Canada cargo securement requirements

Scope

The standard applies to a vehicle or combination of vehicles that transport cargo on a highway and that exceed a registered gross vehicle weight of 4,500 kilograms. The standard also applies when an intermodal container is used to transport cargo.

Regulatory citations

• National Safety Code Standard 10, Cargo Securement (June 2013)

Key definitions

• Cargo: All articles or material carried by a vehicle, including those used in the operation of the vehicle.
• Cargo securement system: The method by which cargo is contained or secured and includes vehicle structures, securing devices, and all components of the system.
• Working load limit: The maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system during normal service.

Summary of requirements

The most recent version of the standard can be found by visiting the CCMTA website.

To reduce the potential for cargo damage, driver injury or traffic hazards, public vehicles must be equipped and loaded so as to prevent the vehicle from turning over or the load from shifting, swaying, spilling, leaking, blowing, falling, or otherwise escaping.

Drivers must inspect the vehicle’s cargo and the cargo securement system used and make adjustments:

• Before driving the vehicle, and
• No more than 80 kilometres from the point where the cargo was loaded.

Drivers must regularly re-inspect the vehicle’s cargo and the cargo securement systems used and make adjustments if necessary, including adding more securing devices, when whichever of the following occurs first:

• A change of duty status of the driver,
• The vehicle has been driven for 3 hours, or
• The vehicle has been driven for 240 kilometres.

Cargo securement system components must be in proper working order and fit for the purpose for which they are used. They must not have knots, damaged or weakened components that will adversely affect their performance for cargo securement purposes, or any cracks or cuts.

Cargo securement devices must be marked with the working load limit (WLL) in Canada.