Heavy Vehicles, Equipment, and Machinery

Quick Answer

Heavy vehicles, equipment, and machinery are addressed by federal cargo securement rules. Weight, attachments, accessories, and articulation points must be considered.

The machine is rarely one simple block

Equipment can have hinged, rotating, or raised parts that move differently from the main machine. The securement review should include accessories, implements, and any part that can swing, drop, or bounce.

Use the current heavy equipment section, manufacturer instructions where available, and carrier policy before counting a machine setup as ready. The main frame may be secured while a bucket, blade, boom, counterweight, or loose attachment still creates risk.

Before loading questions

Confirm the machine identity, operating weight, attachment list, fluid or leak concerns, starting condition, and whether any implement must be lowered, pinned, chained, or removed under policy.

Ask where the designated tiedown points are. If the answer is unclear, do not treat a convenient hole, step, axle, hydraulic cylinder, or sheet-metal bracket as an attachment point without support.

Walkaround notes

Check chain grade, binder condition, anchor points, attachment lugs, hydraulic position, loose tools, and the deck contact points under tracks or tires. Look at both sides and both ends before assuming the machine is balanced.

If an attachment point is painted over, damaged, or unclear, treat it as a manual review item. If a component can articulate, rotate, bounce, or drop, it needs its own review.

Equipment review areas

Review chains, binders, anchor points, ramps, deck condition, track or tire contact, edge contact, and any place where a tiedown can rub or lose angle during movement.

For machines with attachments, review whether the attachment is part of the load, part of the machine, or separate cargo. That distinction affects the field plan even when this page stays at a source-summary level.

Documentation and photos

Useful photos show the machine from all four corners, tiedown attachment points, lowered implements, loose parts secured or removed, and any pre-existing damage visible before departure.

Notes should describe observed condition and securement concerns. Avoid guessing machine value, cause of damage, or whether a hidden mechanical issue existed before pickup.

What this page does not decide

This page does not choose a chain layout for a particular machine, verify manufacturer tiedown points, or replace equipment-specific training. Current sources, carrier policy, and qualified review should control live decisions.

Source notes

This page maps to 49 CFR 393.130 and does not replace equipment-specific training.

Practical Notes

This topic carries elevated securement risk. Verify the current eCFR rule text, carrier policy, shipper requirements, manufacturer ratings, and the physical condition of every device before a truck moves.