Lumber & Like Materials

Posted on November 13, 2023

This includes rough and finished lumber, structural panels made of wood, plywood and OSB, as well as drywall (Sheetrock).

Bundles 2 tiers high:

Place a 4×4 timber under the front of the front bundle when loading. (red in figure 1)
Place a 4×4 timber under the rear of the rear bundle. (red in figure 1)
Secure each bundle with two 4-inch straps.
X- Strap the front and rear to prevent shifting. X strap can be over or under the tarp.

Figure 1: Bundles of lumber secured with two straps over each stack of bundles. Note the red 4×4 timbers under
the front and rear bundles. This elevation prevents finished lumber from sliding forward during transit and helps
prevent shifting forward during emergency braking. X-strap to prevent motion are shown in blue.

Points to Remember:

All straps should have edge protectors under them at the contact points.
The elevation of the front and rear bundles keeps finished lumber from “walking” out of the center of the bundles during transit. The elevation also aids in preventing forward motion of the entire load.
Blocking used as spacing between tiers cannot be taller than it is wide. If this spacing is taller than it is wide it creates an unstable situation and can cause the load to shift forward during a hard braking event.

Bundles 3 or more tiers high:

Place a 4×4 timber under the front of the front bundle when loading. (red in figure 2)
Place a 4×4 timber under the rear of the rear bundle. (red in figure 2)
Secure each bundle on the second tier with two 4-inch straps. (orange in figure 2)
Secure each bundle on the third tier with two 4-inch straps.
X-Straps should be added to the front and rear to prevent shifting.

Figure 2: 3 tier lumber load. Notice the orange belly straps over the second layer. Without the orange straps,
this load is not legal. X-straps to prevent shifts are seen in blue.

Points to Remember:

All straps used on the load should have edge protectors in place.
Blocking or spacing between layers cannot be taller than it is wide. This creates unstable layers that will roll forward during hard breaking and cause any tie-downs on the load to become loose.
If there are more than 3 tiers a belly strap must be used on one of the lower levels no more than 6 feet off the deck of the trailer.
X-straps can be over or under the tarp.