Flatbed truck insurance

The federal securement rules in short

FMCSA’s cargo securement rules (49 CFR Part 393, Subpart I) apply to trucks, truck tractors, semitrailers, full trailers and pole trailers. Cargo must be contained, immobilized or secured so it cannot leak, spill, blow or fall from the vehicle, or shift enough to affect the truck’s stability or handling.

Strength

The system must hold against 0.8 g of deceleration forward, 0.5 g rearward and 0.5 g sideways without exceeding the tiedowns’ breaking strength; articles not fully contained in the vehicle need a downward force of at least 20% of their weight (49 CFR 393.102).

Working load limit

The combined (aggregate) working load limit of the tiedowns must be at least half the weight of the article or group of articles (49 CFR 393.106).

Number of tiedowns

For an article not blocked at the front: one if it is 5 ft or shorter and 1,100 lbs or lighter; two if it is 5 ft or shorter and heavier, or longer than 5 ft up to 10 ft; over 10 ft, two for the first 10 ft plus one for every additional 10 ft or part of it (49 CFR 393.110).

Commodity rules

Extra requirements for logs, dressed lumber, metal coils, paper rolls, concrete pipe, intermodal containers, cars and light trucks, heavy equipment, crushed cars, roll-off containers and large boulders (49 CFR 393.116–393.136).

The checks a driver must make

Before driving, the driver must be satisfied that the cargo is properly distributed and secured and that tarps, doors and other equipment are secured. The driver must then inspect the cargo and its securement within the first 50 miles of a trip and re-examine it whenever the driver changes duty status, or after 3 hours or 150 miles of driving — whichever comes first — adjusting or adding tiedowns as needed. A sealed load the driver was ordered not to open, or one loaded so that inspection is impracticable, is excepted (49 CFR 392.9).

Weight and width limits

On the Interstate System the federal limits are 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight, 20,000 lbs on a single axle and 34,000 lbs on a tandem, subject to the bridge formula, and states may issue special permits for nondivisible loads (23 CFR 658.17). On the National Network states may not set a width limit other than 102 inches, and they may grant special permits for wider vehicles (23 CFR 658.15).

Oversize and overweight permits come from the states, on their own terms — check each state on the route before you accept the load.

Coverage to check for flatbed work

• Motor truck cargo — FMCSA doesn’t require it for general freight, but interstate carriers are liable for the actual loss or injury to the freight (49 U.S.C. 14706), and contracts can set a cargo limit. Ask how the policy treats loads that shift or fall, what it requires for tarped and untarped loads, and whether any commodity you haul is excluded.
• Primary auto liability — at least the federal minimum if you run your own authority.
• Physical damage — for the tractor and the trailer; a lender with a lien will require it.
• Occupational accident or workers’ compensation — injury coverage for the people who secure and tarp the loads; your state’s law decides when workers’ comp is required for employees.

Hauling machinery? Heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery of 10,000 lbs or more need at least four tiedowns, with accessories such as shovels lowered and secured and articulated machines kept from articulating (49 CFR 393.130). Pickup-and-gooseneck work is covered in the hot shot guide, and cars on a trailer in the car hauler guide.

Quote checklist for flatbed

• USDOT and MC numbers (or your pending application).
• Tractor and trailer VINs, years, trailer type (flatbed, step deck, lowboy) and values.
• Commodities you haul and the highest value per load.
• Whether you move oversize or overweight loads under permits, and in which states.
• Drivers’ license details and experience, and loss runs from recent insurers.