Chapter 9
Load Securement and Tarping Requirements
GENERAL INTRASTATE OPERATIONS
A vehicle may not be operated or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is constructed or loaded to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, spilling, blowing off, falling off or otherwise escaping.
Vehicles carrying dirt, sand, gravel, rock fragments, pebbles, crushed base, aggregate, any other similar material or scrap metal, shall have a covering over the entire load unless:
- The highest point of the load does not extend above the top of any exterior wall or sideboard of the cargo compartment of the vehicle; and
- The outer edges of the load are at least six inches below the top inside edges of the exterior walls or sideboards of the cargo compartment of the vehicle.
- A chemical substance capable of coating or bonding a load so that the load is confined on a vehicle, may be considered a covering for purposes of dirt, sand, gravel, rock fragments, pebbles, crushed base, aggregate, any other similar material, or scrap metal so long as the chemical substance remains effective at confining the load.
- Cargo must be contained, immobilized or secured to prevent shifting to the extent that the vehicle's stability or maneuverability is not adversely affected.
The following material is exempt from the provisions listed above:
- Hot mix asphalt;
- Construction debris or scrap metal if the debris or scrap metal is a size and in a form not susceptible to being blown out of the vehicle;
- Material being transported across a highway between two parcels of property that would be contiguous but for the highway that is being crossed; and
- Material (dirt, sand, gravel, rock fragments, pebbles, crushed base, aggregate, any other similar material, or scrap metal) that is enclosed on all sides by containers, bags, or packaging.
- An authorized vehicle performing snow removal services on a highway, if the vehicle's load is screened to a particle size established by a rule of the Department of Transportation. UCA 72-7-409(5)
Note: This provision does not prohibit the necessary spreading of any substance connected with highway maintenance, construction, securing traction, or snow removal.
Provisions listed above do not apply to a vehicle or implement of husbandry carrying an agricultural product, if the agricultural product is: UCA 72-7-409(4)(a)(b)
- Being transported in a manner which is not a hazard or a potential hazard to the safe operation of the vehicle or to other highway users, and
- Loaded in a manner that only allows minimal spillage.
A vehicle with a load may not be operated on any highway unless the load and any load covering is fastened, secured, and confined to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to the safe operation of the vehicle, or to other highway users.
Before entering a highway, the operator of a vehicle carrying any material listed above, shall remove all loose material on any portion of the vehicle not designed to carry the material.
Chapter 9
Load Securement and Tarping Requirements
GENERAL INTRASTATE OPERATIONS
A vehicle may not be operated or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is constructed or loaded to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, spilling, blowing off, falling off or otherwise escaping.
Vehicles carrying dirt, sand, gravel, rock fragments, pebbles, crushed base, aggregate, any other similar material or scrap metal, shall have a covering over the entire load unless:
- The highest point of the load does not extend above the top of any exterior wall or sideboard of the cargo compartment of the vehicle; and
- The outer edges of the load are at least six inches below the top inside edges of the exterior walls or sideboards of the cargo compartment of the vehicle.
- A chemical substance capable of coating or bonding a load so that the load is confined on a vehicle, may be considered a covering for purposes of dirt, sand, gravel, rock fragments, pebbles, crushed base, aggregate, any other similar material, or scrap metal so long as the chemical substance remains effective at confining the load.
- Cargo must be contained, immobilized or secured to prevent shifting to the extent that the vehicle's stability or maneuverability is not adversely affected.
The following material is exempt from the provisions listed above:
- Hot mix asphalt;
- Construction debris or scrap metal if the debris or scrap metal is a size and in a form not susceptible to being blown out of the vehicle;
- Material being transported across a highway between two parcels of property that would be contiguous but for the highway that is being crossed; and
- Material (dirt, sand, gravel, rock fragments, pebbles, crushed base, aggregate, any other similar material, or scrap metal) that is enclosed on all sides by containers, bags, or packaging.
- An authorized vehicle performing snow removal services on a highway, if the vehicle's load is screened to a particle size established by a rule of the Department of Transportation. UCA 72-7-409(5)
Note: This provision does not prohibit the necessary spreading of any substance connected with highway maintenance, construction, securing traction, or snow removal.
Provisions listed above do not apply to a vehicle or implement of husbandry carrying an agricultural product, if the agricultural product is: UCA 72-7-409(4)(a)(b)
- Being transported in a manner which is not a hazard or a potential hazard to the safe operation of the vehicle or to other highway users, and
- Loaded in a manner that only allows minimal spillage.
A vehicle with a load may not be operated on any highway unless the load and any load covering is fastened, secured, and confined to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to the safe operation of the vehicle, or to other highway users.
Before entering a highway, the operator of a vehicle carrying any material listed above, shall remove all loose material on any portion of the vehicle not designed to carry the material.
GENERAL INTRASTATE AND INTERSTATE OPERATIONS
Each commercial motor vehicle (CMV) transporting cargo must be loaded and equipped to prevent the cargo from leaking, spilling, blowing off or falling from the motor vehicle.
49CFR393.106 The aggregate working load limit of tiedowns used to secure an article or group of articles against movement must be at least one-half times the weight of the article or group of articles. The aggregate working load limit is the sum of:
- One-half the working load limit of each tiedown that goes from an anchor point on the vehicle to an anchor point on an article of cargo;
- One-half the working load limit of each tiedown that is attached to an anchor point on the vehicle, passes through, over, or around the article of cargo, and is then attached to an anchor point on the same side of the vehicle.
- The working load limit for each tiedown that goes from an anchor point on the vehicle, through, over, or around the article of cargo, and then attaches to another anchor point on the other side of the vehicle.
Click here to see a table of working load limits.
Commercial motor vehicles are subject to the cargo securement standards of this subpart and these general requirements:
- The rules in 49CFR393 Subpart I are applicable to trucks, truck tractors, semitrailers, full trailers, and pole trailers.
- Prevention against loss of load. Each commercial motor vehicle must, when transporting cargo on public roads, be loaded and equipped, and the cargo secured, in accordance with this subpart to prevent the cargo from leaking, spilling, blowing or falling from the motor vehicle.
- Prevention against shifting of load. Cargo must be contained, immobilized or secured in accordance with this subpart to prevent shifting upon or within the vehicle to such an extent that the vehicle’s stability or maneuverability is adversely affected.
The minimum number of tiedowns required to secure an article or group of articles against movement depends on the length of the article(s) being secured.
When an article is not blocked or positioned to prevent movement in the forward direction by a headerboard, bulkhead, other cargo that is positioned to prevent movement, or other appropriate blocking devices, it must be secured by at least:
- One tiedown for articles 5 feet (1.52 meters) or less in length, and 1,100 pounds (500 kg) or less in weight
- Two tiedowns if the article is:
- 5 feet (1.52 meters) or less in length and more than 1,100 pounds (500 kg) in weight; or
- Longer than 5 feet (1.52 meters) but less than or equal to 10 feet (3.04 meters) in length, irrespective of the weight.
- Two tiedowns if the article is longer than 10 feet (3.04 meters), and one additional tiedown for every 10 feet (3.04 meters) of article length, or fraction thereof, beyond the first 10 feet (3.04 meters) of length.
If an individual article is blocked, braced, or immobilized to prevent movement in the forward direction by a headerboard, bulkhead, other articles which are adequately secured or by an appropriate blocking or immobilization method, it must be secured by at least one tiedown for every 3.04 meters (10 feet) of article length, or fraction thereof.
The rules in this section do not apply to a vehicle transporting one or more articles of cargo such as, but not limited to, machinery or fabricated structural items (e.g., steel or concrete beams, crane booms, girders, and trusses, etc.) which, because of their design, size, shape, or weight, must be fastened by special methods. However, any article of cargo carried on that vehicle must be securely and adequately fastened to the vehicle.
SPECIFIC SECUREMENT REQUIREMENTS BY COMMODITY TYPE
Complete information on specific securement requirements by commodity type can be found in 49 CFR 393.100 - 136 for the following:
Load Securement Dash Note
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For further information regarding Load Securement and Tarping Requirements contact the Motor Carrier Division Office at (801) 965-4892 or (866) 215-5399, or by emailing mccustomerservice@utah.gov.
