Short lengths of sturdy timber used to stabilize a vehicle in place are known as?

• A. Shims
• B. Cribbing
• C. Props
• D. Runners

Answer: (B)

In vehicle stabilization during rescue operations, short lengths of sturdy timber used to create a stable, load-distributing base are called cribbing. The technique involves stacking blocks in an interlocking pattern under wheels, axles, or other contact points to form a solid, level support that can bear the weight and resist shifting as work is done on or around the vehicle. Cribbing provides a controlled, predictable base that distributes the load across multiple points and heights, helping to prevent the vehicle from settling or shifting unexpectedly.

Shims are thin wedges used for minor leveling or filling gaps, not to bear heavy, dynamic loads. Props are adjustable supports used in other shoring contexts, not the interlocking block system used here. Runners are long boards used to bridge spaces or move loads, not the stacked, interlocking blocks that define cribbing.