(a) General. All devices and systems used to secure cargo to or within a vehicle must be capable of meeting the requirements of Sec. 393.102.
(b) Prohibition on the use of damaged securement devices. All tiedowns, cargo securement systems, parts and components used to secure cargo must be in proper working order when used to perform that function with no damaged or weakened components, such as, but not limited to, cracks or cuts that will adversely affect their performance for cargo securement purposes, including reducing the working load limit.
(c) Vehicle structures and anchor points. Vehicle structures, floors, walls, decks, tiedown anchor points, headerboards, bulkheads, stakes, posts, and associated mounting pockets used to contain or secure articles of cargo must be strong enough to meet the performance criteria of Sec. 393.102, with no damaged or weakened components, such as, but not limited to, cracks or cuts that will adversely affect their performance for cargo securement purposes, including reducing the working load limit.
(d) Material for dunnage, chocks, cradles, shoring bars, blocking and bracing. Material used as dunnage or dunnage bags, chocks, cradles, shoring bars, or used for blocking and bracing, must not have damage or defects which would compromise the effectiveness of the securement system.
(e) Manufacturing standards for tiedown assemblies. Tiedown assemblies (including chains, wire rope, steel strapping, synthetic webbing, and cordage) and other attachment or fastening devices used to secure articles of cargo to, or in, commercial motor vehicles must conform to the following applicable standards: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Steel strapping \1 2\........... Standard Specification for
Strapping, Flat Steel and Seals,
American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) D3953-97,
February 1998. \4\(2) Chain........................... National Association of Chain
Manufacturers' Welded Steel Chain
Specifications, dated September
28, 2005. \4\(3) Webbing......................... Web Sling and Tiedown
Association's Recommended
Standard Specification for
Synthetic Web Tiedowns, WSTDA-T1,
1998. \4\(4) Wire rope \3\................... Wire Rope Technical Board's Wire
Rope Users Manual, 2nd Edition,
November 1985. \4\(5) Cordage......................... Cordage Institute rope standard:
(i) PETRS-2, Polyester Fiber
Rope, three-Strand and eight-
Strand Constructions, January
1993; \4\
(ii) PPRS-2, Polypropylene
Fiber Rope, three-Strand and
eight-Strand Constructions,
August 1992; \4\
(iii) CRS-1, Polyester/
Polypropylene Composite Rope
Specifications, three-Strand
and eight-Strand Standard
Construction, May 1979; \4\
(iv) NRS-1, Nylon Rope
Specifications, three-Strand
and eight-Strand Standard
Construction, May 1979; \4\
and
(v) C-1, Double Braided Nylon
Rope Specifications DBN,
January 1984. \4\------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ Steel strapping not marked by the manufacturer with a working load
limit will be considered to have a working load limit equal to one-
fourth of the breaking strength listed in ASTM D3953-97.\2\ Steel strapping 25.4 mm (1 inch) or wider must have at least two
pairs of crimps in each seal and, when an end-over-end lap joint is
formed, must be sealed with at least two seals.\3\ Wire rope which is not marked by the manufacturer with a working
load limit shall be considered to have a working load limit equal to
one-fourth of the nominal strength listed in the manual.\4\ See Sec. 393.7 for information on the incorporation by reference
and availability of this document.
(f) Use of tiedowns. (1) Tiedowns and securing devices must not contain knots.
(1) Tiedowns and securing devices must not contain knots.
(2) If a tiedown is repaired, it must be repaired in accordance with the applicable standards in paragraph (e) of this section, or the manufacturer's instructions.
(3) Each tiedown must be attached and secured in a manner that prevents it from becoming loose, unfastening, opening or releasing while the vehicle is in transit.
(4) Edge protection must be used whenever a tiedown would be subject to abrasion or cutting at the point where it touches an article of cargo. The edge protection must resist abrasion, cutting and crushing. [67 FR 61225, Sept. 27, 2002, as amended at 71 FR 35833, June 22, 2006]