Binders on the passenger side only?

digger242j said:

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?

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I hear ya bro, twisted world we live in eh? :dizzy

After all...just how "safe" is it to haul something like a 637 Scraper anyhow?

digger242j said:

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.

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digger, the logic is right... I think, maybe... lol

This all seems to stem from a small mistake, that apparently went unnoticed, and I believe, remains unnoticed.

Although rare, these small errors can cause a phenomenon similar to "group think", or in Military Aviation... commonly referred to as "target fixation".

In general or civilian aviation, you probably know about the airline pilots that became so fixated on a faulty indicator lamp, that they ignored many other warning indicators, and flew into the ground.

This whole issue can probably be traced back to this simple mistake... but, by being neglected, and not remedied, creates a spreading, or "mushrooming" effect.


The mistake:
"Mushrooming" effect:
But, I could be wrong, too...


OCR

I have heard that the DOT "likes" having the binders on the right, so they can look at them as you go through the scales. I like having them on the left, and besides, it is one less thing for them to decide to pull you in for at the scales.

I also like them on the left because it is easier to see them in the left mirror, since it is closer to you.

Obviously this does not work on equipment with 4 corner securement, but most of us haul other stuff like pipe and lumber from time to time.

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.

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Thats the way i run.


If i do need to pull over to check them i try and park the truck to create a barrier between me and traffic.

Binders on one side....maybe for a skidsteer.

But anything heavy..won't work and ain't legal!!

Always ask to see the rule in writing, then write down the section and page it is from. They like to make stuff up, making them produce it in writing usually ticks them off, but also makes them quit the BS.

atgreene said:

Always ask to see the rule in writing, then write down the section and page it is from. They like to make stuff up, making them produce it in writing usually ticks them off, but also makes them quit the BS.

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I like that approach....I think they make stuff up too....you can 10 different answers from 10 different DOT cops on the same thing.

atgreene said:

Always ask to see the rule in writing, then write down the section and page it is from. They like to make stuff up, making them produce it in writing usually ticks them off, but also makes them quit the BS.

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how true. we used to be just farmers hauling our own stuff across state lines. we called the state, il, we were goin into, to see if we were ok. they said yeah. right accross state lines got pulled into the weigh station and they said we were illegal, we told em to show us why... they flipped thru the book for a half hour and found nothing and turned us loose. lol, suckers.

digger242j said:

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...)

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digger242j,I have no knowlege and have not herd of a new ruel about load binders on one side.But I have to say out of force of habbit I Try to arrange my tie downs so the load binders are on the starbord side of the truck or trailer.We always keep the chains & binders on the starbord side on the trucks & wreckers so we are not stepping out in traffic when working.

when i move my backhoe and dozer I only use 2 binders and 2 chain the binders go on the driver side

I tend to agree with JDOFMEMI.

Binders on one side only.............
Kinda tough when ya need a 4 point tie down.
jr

Your "friendly" DOT officer is full of it. There are one set of rules (nation wide) not all of are good, but it's what we have.

Depending on what you're hauling and which type of securement system you use....... but let's say you're hauling bundled pipe, lumber, etc. You should have tightening (binders, ratchets, etc) on both sides. Example: Ever seen a load as described above secured by straps and all ratchets are on the same side? When you tighten down, you're pulling all in the same direction, that's when you get a "blow-out" load. They should be alternating from one side to the other.

If you look at flats, steps, etc with mounted sliding ratchets, many will place them all on the street (driver) side. None of my rigs are setup this way. And further more, if you read (carefully read) the current load securement ruleing, you are to "alternate" the tightening devises from side to side.

If you are using chains on an excavator for example; You must have independent securement in all horizontal directions, how are you going to chain the the street side tracks with no binder? Do you really think you'll pull the curb side tight enough to tighten the street side?

Sounds like your "officer" went to the 2-hour ticket writing class. Good luck

Here in CA we can't use chains that go all the way across load and bind on drivers side, one chain and one binder per corner and one on boom if excavator or hoe. The way it was explained to me was if one binder broke, there should be 3 other points holding it down. Don't forget the tie wire on the snap binders either, i got pulles over and got a fund raiser invitation (ticket) for not having tie wire or excess chain wraped around binders.

jrtraderny said:

Binders on one side only.............
Kinda tough when ya need a 4 point tie down.
jr

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my thoughts also..excavators get one on eash corner and one over the bucket.
backhoes get the same,
dozers get one on each corner....all of that BECAUSE DOT SAYS SO

I prefer boomers all on the drivers' side when possible...
The DOT is a pain in Kansas.... if you get stopped, better have at least 4 boomers... even on a skid steer
Scales come out the truck in a heartbeat... never been overloaded

ive always used chain and binder on each end of my backhoes.on my skidsters and bobcat 435 excavator i use a blue 10,000 strap on each end of machine never have any problems for tie downs.marker lights and crap like that is what im always getting nailed on :beatsme

BLconst said:

Here in CA we can't use chains that go all the way across load and bind on drivers side, one chain and one binder per corner and one on boom if excavator or hoe. The way it was explained to me was if one binder broke, there should be 3 other points holding it down. Don't forget the tie wire on the snap binders either, i got pulles over and got a fund raiser invitation (ticket) for not having tie wire or excess chain wraped around binders.

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I got the same explanation on the 4 point thing.I Had a water truck with 4 binders and 2 chains with slack in the middle essentially making 4 points Ontario PD Gave me a ticket for not having 4 tie downs and made me put two more chains.Went to court and beat it.Motorcycle cop,I even took the elevator down with him he was madMine was the only case that won up to that point while I was waiting.Ha Ha now I'm careful when I go through Ontario.

Other cities to try and avoid Culver City, Beverly Hills,Anaheim,Irvine and pretty much any others with motorcycle cops

The joys of being a "truck driver" a bunch of local Pd's around here are setting up their own pajama patrol DOT pickups. Fremont so far is the worst but i have heard that Cupertino has one also.

Same thing down South with the cities. Temecula has one now, and they are out daily. They had a big writeup in the local newspaper, and said they did it because of the number of local trucking companies, but there are few based in Temecula, since city rules forced most out of town. They also admitted to the money they would make with it, "but that is not why we got one, it is about safety"

No local truck is safe from harassment now, especially when the state budget is so out of whack.