Pole and utility vehicles/trailers – Rhode Island

Coupled vehicles: maximum number and length

Pole trailers are excepted from the rules governing the maximum number and length of coupled vehicles set forth in R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-25-6.

The limitations as to the length of vehicles and loads in R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-25-5 and § 31-25-6 do not apply to any load upon a pole trailer when transporting poles or pipes or structural material that cannot be dismembered, provided that no pole or pipe or other material exceeding 80 feet in length must not be transported unless a permit has first been obtained as required in R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-25-21.

Connections between coupled vehicles

When one vehicle is towing another the drawbar or other connection must be of sufficient strength to pull all weight towed and said drawbar or other connection must not exceed 15 feet from one vehicle to the other except the connection between any two vehicles transporting poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of structural nature which cannot readily be dismembered.

Key definitions

Pole trailer: Every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach, or pole, or by being boomed or secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes, or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.