BLOCKING AND BRACING

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Blocking and Bracing
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BLOCKING AND BRACING
FM 55-30
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PURPOSE
THIS REGULATION IS DESIGNED TO AID
MOTOR TRANSPORT USERS IN PROPERLY BLOCKING
AND BRACING CARGO ON MILITARY VEHICLES. ALL
UNITS WILL USE THE REGULATION AS A GUIDE TO
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT LOADS FOR MOVEMENT
ARE LOADED PROPERLY.
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BLOCKING
PREVENTS LOADS FROM SHIFTING
FORWARD AND REARWARD
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BRACING
PREVENTS LOADS FROM SHIFTING
SIDE TO SIDE
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LASHING
LASHING IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE TIE DOWN PREVENTS
UPWARD MOVEMENTS AND CAN BE DONE IN MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS WITH MANY DIFFERENT MATERIALS.
4 STRANDS OF 9 WIRE
TIGHTEN WIRE ROPE ( CABLE) WITH 4 U-SHAPED CLAMPS
ON EACH END
CHAINS AND BINDERS
RATCHET STRAPS
DUNNAGE- ANY MATERIAL USED TO FILL IN SPACE
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RESPONSIBILITIES
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, OR AGENTS OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT FOUND WILLFILLY NEGLIGENT IN THE
DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES, WILL BE HELD LIABLE
FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY IMPROPERLY BLOCKED AND
BRACED CARGO.
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THE DRIVER
ENSURE THAT CARGO IS LOADED PROPERLY TO LOAD
CAPACITY , CAPACITY FOR EACH AXLE, AND CENTER OF
GRAVITY FOR VEHICLE AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF
LOADS.
ENSURE LOAD IS BLOCKED, BRACED, AND LASHED FROM
MOVEMENT
SAFEGUARD FROM PILFERAGING WITH LOCKS,
DRIVERS SURVEILLANCE, GUARDS, AND SAFEGUARD
FROM WEATHER
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THE SHIPPER WILL
Provide blocking and bracing materials
Block and brace cargo loaded on Transportation
assets.
!!!Load vehicle!!!
!!Block, brace, and lash the load!!
Provide shipping documents to the driver With
weight and cube of the load
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THE CONSIGNEE (RECEIVER)
RESPONSIBLE FOR UNLOADING VEHICLE
REMOVING ALL DUNNAGE
VERIFYING CONDITION OF THE LOAD
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EFFECTS
WEIGHT
BULK
SHAPE
ROAD CONDITIONS
TERRAIN FEATURES
WEATHER CONDITIONS
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WEIGHT
DENSE CARGO SUCH AS AMMUNITION CAN MAX OUT THE
WEIGHT CAPCITY OF YOUR VEHICLE LONG BEFORE THE
CARGO SPACE IS FILLED.
CHECK WEIGHT ON PACKAGES
USE A SCALE
ESTIMATE THE WEIGHT
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NOTE
WHEN THERE IS DOUBT ABOUT THE VEHICLES ABILITY
TO TRANSPORT A PARTICULAR LOAD SAFELY, THE
DRIVERS ESTIMATION SHOULD GOVERN. DRIVERS ARE
THE EXPERT REGARDLESS OF RANK. FM 55-30, PAGE
10-3 PARA.2
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BULK
CARGO SUCH AS PILLOWS OR CLOTHING WILL FILL THE
CARGO SPACE COMPLETELY BUT MAXIMUM WEIGHT
CAPACITY WILL NOT BE REACHED.
SHAPE
CARGO COMES IN ALL SHAPES. IT MAY NOT ALWAYS FIT
COMFORTABLY IN THE CARGO SPACE OF THE VEHICLE.
FILLER MATERIALS MAY BE REQUIRED.
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ROAD CONDITIONS
LOAD TOO HIGH FOR BRIDGES OR TREES
LOAD TOO HEAVY FOR POORLY SURFACED ROADS
TERRAIN FEATURES
ROUGHER TERRAIN CAUSES MORE TWISTING ON FRAME AND
AXLES SO LESS WEIGHT SHOULD BE CARRIED.
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WEATHER CONDITIONS
ADVERSE WEATHER HAS A DIRECT BEARING ON VEHICLES
OPERATIONS. SNOW, RAIN, SLEET AND ICE SERIOUSLY
AFFECT VEHICLE TRACTION, HANDLING, AND STOPPING.
UNDER SUCH BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE LOAD
CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLES WILL BE LIMITED. THERE
ARE NO SET RULES OR GUIDELINES GOVERNING
THIS SITUATION. COMMON SENSE AND GOOD JUDGEMENT
MUST BE EXERCISED.
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IMPROPER LOADINGPRACTICES
VEHICLE UNDERLOADING
VEHICLE OVERLOADING
IMPROPER DISTRIBUTION
IMPROPER TIEDOWN
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VEHICLE UNDERLOADING
REQUIRES MORE VEHICLES AND DRIVERS TO DO THE SAME
JOB.
COSTS MORE FUEL AND LUBRICANTS
EFFECTS EFFICIENCY OF UNIT AND OPERATIONS
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VEHICLE OVERLOADING
COSTS TIME FOR REPAIRS
COST MONEY FOR PARTS
CAUSES DAMAGE TO AND FAILURE OF VEHICLES
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IMPROPER DISTRIBUTION
TIRES-BLOWOUTS, UNEVEN WEAR, AND SHORTENED LIFE
SPAN
AXLES BENT, BROKEN, PULLED OUT
FRAME BENT, BROKEN
SPRINGS - WEAKEND, BROKEN
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IMPROPER TIEDOWNS
BLOCKING, BRACING, AND TIEDOWN OF THE LOAD KEEPS
THE CARGO FROM.
SHIFTING IN ALL DIRECTIONS
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HOW TO LOAD A VEHICLE
HEAVY ITEMS MUST BE LOADED ON THE BOTTOM.
LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY
LESS DAMAGE TO CARGO
DISTRIBUTE THE HEAVY ITEMS AS EVENLY AS POSSIBLE
OVER THE BED.
AVOIDS CARGO DAMMAGE
MAINTAINS DISTIBUTION OF WEIGHT
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HOW TO LOAD A VEHICLE
KEEP IT LOW.
LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY
KEEP LOAD OR CARGO INSIDE WALLS TO PREVENT LOSS
FOR CARGO THAT IS TOO BIG FOR WALLS (OVER SIZED)
ATTACH 12 INCH SQUARE RED FLAGS AT EACH END (
DAY TIME)
ATTACH 12 INCH SQUARE RED FLAGS AND RED LAMPS (
AT NIGHT)
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BLOCKINGANDBRACING HANDOUT