Alabama drops the hammer on unsafe steel haulers
MONTGOMERY, Al. — The Yellowhammer State recently passed a law requiring steel coil haulers to be specially-certified — making it one of the toughest jurisdictions on securement rules in North America.
According to news reports, the Alabama rule requires advanced cargo securement training for such drivers and stiffens the fines for any carrier or owner-op who hasn’t properly secured heavy coils to their flatbed trailers.
Fines under the "steel coil bill" can be as high as $10,000 and uncertified drivers could face fines of up to $1,000 and a year in jail.
The Alabama Department of Public Safety is charged with setting the training standards.
According to reports, about 30 coils have come loose from transport trucks on Birmingham-area interstates since 1987, No deaths have resulted.
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