One sector of the trucking industry that requires extra attention from a risk management perspective is Mid-Market Trucking. Mid-Market Trucking refers to loads that exceed a Legal Load but are not yet considered a “Super Load.” Typical cargo weights are between 43,000lbs (19.5MT) and 200,000lbs (90.7MT).

In the US, standards for truck transport are dictated by the Federal Motor Carrier Standards Association (FMCSA). Mexico, Canada, Europe and China have codes in place that are generally in line with the FMCSA standard.

Legal loads are typically secured with nylon belts or chains with binders. A “rule of thumb” method is generally used for this type of securing. As an example, if a load weighs 20,000lbs (9.1MT) and the securing devices have a working load limit (WLL) of 6,000lbs (2.7MT), 4x securings are used, such that the securing capacity exceeds cargo weight.

Heavy haul companies are typically contracted for “Super Loads,” which have in-house engineering departments that prepare detailed securing diagrams with supporting calculations. The cargo weight, centre of gravity, number and type of securings, angles that the securing materials are applied to the cargo, and friction, if allowed, are all considered. This yields a high level of confidence in the securing arrangement that is applied.

Mid-Market loads are often handled by companies, which typically do not have in-house engineering capabilities. These loads are also moved as “brokered loads,” in some cases, which means the contracting party is at least two steps removed from the truck driver who will be carrying the freight.

In the absence of a surveyor, securing decisions are often made by the attending truck driver, who in most cases, is not able to perform a detailed securing calculation. There is also an increased risk of accident and injury related to these types of loads since they often travel un-escorted on public roadways where there is a higher risk of contact with the driving public.