49 CFR 393 Subpart I Explained

Quick Answer

49 CFR Part 393 Subpart I is the federal cargo securement subpart to read before relying on any summary. Use this site as a map back to the current text.

Reading the subpart without getting lost

Read the general sections first, then move to tiedown and device sections, then check the commodity-specific sections. A named commodity section can add detail, but it should not be read in isolation.

If a shipment sits between categories, document the uncertainty and get a safety review rather than treating a nearby section as a perfect fit.

Common mistakes

The big mistake is treating the FMCSA overview, a training slide, or a memory rule as if it were the current regulation. Summaries are useful only when they point back to the source.

Another mistake is reading a commodity heading and skipping the general performance criteria.

Boundaries

This page does not quote the subpart at length and does not provide official interpretation. For enforcement questions, use the current rule, carrier safety staff, or qualified counsel.

Source notes

The regulation map now links core pages and commodity pages to the eCFR source sections used for review.

The structure of Subpart I

Subpart I begins with general requirements and performance criteria (§393.100–§393.106), then covers securement devices and tiedown systems (§393.108–§393.114), and then addresses specific commodity types (§393.116–§393.136). That structure matters because many loads are governed by both the general rule and a commodity-specific section.

The general sections establish the baseline: cargo must be contained, immobilized, or secured against the forces of normal driving — forward, rearward, lateral, and vertical. The commodity sections add specific requirements for certain cargo types without eliminating the general duties.

This site does not reproduce the regulation. It explains the reading order and links to the current eCFR page. Always verify the current text before applying any summary to a live load.

Reading order for a load

Start by determining whether the cargo type appears in the commodity sections (§393.116–§393.136). If it does, that section specifies how tiedowns must be positioned, what types are required, and what alternatives are permitted — but it does not replace the general rules.

Next, apply the general performance criteria from §393.100 and the tiedown requirements from §393.110. These establish minimum tiedown counts (based on cargo length and weight) and aggregate WLL requirements that apply to all loads.

Finally, check §393.106 for front end structure requirements if a bulkhead or headache rack is part of the plan, and §393.114 for blocking and bracing. The regulation builds in layers — a compliant securement plan satisfies all applicable layers, not just one.

The commodity sections in brief

The commodity sections in §393.116–§393.136 cover: logs (§393.116), dressed lumber and similar building materials (§393.118), metal coils (§393.120), paper rolls (§393.122), concrete pipe (§393.124), intermodal containers (§393.126), automobiles and light vehicles (§393.128), heavy equipment and vehicles (§393.130), flattened or crushed vehicles (§393.132), roll-on/roll-off containers (§393.134), and large boulders (§393.136).

Cargo types not named in these sections — most general flatbed freight, machinery not on a vehicle, pipe bundles not covered by a specific section, and general palletized freight — are governed by the general performance criteria and tiedown rules.

Do not assume that because a cargo type is not named it is less regulated. The general performance criteria are a high standard: cargo must not fall, shift, leak, or blow off in normal driving conditions.

What this site can and cannot replace

The explanations on this site describe the regulation's structure and intent in plain language. They are a reading guide — not a legal interpretation, not carrier policy, and not a substitute for the current eCFR text.

If the regulation and a page on this site disagree, the regulation controls. If company policy or shipper requirements are stricter than the federal minimum, the stricter requirement applies. Use this site to orient your reading of the regulation, not as a replacement for it.

For live loads or compliance decisions, always open the current eCFR Subpart I page at ecfr.gov and verify the text as of the date the decision is being made.

Practical Notes

This topic carries elevated securement risk. Verify the current eCFR rule text, carrier policy, shipper requirements, manufacturer ratings, and the physical condition of every device before a truck moves.