Providing Support For Load Shifts
You’ve just turned onto route 81 outside of Woodstock, VA., and a red Ford Mustang cut you off, causing you to slam on your brakes. The mustang disappears in front of you, and the rest is a blur. After pulling over to the side of the road, you get out of the cab to check your load. You notice the tarp sitting over the lumber has not moved. However, upon closer inspection, the straps holding the lumber in place on your flatbed are leaning towards the cab. It appears that your load has shifted. Luckily, one of your fellow truckers and best buddy told you about Shenandoah Towing a towing service in Woodstock VA., that was able to help him. His load shifted a couple of months ago, and the Shenandoah Towing crew redistributed his load and got him back on the road in no time. You call Shenandoah Towing, and their experienced staff helps you no matter how many towing problems you have. It’s never good when your load shifts. It creates a weight imbalance that can cause your truck to veer or suddenly tip over.
Here is everything we will do for providing support for load shifts.
Load Shifts Are the Top Towing Problems You May Face
- The loading team doesn’t follow proper securement requirements.
- A strap comes loose or breaks during transport
- A driver aggressively brakes, and the load slides toward the cab.
- An accident occurs due to driver distraction
- A truck driver is exhausted, tired, or becomes drowsy
- A driver takes a turn too quickly
- A driver is speeding
- The roads are full of potholes or is unlevel
In order to prevent a load shift from happening, the Department of Transportation – Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) publishes Cargo Securement Rules. These rules that motor carriers must follow cover all commercial motor vehicles (CMV) carrying cargo.
During Interstate Transport Commodities May Experience Load Shift Towing Problems
Logs
Almost all logs are included except those that are bound together, under four processed logs, stumps, firewood, or short logs.
Dressed Lumber and other building materials
This section applies to packages of dressed lumber, bundled lumber, and other building materials including gypsum board and plywood.
Metal Coils
The metal coils must weigh more than 5,000 lbs.
Paper Rolls
The paper rolls individually or on a pallet must weigh more than 5,000 lbs.
Concrete Pipes
A concrete pipe that is tied together without rolling or loaded onto a container or-sided vehicle.
Intermodal containers
These are freight containers constructed and designed to be used during two or more transport modes.
Automobiles, Vans, and Light Trucks
This category applies to transporting Automobiles, Vans, or Light Trucks that weigh less than 10,000 lbs.
Heavy Vehicles, Machinery, and Equipment
This section applies to the transport of bulldozers, front-end loaders, power shovels, and tractors that weigh more than 10,000 lbs.
Crushed or Flattened Vehicles
These vehicles are intentionally flattened or crushed in preparation for recycling. On the other hand, those vehicles that are flattened or crushed due to an accident should follow general securement rules.
Hook-lift or Roll-on/Roll-off Containers
These are specialized containers used to transport waste, demolition, recycling, and scrap materials.
Large Boulders
This section applies to the transport of any natural irregularly shaped large rock weighing over 11,000 lbs or has a volume of two cubic meters. The FMCSA also stipulates the proper use of securement devices necessary to secure your load. For instance, they describe the use of tiedown devices, unmarked tiedown devices, anchor points both unrated and unmarked, and front-end structures like headerboards.
Shenandoah Towing Prevents Towing Problems with Our Towing Service in Woodstock VA
When you carry any of the cargo listed above and are experiencing shifting loads, we have the equipment necessary to shift your load correctly, redistributing the weight. Shenandoah Towing service in Woodstock VA., is also equipped to transfer all or part of your load to another trailer. For example, we can unload and reload equipment properly, redistribute your load correctly, transport any overload to its final destination, or utilize forklifts on your flatbed trailer to redistribute your load. If something unexpected happens with your load, we are just a phone call away and here to help. We cover Virginia’s major highways like I-81 and I-64 and many towns surrounding Woodstock, VA. When your load shifts, we’ll help you make the needed adjustments and get you on your way. Contact us today to get started!