Newbie to this board, so my question may have been answered in the past. I think the law is that when transporting a tractor on an open trailer, it must have four separate tie-down chains or straps rated for the weight. But if the tractor is transported in a enclosed cargo van, does the same tie-down law apply? My van is private, not for hire, and licensed for 24,000 lbs. Obviously, if the tractor can't be seen, it would probably go unnoticed. But what if the vehicle is stopped for some other violation, and they want to see what's inside?
Cub n M in OR
Member
I've hauled alot of tractors alot of miles with just two tiedowns. I can't say that it is legal, but I've never heard of anoyone having a problem. Even when I was renting equipment and trailers, they never supplied more than two tiedowns. I'd imagine if you were ever in a wreck, some lawyer would make a fuss about it, but no-one likes lawyers (except their own) anyhow.
Ben
Ben
Ben
Ben
TreeFarmer1414
Member
PopinJohn: To my knowledge the short answer is 2 tie downs, one front and one back, if tractor is over under 10,000 pounds. If over 10K, then you need 4 corner tie down. You also should be using G70 chain. It is gold colored. Then your chain binders need to be rated similar to the chains. Yes, you can probably get by with less, but have an accident or trouble on the road, and the lawyers will have you for lunch. Just my $.02.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
they can't look in your trailer with out a warrant
caterpillar guy
Well-known Member
Well it should be tied down . They make what are called D-rings that can be put in the floor of the trailer to tie to. If you buy 2 of the chains and cut them in half, then add a hook they will be plenty long and will give you the 4 chains your looking for.
Now for the looking in the trailer if it is not sealed they sure can open it without a warrant. And all they need is probable cause. That is a very broad issue from somebody called ,to looking for drugs, or stolen property, or anything else that you can think of.
Now for the looking in the trailer if it is not sealed they sure can open it without a warrant. And all they need is probable cause. That is a very broad issue from somebody called ,to looking for drugs, or stolen property, or anything else that you can think of.
john in la
Well-known Member
Yes the same laws apply.
Even in a van trailer you must secure freight to prevent shifting or moving. Things like reels of wire must be blocked by nailing dunnage to the floor. Boxes on pallets may use the trailer sides to provide this securement devise but large items like cars or tractors need to be tied down.
It is to your advantage to tie it down anyway. If you took off from a light or had to stop hard the tractor is likely to roll. Even if the sides of the trailer stop the tractor something is going to be damaged.
LOL!!!!! Now that is funny Marlowe.
While you may have rights as a private citizen these rights go right out the window once you cross into DOT territory.
They have the right to inspect any trailer of this size on the road since DOT law starts at 10k lbs gross weight.
If by looking in the trailer they were to find out he is really commercial rather than private citizen that would open a whole new can of worms.
They could then search for things in the cab you would not even think is illegal to have.
john in la
Well-known Member
I do not know why my last post only shows on the modern side but I do not see it in classic. So excuse me for the double post.
LOL!!!!! Now that is funny Marlowe.
While you may have rights as a private citizen these rights go right out the window once you cross into DOT territory.
They have the right to inspect any trailer of this size on the road since DOT law starts at 10k lbs gross weight.
If by looking in the trailer they were to find out he is really commercial rather than private citizen that would open a whole new can of worms.
They could then search for things you would not even think is illegal to have.
quoted from post at 20:19:50 12/29/09) they can"t look in your trailer with out a warrant[/quote]
LOL!!!!! Now that is funny Marlowe.
While you may have rights as a private citizen these rights go right out the window once you cross into DOT territory.
They have the right to inspect any trailer of this size on the road since DOT law starts at 10k lbs gross weight.
If by looking in the trailer they were to find out he is really commercial rather than private citizen that would open a whole new can of worms.
They could then search for things you would not even think is illegal to have.
lol oh yes they can , as a rule, under normal cercumstances, dot confines their activities to commercial vehicles, however things can change due to a number of things, 'B.O.L.O's [ be on the look out for] will cause them to take intrest in all vehicles for one, if the area your in is considered a drug running corridor by law enforcement, and your driving a box type vehicle you might be of intrest to them, but as one dot officer told me," we try to be fair, but when it comes down to it, we can stop and inspect any vehicle on the road for any reason, or no reason at all, [ random roadside inspection] done all the time the rights you enjoy in your home, except for a few western states, dont apply to your auto anymore
Dennis Benson
Member
I live on one of those corridors, it's the interstate from Chicago to Detroit. You would be surprised how many passenger cars are stopped for having a tail light out, or excessive speed or something else simple to control and they find great quantities of marajuana or crack or even mobile crack manufacturers. They get many years of prison for that.
maplehillfrm
Member
.. I agree with the majority, it MUST be secured, you have the tie downs in the trailer? use them, if you dont the very least you should do is block it with hardwood cleats fore and aft each tire, this will at least cradle it,
also front and rear chains on under 10,000,, 4 corners on over,
I rand a porshe 911 once from Cal, to Ny that way in a box van , it was a tractor trailer but same aspect,
your load HAS to be secured whether they see it or not, and if you ever God forbid git into an accident the life you save may be my families, you are Obligated to keep the public safe!!
as far as being looked at your load, DOT, LEO, etc have every right tyo look in your truck as you are on federal / interstate roads,
If you cant haul it safely in your van truck, get a trailer , or hire it moved,,
my 2 cents/pat
also front and rear chains on under 10,000,, 4 corners on over,
I rand a porshe 911 once from Cal, to Ny that way in a box van , it was a tractor trailer but same aspect,
your load HAS to be secured whether they see it or not, and if you ever God forbid git into an accident the life you save may be my families, you are Obligated to keep the public safe!!
as far as being looked at your load, DOT, LEO, etc have every right tyo look in your truck as you are on federal / interstate roads,
If you cant haul it safely in your van truck, get a trailer , or hire it moved,,
my 2 cents/pat
ScottyHOMeY
Well-known Member
You need to go the FMCSA regs, Part 393, Subpart I (scroll down a little on the link and you'll come to it) and read and understand them throughly. 393.100-393.114 deal with what is acceptable for tiedowns and anchors. .128 deals with vehicled under 10,000# and .130 with those 10k or over.
Four is always better than two. And it can also depend on what you're using for restraints. In the under 10k class, let's assume you have a 9000# tractor. Your restraints on each end have to have a working load rating of at least half the weight of the tractor, so 4500 on each end.
Look in 393.108. There you'll find that a single G70, 5/16" (W[orking] L[oad] L[imit] 4700) or larger chain on each end will be legal. It's important that the chain be marked with its grade, as unmarked chain is assumed to be G30, in which case it would have to be 1/2" (WLL 4500)or larger to pass.
Scroll down just a little more and look at the straps. A common 2" strap is rated for 2000#, so you would need three on each end. A 3" strap is rated for 3k, so you could use two on each end. If the strap is tagged by the manufacturer for a greater WLL than the minimums I just cited, the rating on the tag will be used as long as the strap is in good condition, not frayed, UV rot . . .
BUT those are just minimums, and assume a straight line pull on the chains or straps. A little geometry and physics kick in, and you lose some of the restraining force once those restraints are pulled at an angle, as they typically are, so you don't want to have goods rated for bare minimum holding at an angle.
If the machine is 10k or over, you're obliged to tie down all four corners with restraints whose WLLs add up to at least half the weight. Also note that anything like a FEL, backhoe, anything mounted on a 3-point . . . . requires a separate restraint to hold it in place.
As for an enclosed trailer, see 393.102(c)(2). Two key points there. Adequate strength is one. It would take an extraordinarily strong structure (walls, headboard, doors, hinges and latches) to contain an unrestrained 9000# tractor. Also note the requirement for it being sufficiently close to the enclosure that it can't move. All this applies to loads on pallets or other containers that are sized to fill the width of a trailer, and are on friction mats or shored with bars or straps to prevent thim shifting for and aft. Which is all by way of saying that (c)(2) is not a gimme. (c)(1) and (c)(3), essentially the same as for an open trailer, will apply with a tractor.
All these ratings apply to EVERY component -- chains, straps, binders, tensioners AND anchor points.
Tie it down right for your own safety and that of others. If you do get caught, you'll find the LEO very unsympathetic, in fact, he'll likely red-tag you, if he has the sense that you were trying to hide a bad load in an enclosed trailer.
Part 393
Four is always better than two. And it can also depend on what you're using for restraints. In the under 10k class, let's assume you have a 9000# tractor. Your restraints on each end have to have a working load rating of at least half the weight of the tractor, so 4500 on each end.
Look in 393.108. There you'll find that a single G70, 5/16" (W[orking] L[oad] L[imit] 4700) or larger chain on each end will be legal. It's important that the chain be marked with its grade, as unmarked chain is assumed to be G30, in which case it would have to be 1/2" (WLL 4500)or larger to pass.
Scroll down just a little more and look at the straps. A common 2" strap is rated for 2000#, so you would need three on each end. A 3" strap is rated for 3k, so you could use two on each end. If the strap is tagged by the manufacturer for a greater WLL than the minimums I just cited, the rating on the tag will be used as long as the strap is in good condition, not frayed, UV rot . . .
BUT those are just minimums, and assume a straight line pull on the chains or straps. A little geometry and physics kick in, and you lose some of the restraining force once those restraints are pulled at an angle, as they typically are, so you don't want to have goods rated for bare minimum holding at an angle.
If the machine is 10k or over, you're obliged to tie down all four corners with restraints whose WLLs add up to at least half the weight. Also note that anything like a FEL, backhoe, anything mounted on a 3-point . . . . requires a separate restraint to hold it in place.
As for an enclosed trailer, see 393.102(c)(2). Two key points there. Adequate strength is one. It would take an extraordinarily strong structure (walls, headboard, doors, hinges and latches) to contain an unrestrained 9000# tractor. Also note the requirement for it being sufficiently close to the enclosure that it can't move. All this applies to loads on pallets or other containers that are sized to fill the width of a trailer, and are on friction mats or shored with bars or straps to prevent thim shifting for and aft. Which is all by way of saying that (c)(2) is not a gimme. (c)(1) and (c)(3), essentially the same as for an open trailer, will apply with a tractor.
All these ratings apply to EVERY component -- chains, straps, binders, tensioners AND anchor points.
Tie it down right for your own safety and that of others. If you do get caught, you'll find the LEO very unsympathetic, in fact, he'll likely red-tag you, if he has the sense that you were trying to hide a bad load in an enclosed trailer.
Part 393
maplehillfrm
Member
Pat,
Can you please tell me where to look to find that the DOT and all LEO's have the ability to disregard the CONSTITUTION ?
Last time I investigated it, the government was still required to follow the highest law of the land, which is the constitution. That document has a set of amendments that are referred to as "The Bill of Rights". One of those God given rights is the right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. As you wrote it, the DOT and LEO's have the ability to stop and inspect all vehicular traffic on a whim. I strongly disagree with your assessment - but not being a LEO or DOT employee myself, I could be ill informed. Please direct me to the documents that gives the DOT/LEO's the authority to disregard the constitution.
Thank you,
jb
john in la
Well-known Member
JB
Some states (like Louisiana) think your car is a extension of your house so the same laws apply. In other states this does not apply to cars and only reasonable suspicion on the officers part is all that is needed.
Most waive there 4th amendment right threw officer intimidation any way so it makes the point mute in most cases. You tell the officer it is OK to look around when asked and your rights just went out the window.
That is for cars but you did say DOT.
That is a whole new ball of wax. A DOT officer can look in any trailer; sealed or unsealed at anytime. They even have a form for recording seal numbers the driver can have as proof a DOT man broke the seal. All he needs to say is he was making sure you were not trying to carry any haz mat; or making sure the load is what is listed on the bill of lading. You are a personal hauler. So what he is making sure you are hauling personal stuff and not trying to side step DOT and ICC laws.
He can get in the cab of your truck using inspection as a reason. Seeing a radar detector in the window is a instant ticket (if you are commercial) and reason for more inspection. They can search for things like pills not in the original bottle. That is right. You have one of those pill reminders that holds a weeks worth of pills. That is against DOT rules. You carry aspirin and cold medicine in the same bottle to save space. Again against DOT law.
Do not under estimate the power of the DOT if your rig weighs over 10,000 lbs gross weight.
Some states (like Louisiana) think your car is a extension of your house so the same laws apply. In other states this does not apply to cars and only reasonable suspicion on the officers part is all that is needed.
Most waive there 4th amendment right threw officer intimidation any way so it makes the point mute in most cases. You tell the officer it is OK to look around when asked and your rights just went out the window.
That is for cars but you did say DOT.
That is a whole new ball of wax. A DOT officer can look in any trailer; sealed or unsealed at anytime. They even have a form for recording seal numbers the driver can have as proof a DOT man broke the seal. All he needs to say is he was making sure you were not trying to carry any haz mat; or making sure the load is what is listed on the bill of lading. You are a personal hauler. So what he is making sure you are hauling personal stuff and not trying to side step DOT and ICC laws.
He can get in the cab of your truck using inspection as a reason. Seeing a radar detector in the window is a instant ticket (if you are commercial) and reason for more inspection. They can search for things like pills not in the original bottle. That is right. You have one of those pill reminders that holds a weeks worth of pills. That is against DOT rules. You carry aspirin and cold medicine in the same bottle to save space. Again against DOT law.
Do not under estimate the power of the DOT if your rig weighs over 10,000 lbs gross weight.
maplehillfrm
Member
well, I want to thank john in la, for answering, I havent been on in a bit,, If you need to ask that question , you havent run the road and had to sto pand be checked at a chicken house, weigh staion,, I dont run the road anymore thank God,, I hear its getting worse out there, and I am sure it is way more intense after 911 and all,,, I know that dot and customs can check your load when they want to , they have forms to sign and attach to a new seal whe it is a sealed load, I am not saying they do ita ll teh time but they have the right to check your load to see what you are hauling, make sure your cargo is what it is on your bill of laden and such,, this includes being secured and loaded correctly and safely,,
Not up on the book any more but they can and will do it if they have a reason, especially on teh left coast, they will check produce and such in and out,,. I am glad I just play around and pretend to be a trucker now,, but thank my lucky stars each time I see a truck and sing a little bit,that I dont drive a truck anymore, even if my career end was kinda forced on me by a bad injury, pat
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2025 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy