Common sense dictates that covering materials with a tarp when transported in a truck is necessary to prevent the materials from spilling or falling out and hitting other motorists. But, while some materials, such as rocks or gravel, are required to be covered with a tarp, rules regarding covering a truck with a tarp are determined on a state-by-state basis. One example was printed a year ago in a transportation blog on the website for The Bellingham Herald in Washington state. Out of the state laws for vehicles transporting materials, some particular regulations are:
(3) Any vehicle operating on a paved public highway with a load of dirt, sand, or gravel susceptible to being dropped, spilled, leaked, or otherwise escaping therefrom shall be covered so as to prevent spillage. Covering of such loads is not required if six inches of freeboard is maintained within the bed.
(7)(a)(i) A person is guilty of failure to secure a load in the first degree if he or she, with criminal negligence, fails to secure a load or part of a load to his or her vehicle in compliance with subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section and causes substantial bodily harm to another.
The rest of the rules specific to Washington state can be read on the blog post here.
One key point in reading these regulations for covering a truck load is that how to or what to cover the load with isn’t specified. As with truck tarps, some materials need waterproof covering, while others just simply need a cover to not spill out of the truck. Two common types of truck tarps are mesh tarps and poly tarps, both of which can be applied manually or by a roll-on mechanism. While in the case of Washington state a load six inches below the edge of the truck doesn’t need to be covered, not covering materials still has a risk of having materials fly out. Using even a light or mesh tarp can be beneficial in keeping the materials inside the truck.
