Terry is correct.

From the same web site:

 

It's always wise to keep some baling wire for that jaw breaking :P handle.

 

Well the guy's that I see around the yard and wherever, crank the boomer tight with a snipe, then slap the boomer handle with the snipe, keeping anything "important" out of the way, they use a double piece of wire to tie the handle closed. Repeat, and rinse.... :wink:

 

Well if that is true Uturn and Terry, then several DOT guys in VA are playing by their own rules.

 

This is like the gun issue. Everyone is convinced that it is illegal to carry in a commercial vehicle, but there is no federal regulation prohibiting it. I have not done a complete search of alll regulations so I don't know this for a fact yet, but I am beginning to have my doubts. I would think TMC would be up on the facts and would have told us if it was illegal.

 

That could be, or it could be Virginia has adopted a state law against them.

 

Thanks for everyone's comments. I sent this question to the Colorado State Patrol Motor Carrier Safety department and this is the response that I received:

"Thank you for your question regarding load binders. I would like to speak with you regarding this question so please contact me at (deleted phone number).

In your question I felt that you were refering to "Boomers" which is a securement device that a person has to use a cheater bar to bind. The regulations stating that all tiedowns must be adjustable is 393.112.

This regulation states that all tiedowns must be adjustable while the vehicle is in transit. It is my opinion that a "Boomer" is adjustable simply because a driver may adjust it by switching chain loops. In order to tighten the load the CMV must be stopped no matter which binder is being used. Therefore a person can adjust while in transit from point A to point B.

I hope this was helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions."

Here he says it is "his opinion" that a boomer, or lever-type chain binder, is an adjustable and acceptable tiedown device. However, there is no regulation in the FMCSA rulebook (I just read the whole thing), nor is there any ammendment to a regulation, that states boomers/lever chain binders are illegal or in any way not D.O.T. approved.

 

That's cool, I'm going to email VA and see what they say as far as state regs go. If they ain't illegal, they should be, dangerous SOB's when they decide to fight back on you.

 

I agree which is why I always tried to get by with straps when I flatbedded, though sometimes I had to use chains. The company I drove for only issued the lever type binders, and there were a few times I came close to getting popped by one even though I was taking every precaution possible.

IMHO the ratchet type, while not only safer, allows for better load securement as you may be able to tighten that chain just a bit more than the lever type.

 

Agreed. Unless you're a really big SOB, it can be impossible to get out that last little bit of slack with a "boomer". I think they should outlawed.