2010 Pennsylvania Code
Title 75 - VEHICLES
Chapter 49 - Size, Weight and Load
4903 - Securing loads in vehicles.

     § 4903.  Securing loads in vehicles.
        (a)  General rule.--No vehicle shall be driven or moved on
     any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to
     prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or
     otherwise escaping.
        (b)  Fastening load.--Every load on a vehicle shall be
     fastened so as to prevent the load or covering from becoming
     loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the
     highway.
        (c)  Load of logs.--
            (1)  Every load of logs on a vehicle shall be securely
        fastened with binders, chains or straps and, in the case of
        an open-body or stake-body vehicle, trailer or semitrailer
        there shall be a sufficient number of vertical metal stakes
        or posts securely attached on each side of the vehicle,
        trailer or semitrailer at least as high as the top of the
        load to secure such load in the event of a failure of the
        binders, chains or straps.
            (2)  A load of logs which are greater than six feet in
        length must be secured by three binders for each stack of
        logs, except that, if the stacks are tiered so that one stack
        rests upon the bottom stack or stacks, a total of three
        binders is necessary for that tiered combination.
            (3)  A load of logs which are six feet or less in length
        must be secured by two binders for each stack of logs, except
        that, if the stacks are tiered so that one stack rests upon
        the bottom stack or stacks, a total of three binders is
        necessary for that tiered combination.
            (4)  A tiered combination which includes logs which are
        greater than six feet and logs which are six feet or less
        shall be governed by paragraph (2).
        (c.1)  Load of loose garbage.--Every load of loose, nonbaled
     garbage, waste, refuse or rubbish being transported through or
     within this Commonwealth shall be transported in a vehicle with
     four solid sides and with a cover or top of a type to prevent
     any of the load from escaping. The cover or top shall remain
     tightly in place going to a disposal site. The load shall be no
     higher than the solid sides of the vehicle. It is imperative
     that all garbage, waste, refuse or rubbish be removed from the
     vehicle at the disposal site to prevent any scattering of litter
     on the highway during the return trip. No truck, trailer or
     semitrailer with an open body or stake body shall be used for
     such purposes. This subsection shall not apply to vehicles
     engaged in the systematic collection of garbage or refuse and
     which are designed to be open in the rear for the loading of
     garbage or refuse.
        (c.2)  Load of baled garbage.--Garbage, waste, refuse or
     rubbish in a tightly compacted and baled form being transported
     through or within this Commonwealth shall be securely fastened
     to the vehicle and covered over all exposed areas with a canvas
     cover or cover of a comparable type which shall be securely
     attached to the underside of all sides of the truck, trailer or
     semitrailer to prevent any of the material from the bales from
     escaping. No part of any bale shall be uncovered, except for
     inspection, at any time during transportation within or through
     this Commonwealth until arrival at the disposal site.
        (c.3)  Load of equipment with hydraulically operated boom
     arm.--The boom arm of equipment with a hydraulically operated
     boom arm being transported through or within this Commonwealth
     shall be securely fastened to the vehicle with steel restraining
     devices to prevent its movement or shifting during transit.
        (d)  Establishment of standards for fastening devices.--The
     department may promulgate regulations establishing minimum
     standards governing types and numbers of devices to be used in
     securing loads to prevent spillage and leakage of a load while
     in transit.
        (e)  Exceptions.--This section does not prohibit:
            (1)  the necessary spreading of any substance in highway
        maintenance or construction operations; or
            (2)  the shedding or dropping of feathers or other matter
        from vehicles hauling live or slaughtered birds or animals.
        (f)  Penalty for violation of subsection (a), (b) or (c).--A
     person who owns or who operates a vehicle in violation of
     subsection (a), (b) or (c) and, as a result of the violation,
     any item, piece, fragment or part of the load escapes and causes
     injury to a person or damage to another vehicle or other
     property commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction,
     be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $300 nor more than
     $1,000. A violation of subsection (a), (b) or (c) which does not
     result in injury to a person or damage to another vehicle or
     other property constitutes a summary offense, punishable by a
     fine of not less than $100 nor more than $300.
        (g)  Penalty for violation of subsection (c.1) or (c.2).--A
     person who owns or who operates a vehicle in violation of
     subsection (c.1) or (c.2) commits a summary offense and shall,
     upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than
     $300 nor more than $1,000. Notwithstanding the provisions of 42
     Pa.C.S. §§ 3571 (relating to Commonwealth portion of fines,
     etc.) and 3573 (relating to municipal corporation portion of
     fines, etc.), disposition of any fine collected for a violation
     of subsection (c.1) or (c.2) shall be as follows:
            (1)  Unless paragraph (2) applies, the fine collected
        shall be paid to the Commonwealth for deposit into the Motor
        License Fund.
            (2)  If the county where the offense was committed has a
        litter control program approved by the department, 50% of the
        fine collected shall be paid to the county for expenditure in
        the approved litter control program; and 50% of the fine
        collected shall be paid to the Commonwealth for deposit into
        the Motor License Fund.
     (Mar. 13, 1990, P.L.69, No.14, eff. imd.; July 11, 1996,
     P.L.660, No.115, eff. 60 days; Nov. 26, 2008, P.L.1658, No.133,
     eff. 60 days)

        2008 Amendment.  Act 133 added subsec. (c.3).
        1996 Amendment.  Act 115 amended subsec. (c).
        1990 Amendment.  Act 14 added subsecs. (c.1), (c.2), (f) and
     (g). See section 6 of Act 14 of 1990 in the appendix to this
     title for special provisions relating to construction of Act 14.
        Cross References.  Section 4903 is referred to in section
     3716 of this title.