An unblocked bundle of steel rebar measuring 21\text{ feet} in length and weighing 20,000\… — Commercial Driver's License (CDL) General Knowledge Exam

An unblocked bundle of steel rebar measuring $21\text{ feet}$ in length and weighing $20,000\text{ pounds}$ is loaded onto a flatbed trailer. Securing this cargo with $3\text{ tiedowns}$ , each having a Working Load Limit (WLL) of $4,000\text{ pounds}$ , fully satisfies federal cargo securement standards.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. While the aggregate Working Load Limit (

12,000\text{ lbs}

) exceeds the required

50\%

of the cargo weight (

10,000\text{ lbs}

), the configuration violates the length-based tiedown rule, which mandates at least

4\text{ tiedowns}

for an unblocked

21\text{-foot}

load.

The statement is false because cargo securement compliance requires meeting two independent criteria: aggregate Working Load Limit (at least

50\%

of cargo weight) and minimum tiedown count based on length. For an unblocked

21\text{-foot}

item, the length rule requires

2\text{ tiedowns}

for the first

10\text{ feet}

1\text{ tiedown}

for the next

10\text{ feet}

, and

1\text{ tiedown}

for the final

1\text{ foot}

fraction, totaling

4\text{ tiedowns}

. Using only

3\text{ tiedowns}

is a regulatory violation despite having sufficient aggregate WLL.

Step-by-Step Solution

Calculate the required aggregate Working Load Limit (WLL) based on cargo weight.

Required WLL =

\frac{1}{2} \times 20,000\text{ lbs} = 10,000\text{ lbs}

. Provided WLL =

3 \times 4,000\text{ lbs} = 12,000\text{ lbs}

(Compliant).

Federal regulations mandate that aggregate WLL must equal at least

50\%

of the total weight of the cargo being secured.

Determine the minimum number of tiedowns required based on article length for unblocked cargo.

2\text{ tiedowns}

for the first

10\text{ feet} + 1\text{ tiedown}

for the next

10\text{ feet}

(up to

20\text{ feet}

)

+ 1\text{ tiedown}

for the remaining

1\text{ foot}

fraction =

4\text{ tiedowns}

minimum.

Unblocked cargo longer than

10\text{ feet}

requires

2\text{ tiedowns}

for the first

10\text{ feet}

and

1\text{ tiedown}

for each additional

10\text{ feet}

or part thereof.

Compare the provided tiedown count to the regulatory requirement.

The driver used

3\text{ tiedowns}

, but regulations require at least

4\text{ tiedowns}

Both weight (WLL) and length (tiedown count) minimums must be simultaneously satisfied for cargo securement to be legal.

Key Concept

Cargo securement requires satisfying both the 50% aggregate WLL weight threshold and the length-based minimum tiedown count (2 for the first 10 feet, plus 1 for each additional 10 feet or fraction thereof for unblocked cargo).

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