Loading coils?

[Big_Dave]

I've hauled smaller coils of aluminum or steel in a dry van before. They've always laid flat but I don't trust the 'stars' they set the pallets on, so I strap them in the best I can.

One thing I've wondered is, how do you get the chain through the center of the coils when they're standing up on a flatbed? I've seen spools that don't have a big enough 'center' to stick your arm through. :wtf:

Do you have a piece of aluminum pipe that you put the chain hook in and then stick it through? :wtf:

[Foxfire]

When you haul coils standing upright on a pallet it's usually secured to the pallet. Then all you have to do is strap down the pallet. I used to throw a strap over the coils also just to be safe. Then of course there comes the tarp that helps hold them to a certain degree.
I never loaded a coil that I couldn't get a chain thru Dave. They were usually big coils that I had to use at least 2 chains and binders on. I have hauled some spools for cable that I had to use a piece of pipe to get the chains thru the center hole on. But that was one of the craziest loads I ever fooled with. That was one of the ones where I hunted up small pieces of wood and nailed my lil home made chocks all around.
There is another trick that flatbedders use that you van guys probably have never heard of.... coil racks. They are metal pieces that have a triangle kinda thing on each end. You lay them on the trailer and then put 2 pieces of beveled wood in them to have a place for the coil to rest. Notice I said "beveled" wood? Some places will NOT let you use landscape timbers, even tho' they are made beveled.

[Big_Dave]

There is another trick that flatbedders use that you van guys probably have never heard of.... coil racks. They are metal pieces that have a triangle kinda thing on each end. You lay them on the trailer and then put 2 pieces of beveled wood in them to have a place for the coil to rest. Notice I said "beveled" wood? Some places will NOT let you use landscape timbers, even tho' they are made beveled.
I've seen them used on flatbeds & stepdecks. Pretty neat invention I'd say. ;)

Coils in dry vans (at least from what I've seen), are laid flat. Either on a rubber mat or the skid is set down on top of little metal 'stars' (those 'stars' don't hold sh*t when ya gotta mash the brakes!)

It's been almost 4 years since I've hauled coils in a dry van. :cool: :cheers:

[Bikerboy]

I haul wooden spools of electrical wire in a dry van sometimes. We lay them down on a skid. Theres always stuff in front of them so they can't slide anywhere. Never strap them.

Ever hauled electrical conduit in a dry van? It sucks . We haul both steel and plastic types.It's usally like 8 or 10 feet long and sometimes it's is really heavy peices.

We use a u shaped cart and lay all the conduit on the cart, then strap the cart to the wall. Sometimes stuff will still slide around and sometimes slide off the cart.
I hate hauling that stuff, good thing we only have a few carts fulls in every trailer load.

Coils in dry vans (at least from what I've seen), are laid flat. Either on a rubber mat or the skid is set down on top of little metal 'stars' (those 'stars' don't hold sh*t when ya gotta mash the brakes!)

Dave!..Most people seem to forget, that the cargo securement regs apply to van trailers as much as flats.

Never...ever haul skidded coils in a van without proper securement.
I dont have to tell you that the side if those trailers are not very strong....it will not hold a coil if you were to make sudden stops or a sharp turn.

I dont have the faintest clue on how you would secure them in a van, but I'm sure its not easy.

[Big_Dave]

Dave!..Most people seem to forget, that the cargo securement regs apply to van trailers as much as flats.

Never...ever haul skidded coils in a van without proper securement.
I dont have to tell you that the side if those trailers are not very strong....it will not hold a coil if you were to make sudden stops or a sharp turn.

I dont have the faintest clue on how you would secure them in a van, but I'm sure its not easy.
I use straps and decking bars if I have to haul coils in a van now.

About 4-5 years ago, I picked up a load of 5-6 coils weighing 41K lbs. outta New Carlisle IN.

I told the guy that I didn't like the idea of using them 'stars'. I told them to use blocking nailed to the floor (I didn't have a van with e-tracks).

Needless to say, I had to hit the brakes and they all slid forward. :yikes: I was lucky that they didn't come through the front wall of the trailer.

Thankfully there was a steel mill near where I was going to scale at, and they were nice enough to pull them off and reload them........blocking them properly.

Since then, I refuse to haul coils unless I have a van with e-tracks, straps and decking bars. I also insist that the shipper provide and install blocking.

[Pipester]

Dave, Just use your 5th wheel puller to pull the chain thru.

[DrivingZiggy]

sect;393.120 What are the rules for securing metal coils?

Applicability. The rules in this section apply to the transportation of one or more metal coils which, individually or grouped together, weigh 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) or more. Shipments of metal coils that weigh less than 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) may be secured in accordance with the provisions of & sect; & sect;393.100 through 393.114.
Securement of coils transported with eyes vertical on a flatbed vehicle, in a sided vehicle or intermodal container with anchor points
An individual coil. Each coil must be secured by tiedowns arranged in a manner to prevent the coils from tipping in the forward, rearward, and lateral directions. The restraint system must include the following:
At least one tiedown attached diagonally from the left side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the forwardmost part of the coil), across the eye of the coil, to the right side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the rearmost part of the coil);
At least one tiedown attached diagonally from the right side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the forwardmost part of the coil), across the eye of the coil, to the left side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the rearmost part of the coil);
At least one tiedown attached transversely over the eye of the coil; and
Either blocking and bracing, friction mats or tiedowns must be used to prevent longitudinal movement in the forward direction.
Coils grouped in rows. When coils are grouped and loaded side by side in a transverse or longitudinal row, each row of coils must be secured by the following:
At least one tiedown attached to the front of the row of coils, restraining against forward motion, and whenever practicable, making an angle no more than 45 degrees with the floor of the vehicle or intermodal container when viewed from the side of the vehicle or container;
At least one tiedown attached to the rear of the row of coils, restraining against rearward motion, and whenever practicable, making an angle no more than 45 degrees with the floor of the vehicle or intermodal container when viewed from the side of the vehicle or container;
At least one tiedown over the top of each coil or transverse row of coils, restraining against vertical motion. Tiedowns going over the top of a coil(s) must be as close as practicable to the eye of the coil and positioned to prevent the tiedown from slipping or becoming unintentionally unfastened while the vehicle is in transit; and
Tiedowns must be arranged to prevent shifting or tipping in the forward, rearward and lateral directions.
Securement of coils transported with eyes crosswise on a flatbed vehicle, in a sided vehicle or intermodal container with anchor points
(1) An individual coil. Each coil must be secured by the following:
A means (e.g., timbers, chocks or wedges, a cradle, etc.) to prevent the coil from rolling. The means of preventing rolling must support the coil off the deck, and must not be capable of becoming unintentionally unfastened or loose while the vehicle is in transit. If timbers, chocks or wedges are used, they must be held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose. The use of nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure timbers, chocks or wedges, or a nailed wood cradle, is prohibited;
At least one tiedown through its eye, restricting against forward motion, and whenever practicable, making an angle no more than 45 degrees with the floor of the vehicle or intermodal container when viewed from the side of the vehicle or container; and
At least one tiedown through its eye, restricting against rearward motion, and whenever practicable, making an angle no more than 45 degrees with the floor of the vehicle or intermodal container when viewed from the side of the vehicle or container.
Prohibition on crossing of tiedowns when coils are transported with eyes crosswise. Attaching tiedowns diagonally through the eye of a coil to form an X-pattern when viewed from above the vehicle is prohibited.
Securement of coils transported with eyes lengthwise on a flatbed vehicle, in a sided vehicle or intermodal container with anchor points
An individual coil - option 1. Each coil must be secured by:
A means (e.g., timbers, chocks or wedges, a cradle, etc.) to prevent the coil from rolling. The means of preventing rolling must support the coil off the deck, and must not be capable of becoming unintentionally unfastened or loose while the vehicle is in transit. If timbers, chocks or wedges are used, they must be held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose. The use of nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure timbers, chocks or wedges, or a nailed wood cradle, is prohibited;
At least one tiedown attached diagonally through its eye from the left side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the forward-most part of the coil), to the right side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the rearmost part of the coil), making an angle no more than 45 degrees, whenever practicable, with the floor of the vehicle or intermodal container when viewed from the (v)Either blocking, or friction mats to prevent longitudinal movement.
An individual coil - option 2. Each coil must be secured by:
A means (e.g., timbers, chocks or wedges, a cradle, etc.) to prevent the coil from rolling. The means of preventing rolling must support the coil off the deck, and must not be capable of becoming unintentionally unfastened or loose while the vehicle is in transit. If timbers, chocks or wedges are used, they must be held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose. The use of nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure timbers, chocks or wedges, or a nailed wood cradle, is prohibited;
At least one tiedown attached straight through its eye from the left side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the forward-most part of the coil), to the left side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the rearmost part of the coil), and, whenever practicable, making an angle no more than 45 degrees with the floor of the vehicle or intermodal container when viewed from the side of the vehicle or container; side of the vehicle or container;
At least one tiedown attached diagonally through its eye, from the right side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the forward-most part of the coil), to the left side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the rearmost part of the coil), making an angle no more than 45 degrees, whenever practicable, with the floor of the vehicle or intermodal container when viewed (iii) At least one tiedown attached straight through its eye, from the right side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the forward-most part of the coil), to the right side of the vehicle or intermodal container (near the rearmost part of the coil), and whenever practicable, making an angle no more than 45 degrees with the floor of the vehicle or intermodal container when viewed from the side of the vehicle or container; from the side of the vehicle or container;
At least one tiedown attached transversely over the top of the coil; and
At least one tiedown attached transversely over the top of the coil; and
Either blocking or friction mats to prevent longitudinal movement.
An individual coil - option 3. Each coil must be secured by:
A means (e.g., timbers, chocks or wedges, a cradle, etc.) to prevent the coil from rolling. The means of preventing rolling must support the coil off the deck, and must not be capable of becoming unintentionally unfastened or loose while the vehicle is in transit. If timbers, chocks or wedges are used, they must be held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose. The use of nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure timbers, chocks or wedges, or a nailed wood cradle, is prohibited;
At least one tiedown over the top of the coil, located near the forward-most part of the coil;
At least one tiedown over the top of the coil located near the rearmost part of the coil; and
Either blocking or friction mats to prevent longitudinal movement in the forward direction.
Rows of coils. Each transverse row of coils having approximately equal outside diameters must be secured with:
A means (e.g., timbers, chocks or wedges, a cradle, etc.) to prevent each coil in the row of coils from rolling. The means of preventing rolling must support each coil off the deck, and must not be capable of becoming unintentionally unfastened or loose while the vehicle is in transit. If timbers, chocks or wedges are used, they must be held in place by coil bunks or similar devices to prevent them from coming loose. The use of nailed blocking or cleats as the sole means to secure timbers, chocks or wedges, or a nailed wood cradle, is prohibited;
At least one tiedown over the top of each coil or transverse row, located near the forward-most part of the coil;
At least one tiedown over the top of each coil or transverse row, located near the rearmost part of the coil; and
Either blocking, bracing or friction mats to prevent longitudinal movement.
(e) Securement of coils transported in a sided vehicle without anchor points or an intermodal container without anchor points. Metal coils transported in a vehicle with sides without anchor points or an intermodal container without anchor points must be loaded in a manner to prevent shifting and tipping. The coils may also be secured using a system of blocking and bracing, friction mats, tiedowns, or a combination of these to prevent any horizontal movement and tipping.

[copperbottom]

We have hauled sucide coils, requireing 5 chains/straps for securement(2 chains pulling from forward/rear movement each side and 1 strap over the top), and a whole flatbed of coils from RockyMountain steel.........our basic standard on a full load is blocking on all coils plus, 3 chains front & back coils......2 chains everyother row, 1 chain on the remaining coils........ we've haule 47000lbs of coils and it takes every chain we have to do it and we GOT chains......... I secure my loads so they don't go NOWHERE, and check them regularly. I've seen too many loads shift, fall off, or cause a overturn. Flatbedding takes a eye for securement. cb

[Foxfire]

Thx Ziggy! That should cover all of it.....lol

[dominopizzadrvr]

Don't forget those 4x4's when you got them coil racks and throw all the snap binders you have over the side and get the kind that has threads. I saw my step dad get busted in the mouth with one of those snap binders when i was a kid.It looked like it hurt but i'd say he probably deserved it. LOL I used to take 30 days of leave when i was in the Air Force and go home and pull a covered wagon for a month,i think i did it for 3 years,hauled alot to Ohio and out of Tuscaloosa,Chicago and West by-god Virginia,it was fun.