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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