Cargo shifted? We rig it right before it moves.
Specialty recovery for trailers and flatbeds where the load has shifted, broken securement, or requires re-rigging before the vehicle can move. Nationwide coverage.
A shifted load inside a trailer is not a tow problem. It is a rigging problem that has to be solved before the vehicle can move safely.
Load shifts happen for a lot of reasons: sudden braking, a tight corner taken faster than it should have been, defective securement, or an accident that disrupted the load mid-transit. What they have in common is that a vehicle with a shifted load cannot be moved safely without addressing the load first. Dragging a leaning trailer or a flatbed with unsecured cargo down the highway is how small problems become catastrophic ones.
Road Rescue Network routes load-shift calls to recovery specialists who carry the rigging, the cargo-securement knowledge, and the judgment to assess when a load needs to be re-rigged on site versus offloaded at a receiver. These are not generalist tow operators. They understand load bars, e-track, chains, straps, cribbing, and the specific securement requirements for different cargo types.
For fleet accounts and insurance carriers, load-shift recovery generates chain-of-custody documentation for the cargo, scene photos, and recovery-method records. This becomes important for any subsequent claim, whether it is the cargo owner, the securement-equipment supplier, or the carrier's own safety review.
When load-shift recovery is the right call.
Visible load shift in a closed trailer
Trailer leaning, unusual noise from inside, or visible shift when opening the doors. Recovery specialists assess the interior before any vehicle movement.
Shifted flatbed cargo
Load on a flatbed trailer has moved despite securement, or securement has failed and the load is unstable. Re-rigging on the shoulder before transport.
Broken straps or chains
Tie-down equipment has broken mid-transit. Even if the cargo has not visibly shifted, continuing without re-securement is unsafe. Our operators carry replacement equipment.
Post-accident cargo assessment
After an accident, cargo may have shifted, fallen, or broken securement. Recovery operators coordinate with the accident-management team to handle the cargo side of the scene.
Spillage or partial loss
Cargo has fallen from a trailer or flatbed and is on the road. Recovery coordinates with police and cleanup while securing what remains on the vehicle.
Specialty cargo securement
Odd-shape, heavy, or fragile cargo that requires specialty rigging not carried on a standard tow. Our operators with rigging specialties handle these.
How load-shift recovery dispatches.
Describe the load and situation
Cargo type, securement method (straps, chains, e-track), what failed, and any visible shift. The more detail, the better the match.
Specialty match
Your call routes to a recovery operator with cargo-securement expertise and the rigging equipment for your load type.
Plan before moving
The operator arrives and assesses the load before any vehicle movement. Moving a shifted load without re-rigging can destroy the cargo and the trailer.
Re-rig and secure
Load bars, e-track anchors, replacement straps or chains, and secure blocking as needed. Documentation of every securement point.
Documented and transported
Photos before and after re-rigging, cargo disposition notes, and the vehicle safely transported to the receiver or the shop. Chain of custody is intact throughout.
Answers before you call.
A standard recovery moves a disabled vehicle. A load shift has to address the cargo first, which often means specialty rigging and cargo-securement expertise. Moving a vehicle with a shifted load without re-rigging can cause the cargo to fall or the trailer to fail. Load-shift recovery is a specialty discipline for a reason.
Yes. For specialty cargo (high-value, regulated, or cargo with specific handling requirements), the operator coordinates with the cargo agent or shipper per your fleet protocols. Chain of custody documentation is standard.
Depends on the load. A broken-strap fix with no actual shift can be 30 minutes. A significantly shifted load requiring re-rigging can take several hours. The operator quotes an estimate after assessing the scene.
Typically yes. Commercial motor carrier insurance covers recovery and cargo-related services. Coverage limits vary, especially for high-value cargo. The operator provides itemized documentation that supports the claim.
In some cases. Our operators can coordinate with nearby drop yards, warehouses, or transfer equipment. Offloading is rarely the first choice (it is expensive and adds handling risk) but is an option when the alternative is unsafe transport.
Hazmat requires endorsements and specific protocols. Some operators in the network carry hazmat capability. Refrigerated cargo requires the reefer specialist alongside the recovery operator to keep the load in temperature range during the recovery. Tell the dispatcher the cargo type so the right resources route.
Shifted load? Specialty rigging dispatched.
Dispatching 24 hours · 7 days a week