How to Tie Down Equipment on Trailers

When transporting heavy equipment, machinery, or goods, what matters most is safety during transit. Ensuring the safety of heavy shipments and people entails knowing how to tie down the equipment on a trailer for transport to ensure the machinery gets delivered safely.

Load securement is a vital regulation that the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other transportation agencies like FMCSA consider before allowing the transportation of heavy equipment, machinery, or vehicles. There are several tie-down methods hauling companies and truck drivers can use when transporting heavy things.

What are the Types of Tie Downs for Trailers Hauling Oversize Loads?

Trailers hauling heavy goods and equipment comply with DOT and FMCSA regulations that require truck drivers to use four tie-downs to make assets safe and withstand numerous forces along the road when in transit. Here are some tie-downs that you can use to secure your equipment during transportation within or out of the country.

1. Ratchet straps

Also known as lashings, ratchet straps are known for their high durability, quality, and strength. They can safely hold heavy equipment on a trailer during oversize load transportation. The versatile ratchet tie-down straps securely tie different cargo, equipment, or machinery of diverse types, shapes, sizes, and weights to their destinations.

Choosing the appropriate straps depends on your car’s or equipment’s size and weight. Heavy haulers and truck drivers use the straps as an equipment tie-down method when:

• Arranging heavy equipment or goods on the trailer’s flatbed
• Tying down tarps to ensure the cargo remains in one place
• Transporting light to heavy loads by land, sea, or air
• Securing items on vehicles’ roof racks
• Transporting cars and boats on trailers

2. Chains

You can also use chains to secure or hold heavy things, such as machines, vehicles, and farm or construction equipment, onto or from trailers when using variations of transport and shipping.

The tie-down chains are durable and robust and prevent abrasion of your equipment during transit. They range from grades 30 to 120 (G30 to G120). The more the grades, the better the lifting or tie-down chain because of its strength. For instance, G100 and above chains are the best for heavy cargo.

The chain equipment tie-down methods are applicable when:

• Moving heavy vehicles or machines
• Towing or lighting heavy things
• Securing containers or cargo to a trailer’s flatbed
• Marine, air, or road transportation of goods

What are Tie-Down Points on Trailers, and How Do You Use Them?

Truck drivers and other heavy hauling companies should know the tie-down points of a trailer to ensure they load things, machinery, and equipment safely for transit. Tie-down points on trailers are anchor points that secure chains or straps to the truck.

Learning how to tie down equipment on a trailer becomes easier if you know the exact locations to consider during load securement. The strategic location allows you to tie straps, chains, ropes, and other tie-down tools that hold cargo securely in a trailer.

You can use the following tie-down points to simplify transportation in different transport and shipping methods.

• Single-point tie-down anchors: Helps in mounting the cargo in a trailer. The points include movable anchors, welds or D-rings, and recessed anchors for mounting the surface.
  
• Cleats: These are tie-down points for tying ropes to hold heavy cargo.
  
• Track system tie-down anchors: Helps in hauling multiple things. They include an E-track, a low-profile track that allows you to tie down your machines or equipment using straps for safety.
• O-track tie-downs: the anchors have a metal loop to which you can attach ratchet straps when securing your equipment for variations of transport and shipping.

How to Choose The Best Method for Equipment Tie-Down When Shipping

When choosing the best equipment tie-down methods during shipping, it is wise to have professional help from experts in the heavy hauling industry. The techniques you select should be able to hold your heavy equipment on the trailer during transportation.

When learning how to tie down equipment on a trailer, it is essential to understand how to choose the best tie-down method for the heavy things you want to ship.

Here are some tips to help you pick the best equipment tie-down techniques.

• Learn the regulations: Regarding the different tie-down methods, to know if they comply with the state or federal regulations.
• Type of equipment: Knowing the type of equipment to transport in size, material, and weight helps you select the best tie-down methods.
  
• Mode of transportation: Different transport and shipping modes are vital when selecting a tie-down technique. Knowing if the shipment will move by air, water, or road helps you choose unmatched tie-down methods that hold the heavy equipment in place until its destination.
  
• Choose the correctly sized chains and ratchet straps that meet your load securement needs by measuring the size and weight of your equipment before transporting it.

Get the Best Tie-down Services for your Shipment!

Transporting goods or equipment in or out of the country requires you to ensure the cargo will be safe and secure during transit. Some tie-down methods and points can help hold your machine, vehicle, or farm equipment in place in the transportation process.

The most common tie-down methods in shipping are straps, chains, loops, ropes, and cords. At Heavy Haulers, we can help you choose the most appropriate tie-down methods to ensure the safe delivery of your cargo to its destination.