Pole and utility vehicles/trailers – South Dakota

Special fastenings

All motor vehicles, trucks, trailers, and semitrailers used in transporting on the public highway articles consisting, wholly or in part, of any pipe, casing, rods, bars, finished lumber products, logs, poles, or piling, which are longer than eight feet, must have them securely and tightly fastened to the front and rear of the vehicle by:

• At least two separate iron chains, cables, or synthetic straps extending over and around the articles on the vehicle in a manner as to securely fasten the same to the vehicle and prevent lateral or longitudinal movement of the articles while being transported in the vehicle.
• The fasteners used must have a breaking strength of not less than 15,000 pounds.

These provisions do not apply to articles if:

• Entirely enclosed, other than at top, within the confines of a rack or box mounted on such vehicles; and
• Which articles, when loaded, do not extend at the highest point of the load two linear feet above the lowest point of floor or bed of the vehicle.

Speeds over 20 mph

The requirement that every trailer towed on the public highways at a speed more than 20 mph must be coupled to the towing vehicle by means of a safety chain, chains, cables, or equivalent devices in addition to the regular trailer hitch or coupling, does not apply to a pole, pipe, casing, log, or piling dolly.

Axle/tire weight limit exception

A motor vehicle hauling unfinished logs is not in violation of the maximum axle or tire weight limits set by SD Codified Laws §§ 32-22-16 or 32-22-21 if the total gross vehicle weight of the vehicle is within the maximum limits set by these sections and the load is adjusted to the legal limits on axle and tire. This exception does not apply to the interstate highway system.

Stop lamps/mounting

Except for a vehicle equipped with a slow-moving vehicle emblem, each pole trailer must be equipped with at least two stop lamps with:

• At least one on each side;
• Mounted on the same level; and
• As widely spaced laterally as practicable.

However, each pole trailer manufactured and assembled before July 1, 1973, must be equipped with:

• At least one stop lamp;
• Mounted on the rear of the vehicle; and
• At a height of no more than 70 inches nor less than 15 inches.

Each stop lamp shall display a red light visible from not less than 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight. Each stop lamp must be actuated upon application of the brake which may be incorporated with one or more rear lamps.

Clearance lamps

Every pole trailer having a width at any part more than 80 inches must be equipped with four clearance lamps.

• Two lamps must be located at the extreme right and left sides of the front of such vehicle, displaying an amber light visible from 500 feet to the front of the vehicle; and
• The other two lamps must be located at the extreme right and left sides of the rear of the vehicle, displaying red lights visible from 500 feet to the rear of the vehicle, which rear clearance lamps must be in addition to the red lamps required in SD Codified Laws § 32-17-8.

Exemption from all-wheel braking requirement

Trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers of a maximum gross weight not exceeding 3,000 pounds, and trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers of a maximum gross weight not exceeding 7,000 pounds, manufactured or assembled prior to July 1, 1974, need not be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels, provided that:

• The total weight on and including the wheels of the trailer or trailers must not exceed 40 percent of the gross weight of the towing vehicle when connected to the trailer or trailers; and
• The combination of vehicles, consisting of the towing vehicle and its total towed load, can comply with the performance requirements of §§ 32-18-8 and 32-18-9.

Electric utility permit (length)

An annual vehicle permit may be issued to an electric utility company for the movement on state trunk highways of an overlength vehicle hauling utility poles. The permit allows:

• Poles up to 85 feet long on straight truck-trailer combination or a semi tractor-trailer combination.
• Poles over 85 feet long must have a single-trip permit.

Electric utility permit (flagging and lighting)

A vehicle transporting poles extending more than 4 feet beyond the rear of the bed or body of the vehicle's trailer:

• During daylight hours, must meet the flagging requirements of ARSD 70:03:01:14.
• During nighttime hours, or at other times required by SD Codified Laws § 32-17-4, must have taillights, clearance lights, and side marker lights in addition to the vehicle and trailer lights required in § 32-17.
• The additional lights must be attached to the poles. The requirement for the additional lights is found in ARSD 70:03:01:108(1)-(3).

Electric utility permit (rear escort requirements)

Poles up to 75 feet long may be moved without a rear escort if:

• The trailer's wheelbase does not exceed 43 feet; and
• The trailer's overhang does not exceed 75 percent of the trailer's wheelbase.

The escort vehicle, if needed, must meet the requirements of ARSD 70:03:01:21(1) and (2).