Three rules: load below the sides, tarp anything loose, tie down anything that can shift. Materials that escape the trailer during transit are road hazards, a fine waiting to happen, and your financial responsibility if they damage another vehicle.
The "below the sides" rule
The trailer's sides are 4 feet tall. Any material in the bed should be leveled below the top of the side rails — not heaped, not piled above. If your load is mounded above the rails:
Loose material slides off as you drive
The center of gravity rises, making the trailer harder to control
DOT scales will flag it
For dense materials like gravel, you'll hit the weight limit (about 4 cubic yards) long before you hit the volume limit, so this isn't usually an issue. For lighter materials like mulch or brush, watch the load height — easy to over-fill by eye.
Tarping loose materials
Anything that can blow out of the bed in highway wind needs a tarp. That includes:
Mulch, leaves, brush, yard waste
Light demo debris (drywall scraps, insulation, foam)
Anything dusty or powdery (dry topsoil, sand, sawdust)
Bagged trash (bags can rip and release contents)
The trailer comes with a standard tarp. Pull it over the load, secure the edges with bungee cords or rope through the side rail stake pockets. Don't drive off without checking that the tarp is secured at all four corners and the middle.
Tie-downs
The trailer has four interior D-rings for tie-downs. Use them for:
Lumber and pipe (which can roll or shift)
Appliances and large items
Equipment loaded via the ramps
Anything tall or top-heavy
Use ratchet straps with a working load limit appropriate for what you're tying down. Cross the straps if possible (over the load, not just around it).
Why this matters
Three reasons, in order of how often they bite renters:
Spillage causes accidents. Material falling from your trailer can hit a car behind you, blow back at other drivers, or cause a crash as drivers swerve. Any resulting damage is your liability — both legally (you're responsible for cargo escape) and contractually (Rental Agreement § 12(b)).
Tennessee law requires secure loads. Drivers can be fined for unsecured cargo. Police don't have to see something fall — a visibly unsecured load is enough.
Damage to the trailer. A load that shifts mid-transit can damage the trailer's sides, gate, or floor. Repair costs come from you.
Common mistakes that cause spillage
Untarped mulch in highway wind — looks fine at 20 mph in a parking lot; blows out at 60 mph
Over-filled brush above the rails — branches catch wind and dump onto the road
Loose drywall scraps — paper face flutters and lifts pieces out
Wet topsoil mounded high — looks stable until the first bump
Garbage bags not bagged inside another bag — ripped bags release contents
If you're unsure whether your load is secure, ask yourself: would I be OK driving at 65 mph behind this trailer, with my own kids in the car behind it? If no, secure it more.
Full terms in your Rental Agreement
Loading and securement requirements are in § 12 (Loading the Trailer) of your Rental Agreement, including the cleanliness, securement, and spillage prevention obligations.