Cargo loading and securement - Oregon

In Oregon, a person commits the offense of operating a vehicle 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; or
• Own a vehicle or combination of vehicles and cause or permit them to be driven or moved on a highway when constructed or loaded to allow its contents to drop, sift, leak, or otherwise escape.

These sifting or leaking load requirements do not apply:

• On any way, thoroughfare or place owned by a district formed under Oregon Revised Statues (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 under any agreement with any agency of the United States or with a licensee of the 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, the state of Oregon or any political subdivision of Oregon 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 signed in accordance with the manual adopted under ORS 810.200.
  • However, the exemptions in ORS 810.026(3) do not apply to persons and vehicles when traveling to or from the facilities or construction project.