Washington, D.C. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Thursday that it has renewed a cargo‑securement exemption for K&L Trucking, allowing the carrier to continue using its own coil‑fastening system on heavy‑metal loads.

The decision matters because FMCSA regulations dictate how metal coils over 5,000 pounds must be restrained on a trailer. Those rules were written to prevent roll‑away accidents that can endanger other motorists and the driver’s crew. By granting an exemption, the agency acknowledges that a one‑size‑fits‑all approach does not always suit every haul, especially when a carrier has proven its method works safely.

The exemption was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2026. It specifically covers K&L Trucking’s practice of securing large metal coils with an alternative rig that does not rely on the standard two‑tiedown, off‑deck support requirement. Under the current FMCSA regulations, a coil weighing more than 5,000 pounds and equipped with eyes that run crosswise must be lifted off the trailer deck, prevented from rolling, and tied down through the eye with at least two straps to stop forward and rearward movement. K&L’s method replaces those tiedowns with a custom‑engineered cradle that locks the coil in place while still meeting the agency’s safety intent.

What This Means for Drivers

CDL‑A drivers hauling metal coils will no longer need to add the extra tiedowns that the standard rule demands, saving time on each load and reducing wear on cargo‑securement hardware. Owner‑operators who partner with K&L can keep their paperwork simple because the exemption eliminates the need to document multiple tie‑down points for each coil shipment. Fleet managers gain flexibility to schedule back‑to‑back loads without worrying about re‑configuring the trailer deck between trips. OTR truck driver crews also benefit from a lighter, more stable load, which can improve fuel efficiency and lower the risk of cargo shift on long hauls.

Industry Reaction

Industry observers note that the renewal signals FMCSA’s willingness to work with carriers that can demonstrate safe alternatives to blanket regulations. Some safety advocacy groups caution that exemptions should be granted sparingly and only after rigorous testing. Nevertheless, many trucking companies view the move as a pragmatic step that balances safety with operational efficiency, especially for specialized freight such as steel coils.

Key Points

• K&L Trucking’s exemption was officially renewed on September 9, 2026.
• The exemption allows an alternative coil‑securing system that bypasses the two‑tiedown requirement.
• Standard FMCSA rules still require coils over 5,000 pounds to be supported off the deck and prevented from rolling.
• The decision was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2026, and applies specifically to metal coils with crosswise eyes.

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