§ 393.102 Minimum performance criteria for cargo securement devices and systems.
Current wording, effective November 18, 2024.
(a) ApplicationPerformance andcriteria—(1) scopeBreaking of the rules in this sectionstrength. TheTiedown rules in this section apply to tiedown assemblies (including chains, cableswire rope, steel strapsstrapping, andsynthetic fiber webbing), otherand securementcordage) devices, and other attachment or fastening devices used in conjunction therewith, which are used to secure cargoarticles toof motor vehicles in transit. All devices which are used to secure cargo to, aor motor vehicle in, transitcommercial undermotor thevehicles rules in this subpart must conformbe to the requirements of this section.designed,
(b) Tiedown assemblies. Except for integral securement devices of containers for the transportation of containerizedinstalled, intermodaland cargomaintained which conform to theensure rulesthat in § 393.100(e), the aggregatemaximum workingforces loadacting limiton of the tiedowndevices assembliesor usedsystems todo securenot anexceed article against movement in any direction must be at least 1/2 times the weightmanufacturer's ofbreaking thestrength article.rating Withunder the exceptionfollowing of marking identificationconditions, tiedownsapplied usedseparately:
(i) must0.8 meetg applicabledeceleration manufacturing standards listed in thisthe paragraphforward (b).direction;
(1ii) Steel strapping0.5 Steelg strappingacceleration usedin as a component of a tiedown assembly must conform to the requirementsrearward ofdirection; the 1991 edition of the American Society for Testing and
(iii) Materials’ Standard Specification for Strapping, Flat Steel and Seals, ASTM D3953-910.5 Steelg strappingacceleration whichin is not marked by the manufacturer with a workinglateral loaddirection.
(2) limit,Working shallLoad be considered to have a working load limit equal to 1/4 of the breaking strength listed in ASTM D3953-91. (SeeTiedown §assemblies 393.7(b)including forchains, informationwire onrope, thesteel incorporationstrapping, bysynthetic referencewebbing, and availability of this document.cordage) Steeland strappingother thatattachment is one inch wide or widerfastening mustdevices haveused atto leastsecure twoarticles pairs of crimpscargo into, eachor sealin, andcommercial whenmotor anvehicles end-over-end lap joint is formed, it must be sealeddesigned, withinstalled, atand leastmaintained two seals.to
(2) Chain. Chain used as a component of a tiedown assembly must conform theensure requirementsthat of the Juneforces 15,acting 1990,on edition of the Nationaldevices Associationor ofsystems Chaindo Manufacturers’not Weldedexceed Steelthe Chainworking Specificationsload applicablelimit to all types of chain. (See § 393.7(b) for information on the incorporationdevices byunder referencethe andfollowing availabilityconditions, ofapplied this document.)separately:
(3i) Webbing0.435 Webbingg useddeceleration asin a component of a tiedown assembly must conform to the requirementsforward of the 1991 edition of the Web Sling and Tiedown Association's Recommended Standard Specification for Synthetic Webbing Tiedowns. direction;
(Seeii) § 3930.7(b)5 forg informationacceleration onin the incorporationrearward bydirection; reference and availability of this document.)
(4iii) Wire rope0.25 Wireg ropeacceleration usedin as a componentlateral ofdirection.
(b) aPerformance tiedowncriteria assemblyfor mustdevices conform to theprevent requirementsvertical ofmovement the November 1985 second edition of theloads Wirethat Ropeare Technical Board's Wire Rope Users Manual. Wire rope which is not markedcontained bywithin the manufacturerstructure with a working load limit, shall be considered to have a working load limit equal to 1/4 of the nominal strength listed in the Wire Rope Users Manualvehicle. (SeeSecurement §systems 393.7(b)must forprovide information on the incorporation by reference and availability of this document.)a
(5) Cordage. Cordage used as componentdownward offorce aequivalent tiedown assembly, must conform to theat applicableleast Cordage20 Institutepercent ropeof standards listed below: PETRS-2, Polyester Fiber Rope, 3-Strand and 8-Strand Constructions, January, 1993; PPRS-2, Polypropylene Fiber Rope, 3-Strand and 8-Strand Constructions, August, 1992; CRS-1, Polyester/Polypropylene Composite Rope Specifications, Three- and Eight-Strand Standard Construction, May 1979; NRS-1, Nylon Rope Specifications, Three- and Eight-Strand Standard Construction, May 1979; C1, Double Braided Nylon Rope Specifications, DBN-January 1984. (See § 393.7(b) for information on the incorporationweight by reference and availability of thesethe documents.)article
(6)Tables of workingcargo loadif limits. The working load limits listed in the tablesarticle in this paragraph are to be used when the tiedown material is not markedfully bycontained within the manufacturerstructure withof the working load limitvehicle. TiedownIf materialswhich are markedby the manufacturerarticle withis workingfully loadcontained limitswithin which differ from the table,structure shallof be considered to have a working load limit equal to the value for which they are marked. Synthetic cordage (e.g.vehicle, nylon,it polypropylene,may polyester) which is not marked or labeled to enable identification of its composition or working load limit shall be consideredsecured toin haveaccordance awith working load limit equal to that for polypropylene fiber rope.§ 393.
Tables to 102106(b)(6)—Working Load Limits (WLL).
Size inch (mm) Grade 3 proof coil Grade 4 high test Grade 7 transport
Grade 8 alloy
1/4 (7) 1300 (590) 2600 (1180) 3150 (1430) 3500 (1590)
5/16 (8) 1900 (860) 3900 (1770) 4700 (2130) 5100 (2310)
3/8 (10) 2650 (1200) 5400 (2450) 6600 (2990) 7100 (3220)
7/16 (11) 3500 (1590) 5800 (2630) 8750 (3970)
1/2 (13) 4500 (2040) 9200 (4170) 11300 (5130) 12000 (5440)
5/8 (16) 6900 (3130) 11500 (5220) 15800 (7170) 18100 (8210)
Chain Mark PC HT T
Examples 3 4 7 8
30 40 70 80
[Chain WLL in pounds (kg)]
Synthetic Webbing WLL
Width inch (mm) WLL pounds (kg)
1-3/4 (45) 1750 (790)
2 (50) 2000 (910)
3 (75) 3000 (1360)
4 (100) 4000 (1810)
Wire Rope (6 X 37, Fiber Core) WLL
Diameter inch (mm) WLL pounds (kg)
1/4 (7) 1400 (640)
5/16 (8) 2100 (950)
3/8 (10) 3000 (1360)
7/16 (11) 4100 (1860)
1/2 (13) 5300 (2400)
5/8 (16) 8300 (3770)
3/4 (20) 10900 (4940)
7/8 (22) 16100 (7300)
1 (25) 20900 (9480)
Manila Rope WLL
Diameter inch (mm) WLL pounds (kg)
3/8 (10) 205 (90)
7/16 (11) 265 (120)
1/2 (13) 315 (150)
5/8 (16) 465 (210)
3/4 (20) 640 (290)
1 (25) 1050 (480)
Polypropylene Fiber Rope WLL (3-Strand and 8-Strand Constructions)
Diameter inch (mm) WLL pounds (kg)
3/8 (10) 400 (180)
7/16 (11) 525 (240)
1/2 (13) 625 (280)
5/8 (16) 925 (420)
3/4 (20) 1275 (580)
1 (25) 2100 (950)
Polyester Fiber Rope WLL (3-Strand and 8-Strand Constructions)
Diameter inch (mm) WLL pounds (kg)
3/8 (10) 555 (250)
7/16 (11) 750 (340)
1/2 (13) 960 (440)
5/8 (16) 1500 (680)
3/4 (20) 1880 (850)
1 (25) 3300 (1500)
Nylon Rope WLL
Diameter inch (mm) WLL pounds (kg)
3/8 (10) 278 (130)
7/16 (11) 410 (190)
1/2 (13) 525 (240)
5/8 (16) 935 (420)
3/4 (20) 1420 (640)
1 (25) 2520 (1140)
Double Braided Nylon Rope WLL
Diameter inch (mm) WLL pounds (kg)
3/8 (10) 336 (150)
7/16 (11) 502 (230)
1/2 (13) 655 (300)
5/8 (16) 1130 (510)
3/4 (20) 1840 (830)
1 (25) 3250 (1470)
Steel Strapping WLL
Width − thickness inch WLL pounds (kg)
1-1/4 × 0029 1190 (540)1-1/4 × 0.031 1190 (540)c)
1-1/4 × 0.035 1190 (540)
1-1/4 × 0.044 1690 (770)
1-1/4 × 0.050 1690 (770)
1-1/4 × 0.057 1925 (870)
2 × 0.044 2650 (1200)
2 × 0.050 2650 (1200)
(LoadEquivalent bindersmeans andof hardwaresecurement. The strengthmeans of loadsecuring bindersarticles andof hardwarecargo that are partconsidered of, or used in conjunction with, a tiedown assembly must be equal to, ormeet greater than the minimumperformance strengthrequirements specified for that tiedown assembly in paragraph (b) of this section.
(d)Attachmentif to the vehicle.cargo Theis:
(1) hookImmobilized, bolt,such weld,so orthat otherit connectorcannot byshift whichor atip tiedown assembly is attached to a vehicle, and the mountingextent placethat and means of mounting the connector,vehicle's muststability beor atmaneuverability least as strong as the tiedown assembly when that connector is loadedadversely inaffected; any direction in which the tiedown assembly may load it.or
(e2) WinchesTransported orin other fastenings. The anchorages of a winchsided or other fastening device mounted on a vehicle andthat usedhas inwalls conjunctionof withadequate a tiedown assembly must have a combined tensile strength equal to, orsuch greaterthat than,each thearticle strength of thecargo tiedownwithin assembly.the
(f)Adjustability.vehicle Ais tiedownin assemblycontact andwith, itsor associatedsufficiently connectorsclose andto attachmenta deviceswall mustor beother designedarticles, constructed, and maintained so that theit drivercannot ofshift anor in-transittip vehicleto can tighten them. However, the rulesextent inthat this paragraph do not apply to a securement system in which the tiedownvehicle's assemblystability consists of steel strapping or tomaneuverability a tiedown assembly which is notadversely requiredaffected; byor
(3) theSecured rules in thisaccordance section.with
(49U.S.C.the 304,applicable 1655;requirements 49of CFR§§ 1393.48(b)104 andthrough 301393.60)136.
[3871 FR 2352235832, Aug.June 3122, 19732006, as amended at 4778 FR 4783758484, OctSept. 2824, 1982; 59 FR 34718, July 6, 1994; 59 FR 43898, Aug. 25, 19942013]
(a) Performance criteria—(1) Breaking strength. Tiedown assemblies (including chains, wire rope, steel strapping, synthetic webbing, and cordage) and other attachment or fastening devices used to secure articles of cargo to, or in, commercial motor vehicles must be designed, installed, and maintained to ensure that the maximum forces acting on the devices or systems do not exceed the manufacturer's breaking strength rating under the following conditions, applied separately:
(i) 0.8 g deceleration in the forward direction;
(ii) 0.5 g acceleration in the rearward direction; and
(iii) 0.5 g acceleration in a lateral direction.
(2) Working Load limit. Tiedown assemblies (including chains, wire rope, steel strapping, synthetic webbing, and cordage) and other attachment or fastening devices used to secure articles of cargo to, or in, commercial motor vehicles must be designed, installed, and maintained to ensure that the forces acting on the devices or systems do not exceed the working load limit for the devices under the following conditions, applied separately:
(i) 0.435 g deceleration in the forward direction;
(ii) 0.5 g acceleration in the rearward direction; and
(iii) 0.25 g acceleration in a lateral direction.
(b) Performance criteria for devices to prevent vertical movement of loads that are not contained within the structure of the vehicle. Securement systems must provide a downward force equivalent to at least 20 percent of the weight of the article of cargo if the article is not fully contained within the structure of the vehicle. If the article is fully contained within the structure of the vehicle, it may be secured in accordance with § 393.106(b).
(c) Equivalent means of securement. The means of securing articles of cargo are considered to meet the performance requirements of this section if the cargo is:
(1) Immobilized, such so that it cannot shift or tip to the extent that the vehicle's stability or maneuverability is adversely affected; or
(2) Transported in a sided vehicle that has walls of adequate strength, such that each article of cargo within the vehicle is in contact with, or sufficiently close to a wall or other articles, so that it cannot shift or tip to the extent that the vehicle's stability or maneuverability is adversely affected; or
(3) Secured in accordance with the applicable requirements of §§ 393.104 through 393.136.
[71 FR 35832, June 22, 2006, as amended at 78 FR 58484, Sept. 24, 2013]
Amendment history
7 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996- [71 FR 35832, June 22, 2006, as amended at 78 FR 58484, Sept. 24, 2013]
- [71 FR 35832, June 22, 2006, as amended at 78 FR 58484, Sept. 24, 2013]
- [71 FR 35832, June 22, 2006]
- [71 FR 35832, June 22, 2006]
- [71 FR 35832, June 22, 2006]
- Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2003annual editions 1996–2002[38 FR 23522, Aug. 31, 1973, as amended at 47 FR 47837, Oct. 28, 1982; 59 FR 34718, July 6, 1994; 59 FR 43898, Aug. 25, 1994]
A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section. Set a case date in the header to read any earlier wording.