21 and 41 the pressure relief valves 901 are adjustable thus an operator or the controller 900 may adjust the one or more pressure relief valves 901 for the maximum load capacity of the first and second surfaces 50 and 200 in the alternative an operator reads the sensors 500 and 502 and bleeds pressure from the hydraulic cylinders 21 and 41 according to the maximum load capacity of the first and second surfaces in another alternative the sensors 500 and 502 are pressure relief valves and they are merely preset to properly distribute the jack load wherein no direct interaction between the controller 900 or pump and the pressure relief valve is required in operation the gripping apparatus 10 grips the tubular 100 the controller 900 or an operator actuates the lifting member 20 so that the hydraulic cylinders apply a lifting force on the tubular 100 at this time the force distribution assembly 40 is inactive thus the full load from the lifting member 20 transfers to the surface 200 via load transfer assembly 30 as shown the surface 200 is the wellbore surface which may comprise a blow out preventor or a casing bowl wellhead or the ground etc the controller 900 is set to activate the force distribution assembly 40 when a first predetermined load of the surface 200 is reached the force distribution assembly 40 then applies force to the bottom of the lifting member 20 which transfers some of the lifting load in the force transfer assembly 30 to the second surface 50 the second surface 50 as shown is the rig floor however it may be a rotary table the derrick a platform on the derrick a truck bed etc the controller 900 or operator then adjusts the load in.