A 9,000 lb skid steer breaks loose on I-10 at 70 mph. By the time the driver gets pulled over, the boom has gone through the back of the cab. This happens every year, in every state, for the same reason: someone didn't tie it down right. Heavy equipment has its own DOT rulebook, and it's stricter than general freight. Here's what the rules actually require.
FMCSA 393.130 — The Specific Rule for Heavy Equipment
Federal regulation 393.130 covers "heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery" — anything that operates on wheels or tracks. For equipment weighing 10,000 lbs or more, the requirements are explicit:
- Minimum 4 direct tie-downs attached to designated mounting points on the equipment
- Each tie-down rated at least 5,000 lbs WLL
- The front and rear of the equipment must each have at least 2 tie-downs
- Accessory equipment (booms, buckets, blades) must be lowered and secured separately
This is a direct-attachment rule. Over-the-top straps that merely press the machine into the deck do not count toward the four required tie-downs.
Equipment Under 10,000 lbs
Lighter machines still require direct tie-downs to designated anchor points — the lift eyes, lugs, or attachment points the manufacturer built for this purpose. You cannot rely on over-the-top straps alone, and the standard aggregate WLL rule still applies: your combined tie-down working load limit must equal at least 50% of the equipment's weight.
Skid Steers (Bobcat-Style)
- 4 chains minimum — connected to the front and rear lift points
- 3/8" or 1/2" Grade 70 transport chain — rated for the machine's weight
- Ratchet binders preferred over lever binders for controlled, precise tension
- Lower the bucket to the deck and engage the parking brake
- Wheel chocks add a layer of protection against rolling during transit
Excavators
- Run direct chain to the boom mount and to each track tie-down point
- Lock the boom down per the manufacturer's transport specs
- Engage hydraulic locks so the arm cannot drift under road vibration
- Use multiple chains — excavators carry asymmetric weight distribution, and a single failed tie-down shifts the entire load geometry
Mini Excavators and Compact Track Loaders
- 4 chains, attached directly to the designated tie-down points
- Tracks should rest flat on the deck — don't bridge ramps or leave track ends unsupported
- Use wheel chocks or wheel cradles where available for tracked equipment
Common Violations That Get Drivers Fined
- Using straps instead of chain on heavy machinery — webbing is not the right tool for a 10,000 lb excavator
- Hooking chain to non-rated points — axles, frames, and hydraulic cylinders are not anchor points
- Fewer than 4 tie-downs total — the most common 393.130 violation
- No chocks on wheeled equipment
- Equipment not in transport configuration — boom up, bucket raised, attachments loose
Required Accessories for the Job
Beyond chain and binders, a proper heavy equipment setup includes wheel chocks, edge protectors where chain wraps around steel edges, chain binders matched to the chain grade, and in some cases pipe stakes or wheel cradles for tracked machines. Every component must carry a WLL rating — an unrated accessory in the securement path caps the whole system at zero in an inspector's eyes.
Shop heavy equipment hauling gear at Elohim USA — Grade 70 chain, ratchet and lever binders, and securement accessories, all available in bulk. Browse the full trucking and transportation catalog for everything else on your list.