Hauling steel coils: securement by eye direction, racks and the risks

Hauling steel coils is some of the most demanding work on a flatbed. A coil is heavy, round and short, so all its weight sits on a few feet of deck and it wants to roll. The federal rule for metal coils is specific, and coil securement violations were out-of-service 98% of the time in FMCSA roadside data from September 2024 to September 2026. This guide walks through the rule by eye direction, the gear, weight placement, and how to think about pay and risk.

When the coil rule applies

49 CFR 393.120 covers metal coils of 5,000 lb or more, one coil or a group. Lighter coils can follow the general rules, which still require blocking against rolling and enough working load limit. On top of the coil rule, the aggregate working load limit of your tiedowns must be at least half the cargo weight (393.106(d)).

The method depends on which way the eye (the hole) faces.

Eyes vertical

For a single coil, prevent it tipping forward, back and sideways with:

• One diagonal tiedown from the left front of the coil, across the eye, to the right rear.
• One diagonal tiedown from the right front, across the eye, to the left rear.
• One tiedown across the eye, side to side.
• Blocking and bracing, friction mats or tiedowns against forward movement.

For rows of coils, each row needs a tiedown at the front against forward movement, one at the rear against rearward movement (each at 45 degrees or less where practicable), and one over each coil or row as close to the eye as practicable, placed so it cannot slip off.

Eyes crosswise

Each coil needs:

• A support that stops it rolling and lifts it off the deck, which cannot come loose in transit. Timbers, chocks or wedges must be held by coil bunks or similar devices.
• One tiedown through the eye toward the front and one toward the rear, each at 45 degrees or less to the deck where practicable.

Two things are prohibited: nailed blocking or cleats as the only thing stopping the roll, and nailed wood cradles. And the through-eye tiedowns must not cross in an X when seen from above (393.120(c)). Run them straight forward and straight back.

Eyes lengthwise

Each coil needs the same kind of anti-roll support (racks or bunks, no nailed wood as the only means) plus blocking or friction mats against sliding, and one of three tiedown patterns:

1. Two diagonal tiedowns through the eye (left front to right rear, and right front to left rear) and one over the top.
2. Two straight tiedowns through the eye, one on each side front to rear, and one over the top.
3. One tiedown over the top near the front of the coil and one near the rear.

For a row of coils of about the same diameter: anti-roll support for each coil, a tiedown over each coil or row near the front and another near the rear, and blocking or friction mats.

Steel coil hauling gear

• Grade 70 chain and binders. Chain goes through the eye; straps on a cut steel edge do not last. Count the working load limit on the lowest-rated part.
• Coil racks or bunks, sized for the coil diameter. One retailer listed a 39 in steel coil rack at $14 in October 2026; our flatbed gear checklist has the rest of the kit with dated prices.
• Edge protection and chain sleeves where chain or strap touches the coil edge or a finished surface.
• Friction mats and hardwood blocking for longitudinal movement.
• Steel or coil tarps when the shipper asks for cover; finished coils often must stay dry. See the flatbed tarping guide.

Weight placement and the deck

A heavy coil, say an EXAMPLE 40,000 lb one, sits on a few feet of deck. Two things to check:

• Axle weights. Place the coil so the drives and trailer tandems both stay legal. Too far back overloads the trailer axles; too far forward overloads the drives. Many shippers mark the deck position; ask.
• Concentrated load rating. Flatbed makers rate how much weight a trailer can carry in a short span. Know your trailer's rating from the maker before you take heavy coils, and follow the maker's guidance on where a concentrated load may sit.

Risk and pay

Coils are unforgiving. A coil that breaks loose under braking can go through a headache rack; one that rolls can tip the trailer. That is why the rule is strict and why brokers ask about coil experience, cargo coverage and safety scores. Coil securement problems were cited 356 times in FMCSA's SMS data for inspections from September 2024 to September 2026, and 98% of those were out-of-service; our load securement violations analysis has the full table.

On pay, we will not quote a "coil premium" without a source, because there is no public national rate for coil freight. What we do on our desk: count the extra securement time, any tarping, the racks and the reload options near the steel mill or service center, and only book coils for drivers who want them. Lease-on carriers that focus on steel publish their own pay terms; compare them in our guide to flatbed companies. For the wider mix of freight we book, see flatbed loads, and the full list of guides is on the guides page.