What Does This Section Cover? (Section 3.2.1)

The requirements for dressed lumber and similar building materials section apply to certain products when they are transported as bundles on flatbed and open vehicles.

These products are:

• Dressed lumber.
• Packaged lumber.
• Engineered building products (e.g. plywood, drywall, other materials of similar shape).

Note: Lumber or building products that are not bundled or pack aged should be treated as loose items and transported in accordance with the general cargo securement requirements in Section 2.

Note: Bundles carried in a closed vehicle should be immobilized or contained in accordance with the general cargo securement requirements in Section 2.

Positioning and Securing Bundles (Section 3.2.2)

Requirements for bundles placed side by side on a platform vehicle

Choose one of two options for positioning bundles:

• Option #1:
  • Place bundles in direct contact with each other.
• Option #2:
  • Provide a means (such as dunnage or blocking) to prevent the bundles from shifting towards each other.

Requirements for bundles in one tier

• Secure bundles in accordance with general cargo securement requirements (Section 2).
• Web tiedowns are often used to secure building materials.

Requirements for Securement System:

• In proper working order with no damaged or weakened components that affect their performance or reduce their working load limit.
• No knots.
• Attached and secured in a manner that prevents them from coming loose during transit.
• Able to be tightened by a driver of an in-transit vehicle.
• Located inboard of rub rails whenever practicable.
• Edge protection must be used when a tiedown would be subject to abrasion or cutting.

Requirements for securing bundles in two or more tiers

There are four options for securing bundles of dressed lumber that are transported in two or more tiers. Choose one of the four.

• Option #1:
  • To block side-to-side movement, block the bundles with stakes on the sides of the vehicle. Secure the bundles by tiedowns laid out over the top tier, as outlined in Section 2.

• Option #2:
  • To block side-to-side movement, use blocking or high friction devices between the tiers. Secure the bundles by tiedowns laid out over the top tier, as outlined in Section 2.

High Friction Devices

• Friction mat
• Piece of wood with friction surface
• Cleated mat
• Other specialized equipment

• Option #3:
  • ​Place bundles directly on top of other bundles or on spacers. 
  • Secure the stack of bundles with tiedowns:
    • Tiedowns over the second tier of bundles or at 1.85 m (6 ft) above the trailer deck (whichever is greater).
    • Tiedowns for other multiple tiers not over 1.85 m (6 ft) above the trailer.
    • Tiedowns over the top tier of bundles with a minimum of 2 tiedowns over each top bundle longer than 1.52 m (5 ft).

Spacer Requirements

• The length of spacers must provide support to all pieces in the bottom row of the bundle.
• The width of each spacer must be equal or greater than the height.
• Spacers must provide good interlayer friction.
• If spacers are comprised of layers of material, the layers must be unitized or fastened together to ensure that the spacer performs as a single piece of material.

• Option #4:
  • Secure the bundles by tiedowns over each tier of bundles in accordance with the general cargo securement requirements (Section 2).
  • Use at least 2 tiedowns over each bundle on the top tier that is longer than 1.52 m (5 ft).

Suggestion to Increase Safety

Choose one of two options for stopping forward motion:

• Option #1
  • Place bundles against bulkhead/front end structure.
• Option #2
• When different tiers need to be secured, use a combination of blocking equipment and tiedowns.