Cargo loading and securement - Utah

In 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.

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; and
• 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.

A vehicle carrying loose 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.

The following loose materials 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.

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