Cargo Loading and Securement

Alabama

Vehicle must be constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances to clean or maintain the road.

Alaska

Vehicle must be constructed, loaded, or covered to prevent its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

At least six inches of freeboard must be maintained around the entire perimeter of a load consisting of sand, gravel, dirt, rock, or similar materials or the load must be covered and securely fastened to prevent the cover from becoming loose or detached.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of salt or sand for traction,
• A public agency cleaning or maintaining highways, or
• The transportation of agricultural, mining, or timber products.

Arizona

Vehicle must be constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

The load and any covering on the load must be securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or a hazard to other users of the highway.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for traction,
• The sprinkling of water or another substance to clean or maintain the road, or
• Minor pieces of agricultural materials (leaves and stems) from agricultural loads.

Arkansas

Vehicle must not be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

If the vehicle or trailer with an open bed was manufactured after September 30, 2001:

• No sand, gravel, or rock may be transported on the paved public streets and highways unless the open bed is securely covered with a material which will prevent the load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping; and
• The cover must be securely fastened to prevent it from becoming loose, detached, or a hazard to other highway users.

• The sand, gravel, or rock must be covered as required for vehicles or trailers manufactured after September 30, 2001, unless six inches of freeboard is maintained at the perimeter of the load within the open bed of the vehicle or trailer; and
• Measurements must be taken at the perimeter of the vehicle's or trailer's bed and measured from the top edge of the bed down to the sand, gravel, or rock being transported.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand to secure traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances to clean or maintain the road.

California

Vehicles must not be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is constructed, covered, or loaded to prevent any of its contents or load from dropping, sifting, leaking, blowing, spilling, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

Aggregate material (rock fragments, pebbles, sand, dirt, gravel, cobbles, crushed base, asphalt, and other similar materials) must only be carried in the cargo area of a vehicle.

The cargo area must not contain any holes, cracks, or openings through which material may escape, regardless of the degree to which the vehicle is loaded.

This requirement does not apply to:

• Clear water that may escape from the vehicle,
• Feathers from live birds that may escape from the vehicle, or
• Hay and straw as addressed in 49 CFR 393.100 et. seq.

• Remains six inches from the upper edge of the container area, and
• If the load does not extend, at its peak, above any part of the upper edge of the cargo container area.

Colorado

Vehicle must be constructed or loaded, or the load securely covered, to prevent any of its load from blowing, dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

No vehicle may be driven or moved for more than two miles if the vehicle is transporting aggregate material with a diameter of one inch or less, unless the load is covered by a tarp or utilizes other technology that prevents the aggregate material from blowing, dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of material to secure traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or another substance to clean or maintain the roadway.

• Operating entirely within a marked construction zone,
• Involved in maintenance of public roads during snow or ice removal operations, or
• Involved in emergency operations when requested by a law enforcement agency or an emergency response authority designated by or pursuant to C.R.S. 29-22-102.

Connecticut

Vehicle must be constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

The load and any covering on the load must be securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances to clean or maintain the road.

Delaware

Vehicle must be constructed or loaded to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

District of Columbia

No person may operate a vehicle on the public roadways carrying loose debris or cargo that could be dislodged from the vehicle without covering and restraining the loose debris or cargo to render it immobile.

Loose debris or cargo does not need to be covered or restrained if it is loaded so that the height of the cargo against the sides of the vehicle container:

• Does not extend above a point six inches below the top of the vehicle container.

Florida

Vehicle must be constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking, blowing, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

Driver must prevent dirt, sand, lime rock, gravel, silica, or other similar aggregate or trash, garbage, any inanimate object or objects, or any similar material from falling, blowing, or escaping from the vehicle.

Must cover and secure the load with a:

• Close-fitting tarpaulin or other appropriate cover,
• Load securing device meeting the requirements of §393.100, or
• Device designed to reasonably ensure that cargo will not shift upon or fall from the vehicle.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substance to clean or maintain the road.

Georgia

Vehicles must not be driven or moved on any public road unless it is constructed, loaded, or covered to prevent any of its load from dropping, escaping, or shifting to:

• Create a safety hazard; or
• Deposit litter on public or private property while the vehicle is on a public road.

Individuals may not operate or load for operation, on any public road, any vehicle with any load unless the load and its covering is securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from:

• Becoming loose, detached, or in any manner becoming a hazard to other users of the public road; or
• Depositing litter on public or private property while such vehicle is on a public road.

Motor carriers must not allow a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to be driven or operated with a load that is not secure.

All loads must be secured as required by state and federal law, rule, and regulation.

No person may operate any motor vehicle with a load on or in such vehicle unless the load is adequately secured to prevent the dropping or shifting of such load onto the roadway in such a manner as to create a safety hazard.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The spreading of any substance in public road maintenance or construction operations.

Hawaii

Vehicles must not be moved on any highway, unless the vehicle is so constructed, covered, or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, blowing, spilling, or otherwise escaping.

Vehicles loaded partially or entirely with loose paper, loose rubbish, plastics, empty cartons, dirt, sand, or gravel must not be driven or moved on any highway unless the load is entirely covered by a cargo net, tarpaulin, canopy, or other material designed to cover the load to prevent the load from escaping from the vehicle.

This requirement does not apply to:

• Spillage of clear water,
• Blowing feathers from live birds,
• The dropping of sand to secure traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances to clean or maintain the highway.

Vehicles transporting a granular load consisting of dirt, sand, or gravel on any highway are not required to cover the load if the load does not extend, at its peak, above any point on a horizontal plane equal in height to the top of the side, front, or rear part of the cargo container area that is the least in height.

Idaho

Vehicles must not be operated on any public highway unless their load is secured, and any required covering is securely fastened, to prevent the load or covering from becoming loose, detached or a hazard to other users of the highway.

The covering of a load of dirt, sand, or gravel susceptible to being dropped, spilled, leaked, or otherwise escaping from a vehicle is not required if six inches of freeboard is maintained.

The requirements for securing a load and its covering do not apply to a governmental or quasi-governmental entity, or its agents, employees, or contractors, while in the performance of maintenance or construction of a highway.

Illinois

Vehicles must not be driven or moved on any highway unless it is constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

No person may operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering are securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances to clean or maintain the roadway.

This covering and securement requirement does not apply to:

• The operation of highway maintenance vehicles engaged in removing snow and ice from the roadway, and
• Implements of husbandry or other farm vehicles while transporting agricultural products to or from the original place of production.

Indiana

Vehicles may not be driven or moved on a highway if their contents are dripping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

All loads hauled over port roads must be properly covered and adequately secured.

This requirement does not apply to:

• A vehicle containing poultry or livestock being transported to market, or
• A highway maintenance vehicle engaged in spreading sand or deicing chemicals.

Iowa

Vehicles must not be driven or moved on any highway by any person unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded, or the load securely covered, to prevent:

• Any of the load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping; or
• The load covering from dropping from the vehicle.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction,
• The sprinkling of water or other substances on a roadway to clean or maintain the roadway, or
• Vehicles loaded with hay or stover or the raw farm products listed in section 321.466, subsections 4 and 5.

Kansas

Vehicles must not be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping.

No person may operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering are securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

These requirements do not apply to:

• The necessary spreading of any substance in highway maintenance or construction operations; or
• Trucks, trailers or semitrailers when hauling agricultural forage commodities (grasses and legumes) intrastate from the place of production to a market or place of storage or from a place of storage to a place of use. This exception does not apply to trucks, trailers or semitrailers hauling:
  • Hay bales; or
  • Other packaged or bundled forage commodities.

Kentucky

Vehicles must not be operated upon any highway unless they're constructed to prevent their contents from escaping.

No vehicle may be operated on any public highway for over one mile whose load is susceptible to shifting or spillage unless the load is covered with a device suitable for prevention of spillage.

Louisiana

Vehicle loads must not drop, sift, leak, or otherwise escape.

The load on any vehicle must be securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or a hazard to other highway users.

This requirement does not apply to vehicles dropping:

• The dropping of sand on a highway to secure traction, or
• The sprinkling of a liquid substance to clean or maintain the highway.

Maine

A person may not operate on a public way a vehicle with a load that is not fastened, secured, confined, or loaded to reasonably prevent a portion from falling off.

A load of gravel, sand, crushed stone, rubbish, building debris, or trash must be covered or otherwise secured or confined to prevent any portion of the load from falling from or spilling out of the vehicle.

When the load consists of sawdust, shavings, or wood chips, and a reasonable effort has been made to completely cover the load, minor amounts blown from the vehicle while in transit do not constitute a violation.

Maryland

A vehicle with any type of load may not be driven on any highway unless:

• The vehicle is constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping; and
• The load and any covering on it are fastened securely to prevent it from becoming loose or detached or from endangering other highway users.

The bed of any vehicle carrying a load of loose material must be fully enclosed:

• On both sides, by sideboards or side panels;
• On the front, by a board or panel or by the cab of the vehicle; and
• On the rear, by a tailgate, board, or panel.

No part of the load touching any of these enclosures may be within six inches of the top of the enclosure, unless the load is covered with a firmly secured canvas or similar type covering.

This requirement does not apply to:

• Dropping sand, abrasives, chemicals, or other materials to improve traction;
• Spreading water or other substance to construct, clean or maintain a highway; or
• Dropping asphalt or other materials for highway, bridge, storm drain, or utility construction or repair.

Massachusetts

No person may drive or move a motor vehicle on any public highway, nor may the owner or bailee of a vehicle require or permit a vehicle to be driven or moved on a public highway:

• Unless the vehicle is constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping; and
• If the vehicle is loaded with sand, gravel, loam, dirt, stone, rubbish, or debris that could fall on other vehicles or on the highway and create litter or potential hazards to other vehicles, the load must be fully and adequately covered.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substance to clean or maintain the highway.

Michigan

No person may drive or move a vehicle on a highway unless the vehicle is constructed or loaded to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, blowing off, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

The tailgate, faucets, and taps on a vehicle must:

• Be securely closed to prevent spillage during transportation whether the vehicle is loaded or empty, and
• Not have any holes or cracks through which material can escape.

This requirement does not apply to:

• Products or material escaping from the vehicle in an amount that does not interfere with other traffic on the highway. Examples include:
  • A vehicle transporting agricultural or horticultural products when hay, straw, silage, or residue from a product, but not including the product itself, escapes.
  • When materials like water, used to preserve and handle agricultural or horticultural products while in transportation, escapes.
• Any highway maintenance vehicle engaged in either ice or snow removal.

Minnesota

A vehicle must not be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is constructed, loaded, or the load securely covered to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, blowing, or otherwise escaping.

A driver must not operate a vehicle transporting sand, gravel, aggregate, dirt, lime rock, silica, or similar material in or on any part of the vehicle other than in the cargo container. The driver must ensure that the cargo compartment of the vehicle is securely covered if:

• The vertical distance from the top of an exterior wall of the cargo compartment to the load, when measured downward along the inside surface of the wall, is less than six inches; or
• The horizontal distance from the top of an exterior wall of the cargo compartment to the load is less than two feet.

A driver of a vehicle used to transport garbage, rubbish, trash, debris, or similar material is not required to cover the transported material if:

• The vehicle is being operated at a speed less than 30 miles per hour,
• The vehicle is not being operated on an interstate highway, and
• No part of the load escapes from the vehicle.

Mississippi

Vehicles must not be driven or moved on any highway unless such vehicle is constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

Every open top truck, trailer, or other carrier, while traveling on any state, United States or interstate highway in Mississippi and carrying any load of sand, dirt, gravel, or rock must be equipped with a tarpaulin, canvas, or other top secured over the top of any load of sand, dirt, gravel, or rock.

A vehicle will be considered in full compliance if:

• It is not loaded within six inches of the top of the bed; or
• It is equipped with four six-inch sideboards, which must be attached one each to the front, back and two sides of the carrier body, and remain lowered while the body is being loaded, provided that no part of the load may extend above the body of the carrier.

After loading, the sideboards must be raised and secured to remain raised during travel, and the space between the top of the sideboards and the top of the load contacting the sideboards must not be less than six inches.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances for cleaning or maintaining the roadway.

Missouri

All motor vehicles, and every trailer and semitrailer operating upon the public highways and carrying goods or material or farm products which may reasonably be expected to become dislodged and fall as a result of wind or air pressure or by movement must have a protective cover or be sufficiently secured so that no portion of the goods or material can become dislodged and fall upon the highway.

N/A

Montana

A person operating a loaded vehicle on a public highway must load the vehicle or secure the load sufficiently to prevent littering or creating an obstruction dangerous to the public traveling on the highway.

This requirement does not apply to:

• A commercial motor vehicle that is operating in compliance with state and federal laws and requirements governing the securing of loads;
• A vehicle transporting processed or unprocessed agricultural products or inputs, including but not limited to fertilizer, manure, and pesticides;
• A vehicle performing road maintenance; or
• A vehicle in a marked work zone.

Nebraska

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

No person may transport any sand, gravel, rock less than two inches in diameter, or refuse in any vehicle on any hard-surfaced state highway if the material protrudes above the sides of that part of the vehicle in which it is being transported unless the material is enclosed or completely covered with canvas or similar covering.

No person may drive or move a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) or commercial trailer upon any highway unless the cargo or contents are properly distributed and adequately secured to prevent the falling of cargo or contents from the vehicle.

The tailgate, doors, tarpaulins, and any other equipment used in the operation of the CMV or commercial trailer or in the distributing or securing of the cargo or contents must be secured to prevent cargo or contents falling from the vehicle.

The structures, systems, parts, and components used to secure the cargo or contents must be in proper working order with no damaged or weakened components that would cause the cargo or contents to fall from the CMV or commercial trailer.

N/A

Nevada

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless it is constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

No person may operate on any highway any vehicle unless its load and any covering are securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances for cleaning or maintaining a roadway.

New Hampshire

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any way unless the vehicle is constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

No person may operate any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering are securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or a hazard to other users of the way.

No person may drive on any way any open vehicle loaded with earth, sand, asphalt, stone, gravel, or other particulate substance unless the vehicle is equipped with, and the load is entirely covered and secured by a tarpaulin or similar covering which prevents the escape of any substance from the load onto the way.

This requirement does not apply to:

• Sand being dropped for the purpose of securing traction;
• Water or other substances sprinkled in cleaning or maintaining any way; and
• A local farmer transporting farm products or materials incidental to a local farming operation where the transport requires incidental use of a way, provided that the farmer exercises reasonable care to prevent hazardous spillage.

• The operation of construction equipment as defined in RSA 259:42 and motor vehicles used in the construction of highways provided that such equipment or motor vehicle is used within a highway construction zone as prescribed by the commissioner of transportation, provided that the driver of any such vehicle is not relieved of the duty to exercise reasonable care;
• The operation of municipal and state highway maintenance equipment;
• The driving of any vehicle on a way at speeds of less than 30 miles per hour; andA local farmer transporting farm products or materials incidental to a local farming operation where the transport requires incidental use of a way, provided that the farmer exercises reasonable care to prevent hazardous spillage.

New Jersey

No person may cause or permit a vehicle to be loaded or operated so that the contents or any part thereof may be scattered in any street.

Whenever the load of any vehicle is of material other than farm products susceptible to scattering on a street and such load extends above the height of the sides or tail gate or rear of the body of the vehicle, the load must be securely covered by a tarpaulin or other cover.

New Mexico

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed, loaded, secured, or covered to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping.

No person may operate on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles with any load unless the load and any covering are securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances for cleaning or maintaining the roadway.

New York

The operation of any open truck or trailer being utilized for the transportation of any loose substances on a public highway is unlawful unless said vehicle has a cover, tarpaulin, or other device of a type and specification approved by the Commissioner of Transportation which completely closes in the opening to prevent the falling of any loose substances.

The operation of any open truck or trailer being utilized for the transportation of any loose substances on a public highway is unlawful unless said vehicle has a cover, tarpaulin, or other device of a type and specification approved by the Commissioner of Transportation which completely closes in the opening to prevent the falling of any loose substances.

North Carolina

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless it:

• Is constructed and loaded to prevent any of its load from falling, blowing, dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping; and
• Does not contain any holes, cracks, or openings through which any of its load may escape.

• The height of the load against all four walls does not extend above a horizontal line six inches below their tops when loaded at the loading point; and
• The load is securely covered by tarpaulin or some other suitable covering to prevent any of its load from falling, dropping, sifting, leaking, blowing, or otherwise escaping.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand on the roadway for the purpose of securing traction;
• The sprinkling, dumping, or spreading of water or other substances on a roadway in cleaning or maintaining the roadway; or
• The transportation of seed cotton, poultry or livestock, or silage or other feed grain used in the feeding of poultry or livestock.

North Dakota

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless it is constructed or loaded to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

No person may operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering are securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances for cleaning or maintaining the roadway.

Ohio

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed, loaded, or covered as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand or other substances to secure traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances for cleaning or maintaining the roadway.

Oklahoma

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, blowing, or otherwise escaping.

No person may operate on any highway, any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering is securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

Any vehicle loaded with sand, cinders, or other loose material susceptible to blowing or otherwise escaping must have the load covered to prevent the blowing or escaping of the load from the vehicle.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction;
• The sprinkling of water or other substances to clean or maintain the roadway; or
• Trucks loaded with livestock, poultry, hay or agricultural products, provided that the truck is constructed or loaded as to prevent the livestock, poultry or hay from escaping.

Oregon

A person commits the offense of operating with a sifting or leaking load if they:

• Drive or move on a highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles that is constructed or loaded to allow its contents to drop, sift, leak, or otherwise escape.
• Owns a vehicle or combination of vehicles and causes or permits the vehicle or combination of vehicles to be driven or moved on a highway when so constructed or loaded to allow its contents to drop, sift, leak or otherwise escape.

The sifting or leaking load requirements do not apply:

• On any way, thoroughfare or place owned by a district formed under ORS chapters 545, 547, 551 or a corporation formed under ORS chapter 554.
• On any road or thoroughfare or property in private ownership or any road or thoroughfare, other than a state highway or county road, used pursuant to any agreement with any agency of the United States or with a licensee of such agency or both.
• To operations authorized under the terms of a permit issued under ORS § 818.230.
• To persons, motor vehicles and equipment employed or used by a public or telecommunications utility, electric cooperative or by the United States, this state or any political subdivision of this state while on a highway and working or being used to service, construct, maintain or repair the facilities of a utility.
• To persons, motor vehicles and equipment employed or being used in the construction or reconstruction of a street or highway if:
  • They are within the immediate construction project as described in the governmental agency contract, if there is a contract; and
  • The work is being done in an area that is signed in accordance with the manual adopted under ORS 810.200.
  • The exemptions in subsection (3) do not apply to persons and vehicles when traveling to or from the facilities or construction project.

Pennsylvania

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

Every vehicle load must be fastened to prevent the load or covering from becoming loose, detached, or a hazard to other highway users.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The necessary spreading of any substance in highway maintenance or construction operations; or
• The shedding or dropping of feathers or other matter from vehicles hauling live or slaughtered birds or animals.

Rhode Island

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

No person may operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering are securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand to secure traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or another substance to clean or maintain a roadway.

South Carolina

Vehicle must be constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping from the vehicle.

When loaded with rock, gravel, stone, or substances which could blow, leak, sift, or drop, the vehicle must not be driven unless the height of the load against all four walls does not extend above a horizontal line six inches below the vehicle’s top.

A load that exceeds the height limit must be covered with a tarpaulin or other suitable covering.

A public authority having jurisdiction may:

• Drop sand, salt, or other chemicals for traction; and
• Sprinkle water or other substances to clean or maintain the roadway.

South Dakota

No person may drive or move any vehicle on any highway unless the vehicle is constructed or loaded to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

Tennessee

Any truck, or other motor vehicle, with an open bed, that is operated on any highway, road, or street open for public use, must be loaded so that any loose material remains at least four inches below the walls of the open bed, measured at the front, back and sidewalls; but the load may be piled higher in the center of the open bed.

This requirement does not apply to:

• Sand or salt purposely discharged from truck beds to clear roadways or improve traction;
• Water sprayed on streets for purposes of sanitation;
• Farm produce going to market; or
• The transport of crushed stone, fill dirt and rock, soil, bulk sand, coal, phosphate muck, asphalt, concrete, other building materials, forest products, unfinished lumber, agricultural lime and agricultural products and that:
  • Are loaded in compliance with the four-inch requirement, and
  • No part of the material is seen blowing from the vehicle by a law enforcement officer.

Texas

Vehicles must be equipped and maintained to prevent loose material from escaping by blowing or spilling.

A vehicle bed carrying a load:

• May ay not have a hole, crack, or other opening through which loose material can escape; and
• Must be enclosed:
  • On both sides by side panels;
  • On the front by a panel or the vehicle cab; and
  • On the rear by a tailgate or panel.

The load must be covered, and the covering firmly secured at the front and back, unless the load:

• Is completely enclosed by the load-carrying compartment; or
• Does not blow from or spill over the top of the load-carrying compartment.

Utah

A person may not operate a vehicle with an unsecured load on any highway or carry trash or garbage without a covering over the entire load.

A chemical substance capable of coating or bonding a load so that it is confined on a vehicle may be considered a covering if it remains effective at confining the load.

A vehicle carrying dirt, sand, gravel, rock fragments, pebbles, crushed base, aggregate, any other similar material, or scrap metal must 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 load's outer edges are at least six inches below the top inside edges of the exterior walls or sideboards of the vehicle's cargo compartment.

This requirement does not apply to:

• An authorized vehicle performing snow removal services on a highway;
• The necessary spreading of any substance connected with highway maintenance, construction, securing traction, or snow removal; or
• A vehicle or implement of husbandry carrying an agricultural product, if the agricultural product is:
  • 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.

The following are exempt:

• Hot mix asphalt;
• Construction debris or scrap metal in a size and 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 that is enclosed on all sides by containers, bags, or packaging.

Vermont

A person must not operate a motor vehicle nor draw a trailer or semi-trailer on a highway unless it is constructed and loaded so that it will create no hazard to other users of the highway.

Virginia

No vehicle may be operated or moved on any highway unless it is constructed, maintained, and loaded to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

The loads of all trucks, trailers and semitrailers carrying gravel, sand, coal, or other nonagricultural and nonforestry products on interstate, primary, or secondary highways or roads maintained by cities, counties or incorporated towns must be either:

• Secured to the vehicle in which they are being transported, or
• Covered.

This requirement does not apply to a:

• Motor vehicle that is used exclusively for agricultural purposes as provided in § 46.2-698 and is not licensed in any other state;
• Agricultural vehicle, tractor, or other vehicle exempted from registration and licensing requirements pursuant § 46.2-662 et seq.;
• Motor vehicle transporting forest products, poultry, or livestock; or
• Public service company vehicles, pickup trucks, and emergency snow removal equipment while engaged in snow removal operations.

Washington

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any public highway unless constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

No person may operate any vehicle on any public highway unless the load and its covering are securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

Any vehicle operating on a paved public highway with a load of dirt, sand, or gravel susceptible to being dropped, spilled, leaked, or otherwise escaping must be covered to prevent spillage. Covering of such loads is not required if six inches of freeboard is maintained within the bed.

This requirement does not apply to a public maintenance vehicle:

• Dropping sand on a highway to enhance traction, or
• Sprinkling water or other substances to clean or maintain a highway.

West Virginia

No vehicle or combination of vehicles may be operated on any highway unless the vehicle or combination of vehicles is constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

It is unlawful to operate on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles with any load unless the load and any covering is securely fastened to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.

This requirement does not apply to:

• The dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction, or
• The sprinkling of water or other substances for cleaning or maintaining the roadway.

Wisconsin

No person may operate a vehicle on a highway unless the vehicle is constructed and loaded as to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

Wyoming

No vehicle may be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

Except in highway construction or repair, anyone who drops, or permits to be dropped or thrown, on a highway any material must immediately remove the material or cause it to be removed.

This requirement does not apply to the necessary spreading of any substance in highway maintenance or construction operations.