TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will focus their education and enforcement efforts on ensuring commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles properly secure all cargo when traveling on Florida’s roadways. Shifting or falling cargo, such as building materials, ladders and similar property, creates dangerous conditions on the roadway and places motorists’ lives at risk. Through proactive education and enforcement, the FHP hopes to reduce crashes caused from cargo shifting within a vehicle or falling from a vehicle.
“To provide the residents and the visitors of Florida with a safe driving environment, FHP will be proactively enforcing cargo securement violations,” said Colonel Gene Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “It is imperative that commercial truck drivers and other motorists obey state laws and federal regulations meant to protect the motoring public.”
Cargo must be safely fastened and is only considered secure when nothing can slide, fall, blow or shift within or from a vehicle onto the roadway. Before you drive, motorists should check to make sure cargo or loose items cannot fall or blow out of the vehicle and are properly secured, even if the vehicle brakes suddenly or takes evasive actions on the road.
To secure the cargo in your vehicle or trailer, you should:
- Tie the cargo and other loose items being transported down with a securement device such as rope or straps that has adequate strength to secure the item;
- Ensure securement devices prevent longitudinal, lateral and vertical movement;
- Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting;
- Make sure to never overload a vehicle or trailer; and
- Routinely double check to ensure cargo has not vibrated loose from securing devices throughout the trip.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov, follow us on Twitter @FLHSMV or find us on Facebook.
