DOT SETS NEW REGULATIONS FOR SECURING TRUCKED FREIGHT

DOT SETS NEW REGULATIONS FOR SECURING TRUCKED FREIGHT    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has created new cargo-securing standards for interstate trucks.
   The standard — the North American Cargo Securement Standard Model Regulations — was the result of a multiyear study to evaluate the current U.S. and Canadian truck cargo securement regulations. FMCSA also collected best practices and recommendations from the trucking industry.
   “Meeting these standards will help to ensure that all CMV (commercial motor vehicles) loads are properly secured and to reduce the number of accidents caused by cargo shifting or falling from trucks,” FMCSA said.
   The securement rules are specific to the type of cargo, such as logs, lumber, metal coils, boulders, paper rolls, intermodal containers, cars, heavy trucks, and machinery.
   The rule becomes effective Dec. 26. The trucking industry will have until Jan. 1, 2004, to fully comply.
   “Canada and Mexico also are considering adopting provisions of the North American model regulations,” FMCSA said. “This would enable the three neighboring countries to have compatible cargo securement regulations for heavy trucks.”