ASTM D5728-12

Standard Practices for Securement of Cargo in Intermodal and Unimodal Surface Transport

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Numerous sources provide detailed information as to the loading, blocking, bracing, and unloading of specific types of cargo in unimodal and intermodal transport. Some of these sources are proprietary, others are massive and complex in scope, and none are consistently promulgated to shippers, carriers, and consignees. Many of the losses experienced by cargo in transport are due to the failure to practice proper basic cargo handling and loading techniques. These practices are intended to outline those techniques in simple, clear, generic, and easy to promulgate formats, including posters, slides, videotapes, and pamphlets, and are further intended to serve as the basis upon which a comprehensive cargo handling methodology may be built.  
Users of these practices should avail themselves of the detailed resource information available. The practices as defined are not sufficient to form a complete cargo handling protocol.
SCOPE
1.1 These practices are intended to serve as a guide to shippers, carriers, and consignees for load planning, loading, blocking, and bracing of intermodal and unimodal cargo in surface transport. The practices are referenced to a bibliography of information concerning the above. Hazardous materials, bulk cargo, non-containerized break bulk in ocean carriage, and transport of cargo by air are not included in these practices at this time.  
1.2 These practices shall apply to cargo in surface transport on flat bed, open top, box car, truck, van, and intermodal containers.  
1.3 The practices are intended to form a framework for the safe and effective loading and unloading of cargo in intermodal and unimodal surface transport. They are not intended to provide comprehensive detail relating to specific types of cargo, but will reference to source materials wherein such detail may be found.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-May-2012
• ICS: 55.180.99 - Other standards related to freight distribution of goods
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.25 - Palletizing and Unitizing of Loads

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D5728 − 12
Standard Practices for
Securement of Cargo in Intermodal and Unimodal Surface
1
Transport
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5728; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2.2 Association of American Railroads Standards:
3
Pamphlet No. 41 Dictionary of Standard Terms
1.1 These practices are intended to serve as a guide to
Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Sec-
shippers, carriers, and consignees for load planning, loading,
3
tion I
blocking, and bracing of intermodal and unimodal cargo in
Circular No. 43 Rules Governing the Loading, Blocking and
surface transport. The practices are referenced to a bibliogra-
Bracing of Freight in Closed Trailers and Containers for
phyofinformationconcerningtheabove.Hazardousmaterials,
3
TOFC/COFC Service
bulk cargo, non-containerized break bulk in ocean carriage,
Intermodal Loading Guide for Products in Closed Trailers
and transport of cargo by air are not included in these practices
3
and Containers
at this time.
3. Terminology
1.2 These practices shall apply to cargo in surface transport
on flat bed, open top, box car, truck, van, and intermodal
3.1 Definitions—General definitions for the packaging and
containers.
distributions environments are found in Terminology D996.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.3 The practices are intended to form a framework for the
3.2.1 blocking—restraining the movement of lading via
safeandeffectiveloadingandunloadingofcargoinintermodal
securement to or at the floor using wood, metal, or other
and unimodal surface transport. They are not intended to
materials.
provide comprehensive detail relating to specific types of
3.2.2 bracing—restraining the movement of lading via the
cargo, but will reference to source materials wherein such
securement above the floor using wood, metal, or other
detail may be found.
materials.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.3 break bulk—both a verb and a descriptive noun. As a
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
verb, means to unload and distribute a portion or all of the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
contents of a container or vehicle. As a noun, meaning a load
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
in a container which is packaged individually and is sometimes
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
not all of one type. Often used in reference to LCL (less than
container load) or LTL (less than truckload).
2. Referenced Documents
3.2.4 bulk cargo—freight not in packages.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.5 cargo—lading; the product or products being moved
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
forward.
ments
D4675 Guide for Selection and Use of Flat Strapping Ma- 3.2.6 carrier—any common carrier, contract carrier, private
terials
carrier, or other transportation company.
3.2.7 consignee—the company or person to whom articles
are shipped (also receiver).
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on
3.2.8 container—seeintermodalcontainerasdifferingfrom
Packaging and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.25 on Palletizing
shipping container.
and Unitizing of Loads.
Current edition approved May 15, 2012. Published June 2012. Originally
3.2.9 distribution cycle—the series of transportation and
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D5728 – 00 (2006).
warehousingeventswhichoccurduringthemovementofcargo
DOI: 10.1520/D5728-12.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Railinc,7001 Weston Pkwy., Ste, 200, Cary, NC 27513.
the ASTM website. https://www.aarpublications.com/
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D5728 − 12
from point to point; includes points of shipment, loading, videotapes, and pamphlets, and are further intended to serve as
discharge,deconsolidation,storage,delivery,andconsignment. the basis upon which a comprehensive cargo handling meth-
odology may be built.
3.2.10 dunnage—temporary material used in blocking,
flooring or lining, racks, standards, strips, stakes or similar
4.2 Users of these practices should avail themselves of the
bracing, or supports not constituting a part of the carrying
detailed res
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D5728–00 (Reapproved 2006) Designation: D5728 – 12
Standard Practices for
Securement of Cargo in Intermodal and Unimodal Surface
1
Transport
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5728; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 These practices are intended to serve as a guide to shippers, carriers, and consignees for load planning, loading, blocking,
and bracing of intermodal and unimodal cargo in surface transport. The practices are referenced to a bibliography of information
concerning the above. Hazardous materials, bulk cargo, non-containerized break bulk in ocean carriage, and transport of cargo by
air are not included in these practices at this time.
1.2 Thesepracticesshallapplytocargoinsurfacetransportonflatbed,opentop,boxcar,truck,van,andintermodalcontainers.
1.3 The practices are intended to form a framework for the safe and effective loading and unloading of cargo in intermodal and
unimodal surface transport. They are not intended to provide comprehensive detail relating to specific types of cargo, but will
reference to source materials wherein such detail may be found.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
D4675 Guide for Selection and Use of Flat Strapping Materials
2.2 Association of American Railroads Standards:
3
Pamphlet No. 41 Dictionary of Standard Terms
3
Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section I
Circular No. 43 Rules Governing the Loading, Blocking and Bracing of Freight in Closed Trailers and Containers for
3
TOFC/COFC Service
3
Intermodal Loading Guide for Products in Closed Trailers and Containers
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—General definitions for the packaging and distributions environments are found in Terminology D996.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 blocking—restraining the movement of lading via securement to or at the floor using wood, metal, or other materials.
3.2.2 bracing—restraining the movement of lading via the securement above the floor using wood, metal, or other materials.
3.2.3 break bulk—both a verb and a descriptive noun.As a verb, means to unload and distribute a portion or all of the contents
of a container or vehicle.As a noun, meaning a load in a container which is packaged individually and is sometimes not all of one
type. Often used in reference to LCL (less than container load) or LTL (less than truckload).
3.2.4 bulk cargo—freight not in packages.
3.2.5 cargo—lading; the product or products being moved forward.
3.2.6 carrier—any common carrier, contract carrier, private carrier, or other transportation company.
3.2.7 consignee—the company or person to whom articles are shipped (also receiver).
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D10 on Packaging and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.25 on Palletizing and Unitizing
of Loads.
Current edition approved April 1, 2006. Published April 2006. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D5728–00. DOI:
10.1520/D5728-00R06.
Current edition approved May 15, 2012. Published June 2012. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D5728 – 00 (2006). DOI:
10.1520/D5728-12.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from Railinc,7001 Weston Pkwy., Ste, 200, Cary, NC 27513. https://www.aarpublications.com/
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5728 – 12
3.2.8 container—see intermodal container as differing from shipping container.
3.2.9 distribution cycle—the series of transportation and warehousing events which occur during the movement of cargo from
point to point; includes poi
...