WAC 480-14-370   Equipment -- Drivers -- Safety.  In addition to other laws and regulations of this state, all motor vehicles operating under chapter 81.80 RCW shall comply with the following:

     (1) Adoption of United States Department of Transportation motor carrier safety regulations. The rules and regulations governing motor carrier safety prescribed by the United States Department of Transportation in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, part 392; part 393; part 396; part 397; as well as and including all appendices and amendments thereto are adopted and prescribed by the commission to be observed by all common, private, registered, and registered exempt carriers operating under chapter 81.80 RCW. Exceptions: Carriers operating exclusively in intrastate commerce are not subject to provisions of 49 CFR, part 392.2 and with respect to 49 CFR, part 396.11, no driver vehicle inspection report need be filed if no defects are found. Information about 49 CFR regarding the version currently in effect and where to obtain it is set out in WAC 480-14-999.

     (2) Whenever the designations "director, office of motor carrier safety," "director, regional motor carrier safety office," "regional highway administrator," and "federal highway administration" are used in the respective parts of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as described in subsection (1) of this section, such designations for the purpose of this rule shall mean the "Washington utilities and transportation commission."

     (3) Safety chains or other load fastening devices. Any motor truck, truck tractor, trailer, semi-trailer, or any combination thereof, transporting logs upon a public highway where binder devices are required, shall have the load thereon securely fastened and protected as follows:

     (a) Placement and number of wrappers required on log trucks using stakes.

     (i) In the hauling of one log loads, one wrapper chain or cable shall be required and it shall be secured to the rear bunk and the log shall be properly blocked or secured in a manner which will prevent it from rolling or shifting. An additional wrapper, secured to the front bunk, is optional.

     (ii) In the hauling of two log loads, not less than two wrapper chains or cables shall be used to secure the load. The logs shall be properly blocked to prevent them from rolling or shifting.

     (iii) On loads consisting of three or four logs not over forty-four feet in length, the load shall be secured by not less than two properly spaced wrapper chains or cables. Ends of short logs not secured by such wrappers shall be secured with extra wrappers. If any log is over forty-four feet in length, the load shall be secured by not less than three properly spaced wrappers.

     (iv) Loads consisting of five or more logs, when the logs are all seventeen feet or less in length, shall be secured by not less than two properly spaced wrappers. Loads consisting of five or more logs, when any log is over seventeen feet in length, shall be secured by not less than three properly spaced wrappers.

     (b) Placement and number of wrappers required on log trucks using chock blocks.

     (i) In the hauling of one log load, one wrapper chain or cable shall be required and secured to the rear bunk and the log shall be properly blocked in a manner to prevent it from rolling or shifting.

     (ii) One additional wrapper chain or cable shall be required on log trucks using chock blocks over and above the requirements in (a)(iii) and (iv) of this subsection.

     (c) Placement and number of wrappers required on crosswise loaded trucks, trailers, etc. In the case of short logs loaded crosswise, the following method of securing the load shall be used if the truck trailer is not provided with solid ends of a height sufficient to prevent any log in the load from rolling off: Not less than two chock blocks shall be used at each open end of the vehicle and the load shall be held with at least two wrapper chains or cables. The wrappers shall be firmly attached to the end of the truck or trailer. Rigid standards or stakes may be used in lieu of chock blocks but each such standard or stake shall be either rigidly connected to the bed of the truck or trailer or shall be placed in a tight fitting socket at least twelve inches in depth. Other means furnishing equivalent security may be acceptable.

     (d) Wrapper placement. When two wrappers are required, they shall be applied within six feet of the front and rear bunks. When more than two wrappers are required, the front and back binder shall be applied within six feet of the front and rear bunks.

     (e) Short logs. To properly secure short logs, binders shall be placed near the end, not less than twelve inches from the end of the log.

     (f) Log on top or in outside saddle. No log loaded on top or in outside saddles of a load shall be transported unless secured by not less than two wrapper chains or cables, one of which shall be placed near each end of such log.

     (g) Fasten in place. All wrappers and binders shall be fastened in place prior to tightening to prevent the displacement of logs on the top of the load.

     (h) Surround load. All wrapper chains or cables, except in the case of one log loads, shall entirely surround the load. This does not apply to gut-wrappers.

     (i) Gut-wrappers. Gut-wrappers, when used, shall be adjusted so as to be tightened by, but not carry the weight of the logs above them.

     (j) Wrappers and binders to be placed before leaving immediate loading area. Wrappers and binders shall be placed and tightened around the completed load before the truck leaves the immediate loading area.

     (k) Construction of wrappers and binders. Wrapper chains or cables, binders, fasteners, or attachments thereof, used for any purpose as required by these standards, shall have a minimum breaking strength of not less than fifteen thousand pounds and shall be rigged so that it can be safely released.

     (l) Bundle straps or banding. For the purposes of this standard, applied bundle straps or banding are not acceptable as wrappers and binders.

     (m) Loose ends secured. All loose ends of wrapper chains or cables shall be securely fastened so as to prevent their swinging free in a manner that will create a hazard.

     (n) Trucks in sorting yards. Trucks and trailers used around sorting yards, etc., which travel at slow speeds, will not be required to use wrappers providing all logs are contained by and lie below the height of the stakes and there are no persons on the ground exposed to such traffic.

     (o) Binder hook design. Binders for securing wrappers on logging trucks shall be fitted with hooks of proper size and design for the wrapper chain being used.

     (p) Defective wrappers. Wrappers shall be removed from service when any of the following conditions exist:

     (i) Excessively worn links on chains;

     (ii) Deformed or stretched chain links;

     (iii) Cracked chain links;

     (iv) Frayed, stranded, knotted, or otherwise defective wire rope.

     (q) Binder extensions. Pipe extension handles (swedes) for tightening or securing binders shall be limited to not longer than thirty-six inches. Care shall be taken that a sufficient amount of the pipe extends over the binder handle.

     (r) Defective binders. Defective binders shall be immediately removed from service.


Note: See the following Diagrams for illustrations of placement and number of load fastening devices.

PLACEMENT AND NUMBER OF WRAPPERS



One log load

One wrapper required which shall be secured to the rear bunk. Log shall be blocked or secured in a manner to prevent it from rolling or shifting. A second wrapper secured to the front bunk is optional.
 

Two log load

A minimum of two wrappers required. Logs shall be blocked to prevent them from rolling or shifting.
 

Three or four log load forty-four feet or less

A minimum of two wrappers required.
 

Three or four log loads more than forty four feet

A minimum of three wrappers required.
 

Five or six log load all logs seventeen feet or less

A minimum of two wrappers required.
 

Seven or more log load all logs seventeen feet or less

A minimum of two wrappers required.
 

Five or more log load if any logs are more than seventeen feet

A minimum of three wrappers are required.
 

Outside logs or top logs

All outside or top logs shall be secured by a binder near but not within 12 inches of each end.
 

A wrapper shall be near each bunk

Each load shall be secured by having a wrapper within 6 feet of each bunk except on one log loads.
 

Proper support for logs

Not more than approximately one-third the weight of any log shall extend beyond the end of the logs or bunk supporting it.
 

Short logs loaded crosswise

A minimum of two wrappers are required and two chocks or stakes shall be used on the open end of the truck.
 


Note: All loads of logs on logging trucks equipped with chock blocks instead of stakes, shall have at least one additional wrapper over and above the requirements for trucks equipped with stakes, excepting on one and two log loads and trucks with short logs loaded crosswise.

     (4) Approved load fastening devices. The following binder devices are hereby approved for purposes of transporting logs as referred to in subsection (3) of this section, provided that they meet a breaking strength of at least fifteen thousand pounds:

     (a) Three-eighths inch high-test steel chain;

     (b) One-half inch diameter steel cable; and

     (c) Steel strapping not less than two inches by fifty one-thousandths inches in dimension.

     (5) Antispray devices. Every vehicle shall be equipped with a device adequate to effectively reduce the wheel spray or splash of water from the roadway to the rear thereof. All such devices shall be as wide as the tires behind which they are mounted and extend downward at least to the center of the axle.

     (6) Pole trailers.

     (a) Welded reach extension prohibited. No motor carrier shall operate a pole trailer that has had the length of its reach extended by welding or any other means, except that a telescopic reach manufactured and designed to extend by using an inner and outer reach with securing clamp shall be permissible. In addition to the securing clamp on a telescopic reach there must be a secondary device to keep the inner and outer reach from separating. The term "reach" as used in this rule means the steel tube that joins the axle(s) of the pole trailer to the rear of the power unit towing the trailer.

     (b) Damaged reach. No motor carrier shall operate a pole trailer that has sustained cracks to the reach nor shall it be permissible to operate a trailer that has had welded repair or repair of any kind made to cracks in the reach.

     (c) Empty pole trailers. Any empty pole trailer loaded upon any truck-tractor (except pole trailers that straddle the truck-tractor bunks) shall be fastened to the truck-tractor by not less than one 5/16 inch, grade seven or better chain and one tensioning or locking device in such a manner as to prevent the pole trailer from falling or shifting while in transit. The chain shall be securely fastened between the forward point on the reach tunnel and a point on the truck-tractor frame or from either axle of the pole trailer to a point directly below on the truck-tractor frame or crossmember.

     (7) Qualifications of drivers. Adoption of United States Department of Transportation motor carrier safety regulations. The rules and regulations governing qualifications of drivers prescribed by the United States Department of Transportation in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, part 382, part 383, and part 391, as well as and including all appendices and amendments thereto, are adopted and prescribed by the commission to be observed by all common, private, registered, and registered exempt carriers operating under chapter 81.80 RCW. Information about 49 CFR regarding the version currently in effect and where to obtain it is set out in WAC 480-14-999. Exception: Carriers operating exclusively in intrastate commerce:

     (a) The minimum age requirement for drivers prescribed in subparagraph (1) of paragraph 391.11(b) shall be eighteen years of age.

     (b) With respect to the limited exemption prescribed in section 391.61, the time period identified therein shall be the period of time prior to October 20, 1979.

     (c) With respect to the limited exemptions prescribed in sections 391.65 and 391.71, the time periods identified in these sections shall have as a starting date October 20, 1979.

     (d) Sections 391.21, 391.23, 391.25, 391.27, 391.31, 391.33, 391.35, and 391.37 shall not apply to a single vehicle owner driver private carrier, or to a single vehicle owner driver common carrier when operating under its own permit.

     (e) Section 391.49 shall not apply when a driver has obtained from the department of licensing the proper drivers license endorsement and restrictions (if any) for the operation of the motor vehicle the person is driving.

     (f) The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 391.2, section 391.69, subparagraph (2) of paragraph 391.71(a), and subparagraph (4) of paragraph 391.71(b) shall not apply.

     (g) Carriers operating vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than ten thousand pounds shall not be subject to the provisions of part 391 unless the vehicle is being used to transport hazardous materials of a type or quantity that requires the vehicle to be marked or placarded in accordance with WAC 480-14-390.

     (8) Out-of-service criteria. All drivers operating motor vehicles under chapter 81.80 RCW shall do so in compliance with the safety rules and regulations defined therein. Duly authorized personnel of the commission shall have the power to order out-of-service any driver found to be operating in violation of those rules and regulations. The criteria for conditions under which a driver may be ordered out-of-service are those defined in the North American Uniform Out-of-Service Criteria on the date specified in WAC 480-14-999.

     (9) Whenever the designation "director, office of motor carrier safety" is used in the respective parts of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as described in subsection (6) of this section, such designation for the purpose of this rule shall mean the "Washington utilities and transportation commission," located in Olympia, Washington.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160, and 34.05.310. 01-20-061 (Docket No. A-010827, General Order No. R-491), § 480-14-370, filed 9/28/01, effective 10/29/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040 and 34.05.350. 95-24-001 (Order R-435, Docket No. TV-941290), § 480-14-370, filed 11/22/95, effective 12/23/95.]