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Driver's Handbook on Cargo Securement - Chapter 5: Metal Coils

Coil of rolled sheet metal

What Does This Section Cover?

This section applies to coils of rolled sheet metal. Coiled wire is secured using the general cargo securement requirements (section 2).

Size of coil (Section 3.3.1)

All metal coil shipments that, individually or together, weigh 2,268 kg (5,000 lb.) or more must be secured according to the specific requirements in this section.
Exception: Metal coils that weigh less than 2,268 kg (5,000 lb.) may be secured according to general securement requirements (Section 2).

Orientation of coil

Eyes vertical

Diagram of a metal coil set up vertical

Eyes crosswise

Diagram of a metal coil set up crosswise

Eyes lengthwise

Diagram of a metal coil set up lengthwise

Type of Vehicle

The specific requirements are for metal coils transported:

  • On flatbed vehicles.
  • In sided vehicles with or without anchor points.
  • In intermodal containers with or without anchor points.

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Vertical on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.2)

If the coil is mounted on a pallet:

  • Coil must be fastened to pallet so it cannot move on the pallet.
  • Pallet must be strong enough to not collapse under Performance Criteria forces (Section 1).
  • Use a friction mat between pallet and deck.

Diagram of a metal coil set up vertical

Requirements for securing a single coil (Section 3.3.2.1)

To prevent the coil from tipping forward, rearward, and sideways, arrange tiedowns to include the following:

  • Attach at least one tiedown diagonally across eye of coil from left side of vehicle to right side of vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tiedown diagonally across eye of coil from right side of vehicle to left side of vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tiedown over eye of coil from side-to-side.
  • To prevent forward movement, use one of these:
    • Blocking.
    • Bracing.
    • Friction mats.
    • A tiedown passed around the front of coil.
  • Attach at least one tiedown against front of row of coils to restrain against forward motion.
    • If possible, angle between tiedown and deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tiedown against rear of row of coils to restrain against rearward motion.
    • If possible, angle between tiedown and deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tiedown over top of each coil or side-by-side row of coils to restrain against vertical motion.
    • Tiedowns going over top of coil(s) must be as close as possible to eye of coil.
  • Arrange tiedowns, blocking, or bracing to prevent shifting or tipping in all directions.

Diagram of a 8 metal coils set up vertical. They are all next to each other, tied down, and there are blocker bar at the top and bottom of the cargo.

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Crosswise on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.3)

There are three requirements for coils transported with eyes crosswise:

Prevent the coil from rolling

  • Attach one tiedown forward.
  • Attach one tiedown rearward.

Diagram of a metal coil set up crosswise and the details of how it is tied down. There is one tie down through the metal coil, two spacer bars below the coil and tie downs on each side.

Requirements for securing a single coil (Section 3.3.3.1)

Prevent the coil from rolling

  • Prevent the coil from rolling by supporting it:
    • Timbers, chocks, or wedges held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose.
    • A cradle (for example, two hardwood timbers and two coil bunks) that is restrained from sliding by:
      • Friction mats under the cradle.
      • Nailed wood blocking or cleats.
      • Placing a tiedown around the front of the cradle.
  • The support must:
    • Support the coil just above the deck.
    • Not become unintentionally unfastened or loose in transit.

Note: The use of nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure timbers, chocks or wedges, or a nailed wood cradle, is prohibited.

One tiedown forward

  • Attach at least one tiedown through the eye of the coil to restrain against forward motion.
    • If possible, the angle between the tiedown and the deck should be less than 45.

One tiedown rearward

  • Attach at least one tiedown through the eye of the coil to restrain against rearward motion.
    • If possible, the angle between the tiedown and the deck should be less than 45.

Diagram of two crosswide coils where each has two tiedowns that go through the coil. These tiedowns are on each end of the coil and represent the Correct use of tiedowns for single coil

Note: Attaching tiedowns diagonally through the eye of a coil to form an X-pattern when viewed from above the vehicle is prohibited. (Section 3.3.3.2)

Diagram of two tiedowns that are twisted together inside the metal coil. This is an bad example and represents the X-pattern prohibited for tiedowns

Note: If a tiedown is used around the front of the cradle, it does not count towards the aggregate WLL for tiedowns through the eye of the coil.

Securing Coils Transported With Eyes Lengthwise on a Vehicle with Anchor Points (Section 3.3.4)

Requirements for securing an individual coil

There are three options for safely securing individual coils that are loaded with their eyes lengthwise. Blocking and supporting the coils is the same. The difference is in the tiedown arrangement.

Diagram of an lengthwise coil. This coil had two tiedowns that go through the coil and one tie down that goes over the top. There is also a blocking bar used at the top of the coil to secure the coil.
Eyes Lengthwise

Prevent the coil from rolling

  • Prevent the coil from rolling by supporting it:
    • Timbers, chocks, or wedges held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose.
    • A cradle (for example, two hardwood timbers and two coil bunks) that is restrained from sliding by:
      • Placing friction mats under the cradle
      • Using nailed wood blocking or cleats against the front timber
      • Placing a tiedown around the front of the cradle.
  • The support must:
    • Support the coil off the deck.
    • Not become unintentionally unfastened or loose in transit.

Note: The use of nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure timbers, chocks or wedges, or a nailed wood cradle, isprohibited.

Tiedowns, Single Coil Option #1 (Section 3.3.4.1)

  • Attach at least one tiedown diagonally from the left side of the vehicle, through the eye, to the right side of the vehicle.
    • If possible, the angle between the tiedown and the deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tiedown diagonally from the right side of the vehicle, through the eye, to the left side of the vehicle.
    • If possible, the angle between the tiedown and the deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tiedown side-to-side over the top of the coil.
  • Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.

Diagram of lengthwise tied down coil there is one diagonal tiedown from left to right and one diagonal tiedown from right to left. There is also a tiedown over the top. This is considered
Option #1 Single Coil (Eye Lengthwise)

Tiedowns, Single Coil Option #2 (Section 3.3.4.2)

Option #2 is the same as Option #1, except the tiedowns that attach through the eye of the coil are straight instead of diagonal.

  • Attach at least one tiedown straight from the left side of the vehicle, through the eye, and back to the left side of the vehicle.
    • If possible, the angle between the tiedown and the deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tiedown straight from the right side of the vehicle, through the eye, and back to the right side of the vehicle.
    • If possible, the angle between the tiedown and the deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
  • Attach at least one tiedown side-to-side over the top of the coil.
  • Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.

Single Coil (Eye Lengthwise)
Option #2 Single Coil (Eye Lengthwise)

Tiedowns, Single Coil Option #3 (Section 3.3.4.3)

Option #3 is the same as Options #1 and #2, except that the two tiedowns that attach through the eye of the coil are replaced with two tiedowns that pass over the front and the rear of the coil.

  • Attach at least one tiedown over the top of the coil near the front of the coil.
  • Attach at least one tiedown over the top of the coil near the rear of the coil.
  • Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.

Diagram of lengthwise tied down coil where there are two tiedowns over the top of the coil.
Option #3 Single Coil (Eye Lengthwise)

Requirements for securing rows of coils (Section 3.3.4.4)

A row of coils is three or more coils loaded in the same way and in a line.

Diagram of 6 lengthwise coils. There are 2 columns of 3 coils where each row of coils has two tiedowns over the top.

Row of Coils

Prevent the coil from rolling

  • Prevent the coil from rolling by supporting it:
    • Timbers, chocks, or wedges held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose.
    • A cradle (for example, two hardwood timbers and two coil bunks) that is restrained from sliding by:
      • Placing friction mats under the cradle
      • Using nailed wood blocking or cleats against the front timber
      • Placing a tiedown around the front of the cradle.
  • The support must:
    • Support the coil just above the deck.
    • Not become unintentionally unfastened or loose in transit.

Note: The use of nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure timbers, chocks or wedges, or a nailed wood cradle, isprohibited.

Tiedowns

  • Attach at least one tiedown over the top of each coil or side-by-side row, located near the front of the coil.
  • Attach at least one tiedown over the top of each coil or side-by-side row, located near the rear of the coil.
  • Use blocking or friction mats to prevent forward movement.

Diagram of 6 lengthwise coils. There are 2 columns of 3 coils where each row of coils has two tiedowns over the top.

Acceptable securement of a row of coils (Eyes Lengthwise)

Securing Coils Transported in a Sided Vehicle or Intermodal Container without Anchor Points (Section 3.3.5)

To prevent metal coils from moving horizontally and/or tipping:

  • Follow general cargo securement requirements (Section 2).
  • Secure the coils using:
    • Blocking and bracing
    • Friction mats
    • A combination of these.

The securement system used must prevent movement in directions (see Section 1).

Updated: Thursday, December 18, 2014
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