Checking Cargo Before and En Route

Cargo Inspection Duties and Driver Responsibilities

As the driver, you are responsible for not being overloaded and for checking that cargo is balanced and secured properly as part of the vehicle inspection. Inspecting cargo is a required part of the vehicle inspection, not an optional step you can skip when time is tight. Even if warehouse staff or a loading crew placed the freight into your vehicle, the driver is responsible for ensuring the vehicle is not overloaded. Before you begin your trip, you must complete a thorough pre-trip check to confirm three primary load conditions: you must ensure the truck is not overloaded, you must ensure the cargo is balanced properly across the vehicle, and you must ensure the cargo is secured properly against movement.

Your duty to check cargo does not end when you pull away from the loading facility. Road vibrations, turns, and changes in speed cause freight to settle and shift. Because of this movement, you must inspect the cargo and its securing devices again within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip. Within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip, inspect the cargo and its securing devices again and make any adjustments needed.

Knowing when and how to inspect cargo is essential for passing your commercial driver license exams and operating safely in the real world. Keep in mind that specific test lengths, passing scores, and certain state regulations can vary depending on where you test. No single state's administrative process applies everywhere, but the safety standard requiring an initial cargo check and an en route recheck within the first 50 miles is a foundational principle of professional driving.