Federal & State Regulations | Cargo loading and securement - Massachusetts

Massachusetts has adopted Part 393 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).

The adoption includes regulations dealing with projecting loads (393.87) and cargo securement (Part 393, Subpart I).

Part 393 applies to vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating, gross vehicle weight, gross combination weight rating, or gross combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more that are used for the transportation of property, and vehicles transporting a placardable amount of hazardous materials.

In 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, and
The sprinkling of water or other substance to clean or maintain the highway.

['Cargo loading and securement']

['Cargo securement', 'Loading and unloading - Motor Carrier']

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Cargo loading and securement - Massachusetts