Need clarification for vehicles hauling gypsum board/sheet-rock. According to 393.118 gypsum is a building product within the applicability. One of our inspector's placed a vehicle OOS for having 3 tiers without intermediate straps. The carrier claims that everyone is hauling gypsum board this way within his industry. In this case the units of gypsum board were not unitized with banding but grouped together as single articles of cargo. According to 393.5, articles of cargo not only include banded articles, but also articles grouped together so they can be handled as a single unit. I've attached a picture of what the load looks like without any synthetic straps over the load. Our interpretation of the regulation is that intermediate straps are required. I've talked with another state, and they said they were advised that if the units were not banded together then 393.118 would not apply. We and our local carrier would like some clarification for this issue.

Clarification of the regulation.

Provide guidance in a bulletin or Policy 15 for articles of cargo not banded together. Does it meet the applicability in 393.118?

Cargo Securement provided an edit to Operational Policy 15, Section 2, Question b(8) to update the guidance for the transportation of building products. The commodity specific regulations under Part 393.118 do not apply to non-unitized building products which then would require them to be secured under general provisions.

b.(8) Does the specific commodity for dressed lumber or similar building products apply to non-unitized building products or the transportation of pallets or packages of engineered wood products, such as beams or trusses?

ANSWER: The regulation/standard does not apply to non-unitized building products, engineered wood products such as floor joists, beams and trusses. These loads are required to meet the general provision requirements and length and weight requirements in the U.S. regulations and the NSC Standard.