Securing a flatbed load, paragraph by paragraph
Aggregate working load limit, tiedown count, and the commodity rules that override both — with the section printed beside each one.
- Author
- Relay Dispatch Desk
- Published
- 17 Aug 2026
- Verified
- 15 Aug 2026
- Re-checked
- annually
Key takeaways
- The aggregate working load limit of your tiedowns must be at least half the weight of the article being secured.
- Working load limit is a marked, rated figure — an unmarked chain contributes nothing you can defend.
- Minimum tiedown counts are set by the length and weight of the article, before any commodity-specific rule applies.
- Commodity-specific rules in §§ 393.116–393.136 override the general rules for the cargo they name.
Securement is one of the two things roadside inspectors are emphasising on the vehicle side this year, and it is almost entirely arithmetic. Get the arithmetic right and the judgement calls get much smaller.
The 50% rule
The combined working load limit of the tiedowns securing an article must be at least one half of the weight of that article. It is not a guideline and it is the first thing an inspector can compute at the roadside.
Working load limit is a marked figure
Working load limit is the rated capacity of the tiedown, and § 393.108 sets out how it is determined. The practical consequence is blunt: a chain, strap or binder with no legible marking and no manufacturer's rating cannot be counted toward your aggregate. It may be holding the load; it is not holding up at an inspection.
Counting tiedowns
§ 393.110 sets the minimum number of tiedowns from the length and weight of the article, independently of the 50% calculation. Both tests have to pass — meeting the aggregate working load limit with too few tiedowns is still a violation.
When the commodity rules take over
Sections 393.116 through 393.136 give specific rules for named cargo, and where they apply they govern. If you are carrying any of these, read the specific rule before applying the general one:
| Cargo | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Logs | § 393.116 |
| Dressed lumber and similar building products | § 393.118 |
| Metal coils | § 393.120 |
| Paper rolls | § 393.122 |
| Concrete pipe | § 393.124 |
| Intermodal containers | § 393.126 |
| Automobiles, light trucks and vans | § 393.128 |
| Heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery | § 393.130 |
| Flattened or crushed vehicles | § 393.132 |
| Roll-on/roll-off and hook-lift containers | § 393.134 |
| Large boulders | § 393.136 |
Sources
- eCFR (GPO/OFR) · 49 CFR Part 393 Subpart I — Protection Against Shifting and Falling Cargo · 49 CFR §§ 393.100–393.136 · accessed 15 Aug 2026
- FMCSA · Motor Carrier Safety Planner — cargo securement (§ 393.100) · accessed 15 Aug 2026
Re-verified annually. Educational summary — the regulation controls. Not legal advice.
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