Vehicles Transported on a Tow Truck Platform

Section 393.128 (b)(1) of FMCSR and 88(2) of NSC Standard 10 require the following: A light vehicle shall be restrained at both the front and rear from moving sideways, forward, rearward and vertically using a minimum of 2 tiedowns. With experience we have found that using two chains without binders in the back of the vehicle and two chains with binders in the front ensure a much better securement of the vehicle being transported on a platform of a tow truck. We use the winch to induce tension in the back chains and then put the chains with binders in the front. This is the quickest, safest way for the operator and the vehicle to ensure proper securement. The problem is that some jurisdictions require the back chains to include tensioning devices. It is our pretension that the vehicle is restrained both in the front and the back and that we are using the minimum requirement of 2 tiedowns.

Vehicle transport on a tow truck platform also includes crossing different jurisdictions. Vehicles transported on a tow truck platform are carried through different jurisdictions. Being legal in one jurisdiction does not guarantee they are legal in the others. Our industry is in this situation on a daily basis.

We are seeking approval on this method of securing light vehicles as an alternative means of abiding by the regulation. And if this method is already approved, please convey the information to all enforcement personnel for consistency purposes.