Binders on the passenger side only?

digger242j · Aug 8, 2009

Somebody told me recently that the DOT now says binders must be placed on the passenger side only. The logic is supposedly that when they loosen up, and the driver gets out along the roadside to tighten them, if they're on the driver's side he'll get run over by somebody. If they're on the passenger side, he'll be safe from that.

Is this true, or is somebody pulling my leg? (I mean, really, it sounds just strange enough to be true...)

EGS · Aug 8, 2009

It sounds like something that the DOT would come up with.

Wolf · Aug 8, 2009

Help me understand what kind of binders are you talking about?

will_gurt · Aug 8, 2009

Wolf said:
Help me understand what kind of binders are you talking about?

Binder is the tool used to put tention in the chain to hold the load on the haul vehicle. Usually either a ratchet type or skull buster type.

EGS · Aug 8, 2009

I would think that the DOT would be happy that you have what your hauling chain down.

Hendrik · Aug 8, 2009

Dunno but I used to put them both sides, depending on the load.

OCR · Aug 8, 2009

Well, I use 4 on most of the stuff I haul... especially tracked equipment.

Two on the drivers side and two on the passenger side... and I try to at least use an on ramp or rest area, to check them.

Even if you only have the binders on the passenger side, I'd think you'd still have to check the chain tension on the drivers side.

It would be a real pain to use that technique any way... always tending to pull the load to the passenger side, when you re-tighten... :cool2

I know it can be done that way, but I just don't like it.

OCR

digger242j · Aug 8, 2009

I've always preferred them on the driver's side because they're easier to see in the mirror, so you can tell if they're getting loose. I guess if they're on the passenger side and you can't see that they're loose, you won't pull over to tighten them, so you won't get run over. Same result, uh, sort of... :beatsme

willie59 · Aug 8, 2009

digger242j said:
I've always preferred them on the driver's side because they're easier to see in the mirror, so you can tell if they're getting loose. I guess if they're on the passenger side and you can't see that they're loose, you won't pull over to tighten them, so you won't get run over. Same result, uh, sort of... :beatsme

It's no problem. Your friendly DOT officer will pull you over...on the shoulder of a busy highway...to let you know (probably with an official piece of paper) that your binders are loose...so you can get out and tighten the [offending] binders [that caused you to get the official paper] on the passenger (safe) side of your truck/trailer.

Makes perfect sense for a government agency.

DigDug · Aug 9, 2009

I have always put them on the drivers side so i could keep a eye on them.

OCR · Aug 9, 2009

Yeah... I'll go along with all three of you.

OCR

Wolf · Aug 9, 2009

It probably goes state by state, or province by province, doesn't it? Anybody encounter any change in the laws, or is this all hearsay?

capt_met · Aug 9, 2009

as it was explained to me there should be one chain per corner of machine being towed. for my backhoe they also want one over the loader bucket and to hold down the hoe bucket. i use a strap to keep them happy on the stabilizers. so this would mean 2 chains minimum on the drivers side. sounds like they will need to decide which laws to comply with. also learned a few days ago that your emergency brake box wire to connect to the truck can not be run through the same hole that your trailer hitch chain is hooked to. i think there may be to many in the DOT and they are starting to get bored and creative. dangerous situation for us.

willie59 · Aug 9, 2009

capt_met said:
as it was explained to me there should be one chain per corner of machine being towed.

I was kinda thinkin the same thing, that they want a 4 point attachment to machinery. I wonder if what digger was told relates more to hauling material loads on a flatbed where drivers typically have a chain across the load with a binder on one side? I think on machinery they want a chain/binder connected to each corner of the machine, which would mean 2 binders would be on the passenger side as well as 2 on the driver side. Hmmm...looks like we're still gonna get run over digger!

capt_met, you up in the tri-cities area?

capt_met · Aug 9, 2009

that makes sense atco as far as the chaining goes. and yes i am up in the tri-cities area. east of j.c. and bristol.

willie59 · Aug 9, 2009

capt_met said:
that makes sense atco as far as the chaining goes. and yes i am up in the tri-cities area. east of j.c. and bristol.

Elizabethton...maybe?

mikef87 · Aug 9, 2009

capt_met said:
as it was explained to me there should be one chain per corner of machine being towed. for my backhoe they also want one over the loader bucket and to hold down the hoe bucket. i use a strap to keep them happy on the stabilizers. so this would mean 2 chains minimum on the drivers side. sounds like they will need to decide which laws to comply with. also learned a few days ago that your emergency brake box wire to connect to the truck can not be run through the same hole that your trailer hitch chain is hooked to. i think there may be to many in the DOT and they are starting to get bored and creative. dangerous situation for us.

A town DOT cop sat behind my lowbed as the driver unloaded a machine on to a job, he then proceeded to tell my driver to put the machine back on the trailer put 5 chains on because he only had 4 hook the lowbed back up, unhook the lowbed, unchain the machine and put it on the job. My driver refused to the DOT cop called to have him arrested and the cop came down and told the DOT cop he had no right to do that and told the cop to leave and we were all set. The town DOT around here is 100 times worse than the state. But after getting off subject I agree it must have to do with flatbed haulers and not lowbeds. What do they want you to put all the strain on the chains on one side?

capt_met · Aug 9, 2009

hit the nail on the head.

willie59 · Aug 9, 2009

capt_met said:
hit the nail on the head.

Yep, been through there taking US 321 to Boone NC.

digger242j · Aug 9, 2009

ATCOEQUIP said:
I was kinda thinkin the same thing, that they want a 4 point attachment to machinery. I wonder if what digger was told relates more to hauling material loads on a flatbed where drivers typically have a chain across the load with a binder on one side? I think on machinery they want a chain/binder connected to each corner of the machine, which would mean 2 binders would be on the passenger side as well as 2 on the driver side. Hmmm...looks like we're still gonna get run over digger!

So, if it's a safety issue to require the binders on the passenger side for a material load, isn't requiring another pair on the driver's side for machinery requiring you to commit an un-safe act?

Again, I was told this by somebody on the job, not by anybody connected with law enforcement, so I don't know how true it is. (But obviously, by the responses here, it seems believable to those of us on this side of the law...)

Binders on the passenger side only?

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