GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Load Securement Guidebooks (FMCSA, ADR)

Load securement guidebooks are official reference documents that consolidate binding requirements and recognised best practices for restraining freight on road vehicles.

Quick Answer

Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement

Category

Logistics concept

Reading time

1 min

Words

130

Mentioned in

–

Definition & Explanation

Load securement guidebooks are official reference documents that consolidate binding requirements and recognised best practices for restraining freight on road vehicles. Two instruments are referenced directly in the term: the FMCSA handbook (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), governing domestic trucking in the United States, and the ADR Agreement (Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route), which regulates cross-border road transport of hazardous goods in Europe. A key distinction: ADR applies exclusively to dangerous goods – for general cargo securing on European roads, the EN 12195 series is the relevant standard. Carriers, drivers, and enforcement authorities consult these guidebooks to establish approved restraint equipment, inspection obligations, and penalties for non-compliance. Operators moving freight between the US and Europe must be familiar with two substantially different regulatory frameworks.