Commodity-Specific Securement Requirements

Detailed requirements have been adopted for the securement of the following commodities:

• Logs
• Dressed lumber
• Metal coils
• Paper rolls
• Concrete pipe
• Inter-modal containers
• Small vehicles (under 4,500 kg)
• Heavy vehicles
• Crushed vehicles
• Roll-on/roll-off or hook-lift containers
• Large boulders

For the complete securement requirements for these specific commodities, refer to NSC Standard 10.

1. Logs

The commodity-specific rules for securing logs apply to the transportation of almost all logs, with the following exceptions:

• Loads that consist of no more than four logs may be transported using the general cargo-securement rules
• Firewood, stumps, log debris and logs may be transported in a vehicle or container enclosed on all sides and strong enough to contain them

2. Dressed Lumber and Similar Building Products

The rules in this section apply to the transportation of bundles of dressed lumber, packaged lumber or building products such as plywood, gypsum board or other materials of similar shape.

Building products that are not bundled or packaged must be treated as loose items and transported using the general cargo-securement rules. For the purpose of this section, the term "bundle" refers to packages of lumber, building materials or similar products that are unitized for securement as a single article of cargo.

This section does not apply to building products loaded on pallets or to packages of engineered wood products such as beams or trusses. Dressed lumber and similar bundled building products transported in enclosed trucks or trailers can be transported using the general cargo-securement rules.

3. Metal Coils

The rules in this section apply to the transportation of one or more metal coils, which individually or grouped together weigh 2,268 kilograms (5,000 lb.) or more. Shipments of metal coils that weigh less than 2,268 kilograms (5,000 lb.) may be secured using the general cargo-securement rules.

4. Paper Rolls

The rules for securing paper rolls apply to shipments of them, which individually or together weigh 2,268 kilograms (5,000 lb.) or more. Shipments of paper rolls that weigh less than this, as well as paper rolls bundled on a pallet, may be secured either using the rules in this section or the general cargo-securement rules.

5. Concrete Pipe

The rules in this section apply to the transportation of concrete pipe on flatbed trailers and vehicles, and on lowboy trailers. Concrete pipe that is bundled tightly together into a single rigid article with no tendency to roll, and concrete pipe loaded in a sided vehicle or container, must be secured using the general rules.

6. Inter-modal Containers

The requirements for inter-modal containers cover the transportation of these containers on container chassis and other types of vehicles. Inter-modal containers are freight containers designed and constructed to permit them to be used in two or more modes of transportation (for example, road and ship). Cargo contained within inter-modal containers must be secured using the general cargo-securement rules or, if applicable, the commodity-specific rules.

7. Automobiles, Light Trucks and Vans

This portion of the new standards applies to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, vans and equipment that operate on wheels or tracks, which individually weigh 4,500 kilograms (9,920 lb.) or less. Individual vehicles that are heavier than this must be secured in the same manner as heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery.

8. Heavy Vehicles, Equipment and Machinery

These requirements apply to the transportation of heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery that operate on wheels or tracks, such as loaders, bulldozers, tractors and power shovels, which individually weigh 4,500 kilograms (9,920 lb.) or more. Those lighter than 4,500 kilograms (9,920 lb.) may be secured using these rules; the rules for automobiles, light trucks and vans; or the general freight requirements.

9. Flattened or Crushed Vehicles

The transportation of vehicles such as automobiles, light trucks and vans that have been flattened or crushed for recycling is covered by these requirements. This does not include vehicles that have been damaged in a collision and still have wheels attached.

10. Roll-on/Roll-off or Hook-Lift Containers

These rules apply to the transportation of roll-on/roll-off or hook-lift containers. A hook-lift container is specialized, primarily used to contain and transport materials in the waste, recycling, construction, demolition and scrap industries. These containers are handled by specialized vehicles on which the container is loaded and unloaded onto a tilt-frame body by a moveable hook arm.

11. Large Boulders

The rules in this section apply to the transportation of any large piece of natural, irregularly shaped rock weighing more than 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb.), or with a volume of more than two cubic metres on an open vehicle, or in a vehicle whose sides are not designed and rated to contain such cargo.

Pieces of rock weighing more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds), but less than 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) must be secured, either using this section, or using the general cargo securement rules, including:

• Rock contained within a vehicle which is designed to carry such cargo
• Secured individually by tie-downs, provided that each piece can be stabilized and adequately secured

Rock that has been formed or cut to a shape, and provides a stable base, must also be secured, as described in this section or with the general-securement rules.