Cargo Securement | Houston Truck Accident Attorney

It is important to the safety of others traveling on the roadway that cargo does not fall of trucks. If cargo falls into the roadway, it can cause a truck wreck. The North American Cargo Securement Standard regulates the minimum requirements for restraint systems used by commercial motor vehicles with a gross vehicle rating over 10,000 pounds.

Securement Requirements

The purpose of the regulations is to provide motorists with protection against shifting and falling cargo. Under the Standard, a truck driver may not operate his vehicle until the cargo is secure. The following requirements are set by the Standard:

• The weight of the cargo must be properly distributed and secured
• The vehicles’ equipment—such as the tailgate, doors, and the spare tire—must be secured
• The cargo does not obscure the driver’s visibility, prevent movement of the driver’s arms and legs, prevent access to emergency equipment, or prevent any person from freely and readily exiting the cab or the driver’s compartment

Properly secured cargo will not leak, spill, fall off the vehicle, or cause instability as it shifts.

Securement Systems

The Standard requires that the securement system (the method used to secure cargo) must be appropriate for the cargo considering its size, shape, and weight. The cargo must therefore be packaged in a way that can withstand the force of securement and transportation. Securement systems include the following components: floors, walls, decks, tie-down anchor points, stakes, and posts. The anchor points must be strong enough to withstand the minimum amount of forward, rearward, sideways, and upward force specified by the Standard.

Securing Devices

Cargo must be properly loaded and secured so that it does not shift or fall off the truck. A securing device—such as a chain, friction mats, wire rope, or clamps and latches—help the cargo stay in place on the truck. Used in combination with securing devices, a tie-down attaches to anchor points. It restrains the cargo by providing direct resistance. For a tie-down to secure cargo effectively, it must be free of knots, weakened sections, and distress. A damaged tie-down may result in the loss of the cargo, which can cause a truck wreck.

If you have sustained injuries in a truck wreck in Texas that occurred because cargo was improperly loaded or secured, contact a Houston truck accident attorney at Denena & Points at 713-807-9500 or 877-307-9500.