Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State

Motor Vehicles Chapter 296-865, WAC

Effective Date: 10/01/05

WAC 296-865-300 Trucks and Trailers

For printing

Your Responsibility:

To make sure all trucks and trailers are operated and maintained safely

Truck operation	WAC 296-865-30005
Dump trucks	WAC 296-865-30010
Semitruck brakes	WAC 296-865-30015
Truck and trailer loads	WAC 296-865-30020

 

WAC 296-865-30005

Truck operation

You must

• Make sure truck drivers operate equipment at a safe speed at all times for roadway conditions.
• Make sure truck drivers either:
  • - Sound their horn before starting to back and intermittently during the entire backing operation
    or
  • - Have a working automatic reverse signal alarm that's audible:
    • Above the surrounding noise level
      and
    • No less than 15 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
• Make sure, during the backing of trucks where vision is obstructed, a signal person is stationed at a point giving a clear view of the rear of the truck and the operator of the truck at all times.

WAC 296-865-30010

Dump trucks

You must

• Make sure dump trucks have a device installed on the frame that will hold the bed in the raised position when employees are working underneath.

WAC 296-865-30015

Semitruck brakes

You must

• Make sure semitrucks are equipped with brakes that will safely hold the maximum load on maximum grades.

Note: Trailers may use air brakes or other types of brake equipment approved by the Washington State Patrol.

You must

• Test brakes before descending a steep grade.
• Follow the requirements in Table 2, Semitruck Braking Requirements.

Table 2 Semitruck Braking Requirements
When	You must
You park a truck on an incline	- Turn the wheels into the curb and - Have at least one "driver" wheel chocked on each side, independent of the braking system.
Using air brakes	Cut air into the trailer brake system at the time the trailer is attached to the truck.

 

WAC 296-865-30020

Truck and trailer loads

You must

• Make sure all loads transported on trucks or trailers are:
  • - Properly secured and distributed
    and
  • - Limited to a safe operating load for the:
    • Condition of the roadway
      and
    • Capacity of the bridges, trestles, and other structures.

Note: The Commercial Motor Vehicles unit of the Washington State Patrol determines how much weight can be carried on a vehicle by factoring manufacture limitations, number of axles, and other variables. For more information: - See RCW 46.44.041, Maximum Gross Weights -- Wheelbase and Axle Factors or - Contact the Commercial Motor Vehicles unit of the Washington State Patrol at Trucks@wsp.wa.gov.