

This section applies to coils of rolled sheet metal. The coiled wire is secured using the general cargo securement requirements (section 2).

Size of a coil (Section 3.3.1)

• All metal coil shipments that, individually or together, weigh 2,268 kg (5,000 lb.) or more must be secured according to the specific requirements in this section.
• Exception: Metal coils that weigh less than 2,268 kg (5,000 lb.) may be secured according to general securement requirements (Section 2).

Orientation of coil

• Eyes vertical

• Eyes crosswise

• Eyes lengthwise

Type of Vehicle

The specific requirements are for metal coils transported:

• On flatbed vehicles.
• In sided vehicles with or without anchor points.
• In intermodal containers with or without anchor points.

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Vertical on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.2)

If the coil is mounted on a pallet:

• Coil must be fastened to the pallet so it cannot move on the pallet.
• Pallet must be strong enough to not collapse under Performance Criteria forces (Section 1).
• Use a friction mat between pallet and deck.

• To prevent the coil from tipping forward, rearward, and sideways, arrange tie downs to include the following:
  • Attach at least one tiedown diagonally across the eye of the coil from left side of the vehicle to right side of the vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tiedown diagonally across the eye of the coil from right side of the vehicle to left side of the vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tie down over the eye of the coil from side-to-side.
  • To prevent forward movement, use one of these:
    • Blocking.
    • Bracing.
    • Friction mats.
    • A tie-down passed around the front of the coil.

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Vertical on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (continued)

Requirements for securing a row of coils (Section 3.3.2.2)

• Attach at least one tie down against the front of a row of coils to restrain against forward motion.
  • If possible, the angle between tie down and deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
• Attach at least one tie down against the rear of a row of coils to restrain against the rearward motion.
  • If possible, the angle between tie down and deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
• Attach at least one tie down over top of each coil or side-by-side row of coils to restrain against the vertical motion.
  • Tie downs going over the top of the coil(s) must be as close as possible to the eye of a coil.
• Arrange tie downs, blocking, or bracing to prevent shifting or tipping in all directions.

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Crosswise on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.3)

There are three requirements for coils transported with eyes crosswise:

1. Prevent the coil from rolling.
2. Attach one tie down forward.
3. Attach one tie down rearward.

Prevent the coil from rolling

• Prevent the coil from rolling by supporting it:
  • Timbers, chocks, or wedges held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose.
  • A cradle (for example, two hardwood timbers and two coil bunks) that is restrained from sliding by:
    • Friction mats under the cradle.
    • Nailed wood blocking or cleats.
    • Placing a tie down around the front of the cradle.
• The support must:
  • Support the coil just above the deck.
  • Not become unintentionally unfastened or loose in transit.

Requirements for securing a single coil (Section 3.3.3.1)

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Crosswise on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.3) (continued)

Securing a Single Coil (Section 3.3.3.1) (continued)

One tiedown forward

• Attach at least one tiedown through the eye of the coil to restrain against forward motion.
  • If possible, the angle between the tie down and the deck should be less than 45.

One tiedown rearward

• Attach at least one tiedown through the eye of the coil to restrain against the rearward motion.
  • If possible, the angle between the tie down and the deck should be less than 45.

Correct use of tie downs for single coil

X-pattern prohibited for tie downs

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Lengthwise on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.4)

Requirements for securing an individual coil

There are three options for safely securing individual coils that are loaded with their eyes lengthwise. Blocking and supporting the coils is the same. The difference is in the tie down arrangement.

Prevent the coil from rolling

• Prevent the coil from rolling by supporting it:
  • Timbers, chocks, or wedges held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose.
  • A cradle (for example, two hardwood timbers and two coil bunks) that is restrained from sliding by:
    • Placing friction mats under the cradle
    • Using nailed wood blocking or cleats against the front timber
    • Placing a tie down around the front of the cradle.
• The support must:
  • Support the coil off the deck.
  • Not become unintentionally unfastened or loose in transit.

Tie downs, Single Coil Option #1 (Section 3.3.4.1)

• Attach at least one tiedown diagonally from the left side of the vehicle, through the eye, to the right side of the vehicle.
  • If possible, the angle between the tie down and the deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
• Attach at least one tiedown diagonally from the right side of the vehicle, through the eye, to the left side of the vehicle.
  • If possible, the angle between the tie down and the deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
• Attach at least one tiedown side-to-side over the top of the coil.
• Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.

Option #1 Single Coil (Eye Lengthwise)

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Lengthwise on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.4) (continued)

Tie downs, Single Coil Option #2 (Section 3.3.4.2)

Option #2 is the same as Option #1, except the tie downs that attach through the eye of the coil are straight instead of diagonal.

• Attach at least one tiedown straight from the left side of the vehicle, through the eye, and back to the left side of the vehicle.
  • If possible, the angle between the tie down and the deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
• Attach at least one tiedown straight from the right side of the vehicle, through the eye, and back to the right side of the vehicle.
  • If possible, the angle between the tie down and the deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
• Attach at least one tiedown side-to-side over the top of the coil.
• Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Lengthwise on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.4) (continued)

Tie downs, Single Coil Option #3 (Section 3.3.4.3)

Option #3 is the same as Options #1 and #2, except that the two tie downs that attach through the eye of the coil are replaced with two tie-downs that pass over the front and the rear of the coil.

• Attach at least one tie down over the top of the coil near the front of the coil.
• Attach at least one tie down over the top of the coil near the rear of the coil.
• Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Lengthwise on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.4) (continued)

Requirements for securing rows of coils (Section 3.3.4.4)

A row of coils is three or more coils loaded in the same way and in a line.

Row of Coils

Prevent the coil from rolling

• Prevent the coil from rolling by supporting it:
  • Timbers, chocks, or wedges held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose.
  • A cradle (for example, two hardwood timbers and two coil bunks) that is restrained from sliding by:
    • Placing friction mats under the cradle
    • Using nailed wood blocking or cleats against the front timber
    • Placing a tie down around the front of the cradle.
• The support must:
  • Support the coil just above the deck.
  • Not become unintentionally unfastened or loose in transit.

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Lengthwise on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.4) (continued)

Requirements for securing rows of coils (Section 3.3.4.4) (continued)

Tie-downs

• Attach at least one tie down over the top of each coil or side-by-side row, located near the front of the coil.
• Attach at least one tie down over the top of each coil or side-by-side row, located near the rear of the coil.
• Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.

Securing Coils Transported in a Sided Vehicle or Intermodal Container without Anchor Points (Section 3.3.5)

To prevent metal coils from moving horizontally and/or tipping:

• Follow general cargo securement requirements (Section 2).
• Secure the coils using:
  • Blocking and bracing
  • Friction mats
  • A combination of these.

The securement system used must prevent movement in directions (see Section 1).

Information for this web page was obtained from the FMCSA website at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/