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Driver's Handbook on Cargo Securement - Chapter 3: Logs
What Does This Section Cover?
The standard defines a log as all natural wood that retains the original shape of the bole (trunk) of a tree, whether raw, partially processed, or fully processed.
- Raw: All tree species that have been harvested with bark; may have been trimmed or cut to length
- Partially processed: Fully or partially debarked, or further reduced in length
- Fully processed: Utility poles, treated poles, log cabin building components
The specific requirements for logs cover short wood and long wood.
Short Wood
- Normally up to about 2.5 m (100 in) in length.
- No longer than 4.9 m (16 ft) in length.
-
Also called:
- Cut-up logs
- Cut-to-length logs
- Bolts
- Pulp wood
Long Wood
- Anything not considered short wood.
- Also called Long Logs or Tree-length.
Exceptions to the specific requirements
The following types of logs are not covered by the specific logs requirements:
- Logs unitized by banding or other comparable means. [Secure according to general cargo securement requirements.]
- Loads of no more than four processed logs. [Secure according to general cargo securement requirements.]
- Firewood, stumps, debris, other short logs, and longer logs. [Transport in a vehicle or container enclosed on both sides, the front, and the rear, and strong enough to contain them.]
What's in a stack?
Some stacks may consist of both short wood and long wood. Any stack that includes short wood must follow the short wood securement requirements.
Exception: If short wood is embedded in load of long wood, it can be treated as long wood.
Components of the Securement System
Specially designed vehicle
Requirements:
- Vehicle must be designed and built, or adapted, for transportation of logs.
- Vehicle must be fitted with a means to cradle the logs and prevent rolling, such as:
- Bunks
- Bolsters
- Stakes. OR
- Standards
- All vehicle components must be designed and built to withstand all expected operational forces without failure, accidental release, or permanent deformation.
Stakes
Requirement:
If stakes or standards are not permanently attached to the vehicle, secure the stakes so that they do not separate from the vehicle.
Tiedowns
Requirements
- Use tiedowns in combination with bunks, stakes, or standards and bolsters to secure the load.
- All tiedowns must have a working load limit not less than 1,800 kg (4,000 lb.).
- Tension tiedowns as tightly as possible but not beyond their working load limit.
Related Cargo Securement Terms That Every Driver Should Know:
-
Bulkhead:
A vertical barrier across a vehicle to prevent forward movement of cargo.
-
Hook-lift Container:
A specialized container, primarily used to contain and transport materials in the waste, recycling, construction/demolition, and scrap industries, which are used in conjunction with specialized vehicles, in which the container isloaded and unloaded onto a tilt frame body by an articulating hook-arm.
-
Well:
The depression formed between two cylindrical articles when they are laid with their eyes horizontal and parallel against each other.
Multiple-Choice Questions:
Which of the following are not covered by the specific log securement requirements?
- None of these are covered by the specific log requirements
- Logs unitized by banding or other comparable means.
- Firewood, stumps, debris, other short logs, and longer logs.
- Loads of no more than four processed logs.
The following types of logs are not covered by the specific logs requirements:
- Logs unitized by banding or other comparable means. [Secure according to general cargo securement requirements.]
- Loads of no more than four processed logs. [Secure according to general cargo securement requirements.]
- Firewood, stumps, debris, other short logs, and longer logs. [Transport in a vehicle or container enclosed on both sides, the front, and the rear and strong enough to contain them.]
In what circumstance can shortwood be treated as longwood?
- When it is painted green on the ends.
- Right after it is cut down.
- When it is embedded in a stack of longwood.
- When it is stacked long-ways on the trailer.
What's in a stack?
Some stacks may be made up of both shortwood and longwood. Any stack that includes shortwood must follow the shortwood securement requirements.
Exception: If shortwood is embedded in load of longwood, it can be treated as longwood.
A bulkhead is defined as:
- A vertical barrier across the front of the deck of a vehicle to prevent forward movement of cargo.
- A vertical barrier placed directly behind the cab of a tractor to protect the cab in the event cargo should shift forward.
- A vertical barrier across a vehicle to prevent forward movement of cargo.
- A structure, device, or another substantial article placed against or around an article to prevent horizontal movement of the article.
Bulkhead:
A vertical barrier across a vehicle to prevent forward movement of cargo.
What is the minimum WLL of a tiedown used to secure logs?
- 50% of cargo weight
- 4,000 lb
- 1,800 lb
- It depends on if you are hauling shortwood or longwood
- Use tiedowns in combination with bunks, stakes, or standards and bolsters to secure the load.
- All tiedowns must have a working load limit not less than 1,800 kg (4,000 lb.).
- Tension tiedowns as tightly as possible but not beyond their working load limit.
A hook-lift container is:
- A reusable, transportable enclosure that is especially designed with integral locking devices that secure it to a container chassis trailer to facilitate the efficient and bulk shipping and transfer of goods by, or between various modes of transport, such as highway, rail, sea, and air.
- The load carrying area of a truck, trailer, or intermodal container.
- A specialized container, primarily used to contain and transport materials in the waste, recycling, construction/demolition, and scrap industries, which are used in conjunction with specialized vehicles, in which the container isloaded and unloaded onto a tilt frame body by an articulating hook-arm.
- A vehicle especially built and fitted with locking devices for the transport of intermodal containers.
Hook-lift Container:
A specialized container, primarily used to contain and transport materials in the waste, recycling, construction/demolition, and scrap industries, which are used in conjunction with specialized vehicles, in which the container isloaded and unloaded onto a tilt frame body by an articulating hook-arm.
The definition for "shortwood" identifies pieces that are no longer than:
- The width of the road.
- Half the length of the trailer.
- 16 ft
- 75 in
Shortwood
- Normally up to about 2.5 m (100 in) in length.
- No longer than 4.9 m (16 ft) in length.
-
Also called:
- Cut-up logs
- Cut-to-length logs
- Bolts
- Pulpwood
In terms of cargo securement, what is a 'well'?
- The depression formed between two cylindrical articles when they are laid with their eyes horizontal and parallel against each other.
- A female housing fixed to the side or ends of a vehicle to receive a stake or peg, and may also be used as an anchor point.
- A device placed between the deck of a vehicle and car or between articles of cargo, intended to provide greater friction than exists naturally between these surfaces.
- A rail along the side of a vehicle that protects the side of the vehicle from impacts.
Well:
The depression formed between two cylindrical articles when they are laid with their eyes horizontal and parallel against each other.
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