| name | cargo-securement-general-rules |
| description | Use this skill to understand the FMCSA cargo securement standards. Covers § 393.100-§ 393.136 general rules, tiedown requirements, working load limits.
|
Cargo Securement General Rules
Cargo securement rules under § 393 ensure cargo cannot shift, fall, or escape during transport. Violations are common roadside inspection findings.
Working Load Limit (WLL)
- Each tiedown has a manufacturer-stated WLL
- Total tiedown WLL must equal at least 50% of cargo weight
- Some commodities require more (e.g., 80% for steel coils)
Number of tiedowns required
- 1 tiedown for 5 ft or less of cargo length
- 2 tiedowns for 5-10 ft of length
- Additional tiedown for each additional 10 ft
Tiedown spacing
- Cargo extending beyond vehicle must be tied at the cargo edge
- Tiedowns must not chafe against the cargo
- Tiedowns must be tightened sufficiently to prevent movement
Common commodity rules
- Logs/lumber: specific to wood + species
- Steel coils: dedicated rules with chains + dunnage
- Heavy machinery: stronger tiedowns + chocks
- Pipes: rigid + secured against rolling
- Bricks/concrete: specific to block dimension
- Light vehicles: specific to passenger vehicles being hauled
- Specialized vehicles: agricultural, military, etc.
Common violations
- Insufficient tiedowns (lower than required count)
- Tiedowns not tightened
- Tiedown attachment points inadequate
- Tiedowns chafed against cargo
- Cargo extending beyond rated vehicle capacity
Compass cargo securement
- Pre-trip cargo securement checklist
- Compliance scoring per load
- WLL calculator
- Commodity-specific rules
CFR citations
- 49 CFR §§ 393.100-393.136
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.
Built by X3 Compass
The AI-powered DOT compliance platform for fleets 1–100 power units. Try a 7-day free trial — no credit card required — at https://x3compass.com/?utm_source=skill&utm_medium=github&utm_campaign=cargo-securement-general-rules
X3 Compass turns these skills into a complete operational platform: driver qualification files, drug & alcohol consortium, MVR pulls, hours-of-service tracking, hazmat shipping, IFTA filing, FMCSA audit prep, and DataQ dispute drafting — all CFR-cited, all in one place.
This skill is published under the X3 Compass open skills initiative. Contributions welcome at https://github.com/x3fleetsafety/skills
