This is one of the few gear choices where a federal rule, not a preference, sets the answer. Both are legal securement devices. Which one is correct depends on what is on the trailer.
The verdict up front
Straps for general freight, chain for steel, machinery and anything with a cutting edge. Webbing is fast, light and easy to tension, and it fails against sharp corners and hot loads. Chain does not care about either. The number that matters on both is the working load limit, not the break strength, and the aggregate working load limit of your devices must meet the federal requirement for the weight of the cargo.
At a glance
| Ratchet straps | Chain and binders | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Palletised and general freight | Steel, machinery, coils, pipe |
| Speed to secure | Fast | Slower |
| Weight to handle | Light | Heavy |
| Damaged by sharp edges | Yes, without protection | No |
| Damaged by heat | Yes | Largely no |
| Marking to look for | Working load limit on the label | Grade and working load limit |
Choose ratchet straps if
You haul palletised freight, boxed goods, lumber or anything that will not cut webbing. They are quicker to throw, far lighter to handle at the end of a long day, and easier to store. Buy edge protectors at the same time, because a strap over a bare pallet corner can be cut through in a single trip and the failure happens at speed.
Choose chain and binders if
You haul steel, machinery, equipment or anything with corners. Grade 70 transport chain and grade 80 lifting chain are marked differently and are rated differently, and the grade stamped on the link is what determines the working load limit you are allowed to count. Ratchet binders are safer to release than lever binders, which store energy and have injured a lot of people.
The rule, not the habit
FMCSA cargo securement rules set a minimum number of tiedowns based on article length and weight, and require the aggregate working load limit of all devices to be at least half the weight of the cargo secured. Some commodities, including metal coils, logs, concrete pipe and large boulders, have their own specific rules on top. Look at the current regulation for what you actually haul rather than copying what the driver next to you does.
Inspect before every use
Webbing with cuts, holes, burns or damaged stitching is out of service, and so is chain with cracked, stretched, gouged or repaired links. This is a pre-trip item and it is one an inspector will check. Replacing a strap costs a few dollars; a shifted load costs considerably more.
These comparisons are drawn from published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side, and nothing here is legal or compliance advice. Confirm current rules with FMCSA and with the states you run.
Our VEVOR chain and binder kit review covers what a two-set kit actually gives you in aggregate working load limit, which is usually less than a load requires.
