Secure Load Requirements In Ohio

[tones]

I am in Ohio. Under the law ( ORS 4513.31) requiring securing of loads with covers, is it required to secure a load of concrete or asphalt? I ask the question because the statute seems to imply that loads must be secured to prevent spillage out of the truck. A tarp would not prevent spillage, even if a load of concrete would shift, which is unlikely in any event. Lae seems to be motr directed at littering.

Any comments or help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Happy Trails]

(a) No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any street, highway or
other public place unless such vehicle is so constructed, loaded or covered
as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom......

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All loads need to be secured in order to prevent any of the material that is being hauled from falling off of the truck. That doesn't necessarily mean that it needs to be covered with a tarp; a tarp most likely would not stop a chunk of concrete from falling anyway.

It is up to the driver to make sure that the load can be hauled safely by securing the load, and that includes concrete and asphalt as well.

Cleveland, Ohio added a more specific definition to the states law in ordinance Section 439.11

(c) No person shall operate any vehicle so as to track or drop mud, stones, concrete, gravel or other similar material on any street, highway or other public place.....

[tones]

Happy Trails,

Thanks for the reply. The statute says that the loads must be "loaded OR secured" to prevent spillage, "dropping", etc. If a load of concrete is "loaded" such that the materials on the load are heavy enough that "dropping" is very unlikely, could this "loading" method, even without a cover in place, be enough to satisfy the requirement within the statute.

I find it curious and maybe quite telling that Cleveland felt compelled to add something to its local Ordinances that specifically requires that concrete and asphalt are also governed by the law. What do you think?

Tones

[Happy Trails]

As long as the load is secured in a way that nothing will drop or blow out of the vehicle you should be good to go.

[tones]

Happy Trails,

Thanks.

Tones