x3allamerican Steel Coil Cargo Securement
Steel coils have specific securement rules under § 393.120. They are a high-injury cargo because of their weight and shape.
Coil orientation
- Eye-vertical (coil sitting up, hole pointing up) — most common, easier to secure
- Eye-horizontal (coil lying on its side, hole pointing sideways) — requires special securement
- Saddled (coil resting on a U-shaped saddle) — requires additional restraint
Required securement
- Chains rated to at least 50% of coil weight
- Minimum 4 tiedowns for coils up to 5 tons
- More tiedowns for heavier coils
- Tiedowns must prevent forward, backward, and lateral movement
Dunnage placement
- Wooden blocks under the coil (load-spreading)
- Side blocks to prevent rolling
- Forward + rearward blocks to prevent shift
Inspection points
- Chain integrity (no rust pitting, no kinks)
- Chain securing devices (binders or buckles)
- Attachment points to vehicle (rated, not damaged)
- Cargo movement check (pre-trip)
- Cargo movement check during travel (mid-trip if practical)
Common violations
- Chains rated too low for coil weight
- Insufficient tiedowns (under § 393.120)
- Coil moving during transit
- Coil ride-up on dunnage during braking
Specialty trailer types
- Steel haulers with built-in coil saddles
- Conestoga trailers (rolling tarp + secured coils)
- Multi-coil trailers (specifically designed for multiple coils)
Driver training
- Steel coil handling certification (some states require)
- Pre-trip cargo inspection
- Mid-trip stop + tiedown check
- Recognition of coil movement during travel
Compass cargo securement
- Steel coil-specific compliance scoring
- WLL calculator for coil + chain combinations
- Pre-trip checklist with coil-specific items
CFR citations
- 49 CFR § 393.120
How Compass surfaces this
Searchable in Compass Ask. Runs against carrier fleet data when invoked from the relevant tracker. Read-only; no actions without explicit user approval.
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