§FMCSR.com
Historical textIn force on Oct. 1, 1998Source: annual CFR editions 1998–2001

§ 392.9 Safe loading.

Wording in the annual edition revised as of Oct. 1, 1998, superseded by the 2002 annual edition.

govinfo, 1998 edition ↗
Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 1998 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 1998 and Oct. 1, 1998 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates.
What changedOct. 1, 1996 wording → Oct. 1, 1998 wording+7 added−130 removedHide

(a) General. No person shall drive a commercial motor vehicle and a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless—
(1) The commercial motor vehicle's cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured as specified in §§ 393.100-393.106 of this subchapter.
(2) The commercial motor vehicle's tailgate, tailboard, doors, tarpaulins, its spare tire and other equipment used in its operation, and the means of fastening the commercial motor vehicle's cargo are secured; and
(3) The commercial motor vehicle's cargo or any other object does not obscure the driver's view ahead or to the right or left sides, interfere with the free movement of his/her arms or legs, prevent his/her free and ready access to accessories required for emergencies, or prevent the free and ready exit of any person from the commercial motor vehicle's cab or driver's compartment.
(b) Drivers of trucks and truck tractors. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the driver of a truck or truck tractor must—
(1) Assure himself/herself that the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section have been complied with before he/she drives that commercial motor vehicle;
(2) Examine the commercial motor vehicle's cargo and its load-securing devices within the first 25 miles after beginning a trip and cause any adjustments to be made to the cargo or load-securing devices (other than steel strapping) as may be necessary to maintain the security of the commercial motor vehicle's load; and
(3) Reexamine the commercial motor vehicle's cargo and its load-securing devices periodically during the course of transportation and cause any adjustments to be made to the cargo or load-securing devices (other than steel strapping) as may be necessary to maintain the security of the commercial motor vehicle's load. A periodic reexamination and any necessary adjustments must be made—
(i) When the driver makes a change of his/her duty status; or
(ii) After the commercial motor vehicle has been driven for 3 hours; or
(iii) After the commercial motor vehicle has been driven for 150 miles, whichever occurs first.
(4) The rules in this paragraph do not apply to the driver of a sealed commercial motor vehicle who has been ordered not to open it to inspect its cargo or to the driver of a commercial motor vehicle that has been loaded in a manner that makes inspection of its cargo impracticable.
(c) Buses. No person shall drive a bus and a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a bus unless—
(1) All standees on the bus are rearward of the standee line or other means prescribed in § 393.90 of this subchapter;
(2) All aisle seats in the bus conform to the requirements of § 393.91 of this subchapter; and
(3) Baggage, freight, or express on the bus is stowed and secured in a manner which assures—
(i) Unrestricted freedom of movement to the driver and his/her proper operation of the bus;
(ii) Unobstructed access to all exits by any occupant of the bus; and
(iii) Protection of occupants of the bus against injury resulting from the falling or displacement of articles transported in the bus.
[36 FR 18863, Sept. 23, 1971, as amended at 37 FR 12642, June 27, 1972; 38 FR 23522, Aug. 31, 1973; 60 FR 38746, July 28, 1995; 63 FR 33278, June 18, 1998]

49 CFR § 392.9 — Safe loading.. Text in force on October 1, 1998. This wording effective October 1, 1998 to October 1, 2002. Source: govinfo, 1998 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-1998-title49-vol4/CFR-1998-title49-vol4-sec392-9. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/392.9?asof=1998-10-01, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) General. No person shall drive a commercial motor vehicle and a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless—

(1) The commercial motor vehicle's cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured as specified in §§ 393.100-393.106 of this subchapter.

(2) The commercial motor vehicle's tailgate, tailboard, doors, tarpaulins, its spare tire and other equipment used in its operation, and the means of fastening the commercial motor vehicle's cargo are secured; and

(3) The commercial motor vehicle's cargo or any other object does not obscure the driver's view ahead or to the right or left sides, interfere with the free movement of his/her arms or legs, prevent his/her free and ready access to accessories required for emergencies, or prevent the free and ready exit of any person from the commercial motor vehicle's cab or driver's compartment.

(b) Drivers of trucks and truck tractors. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the driver of a truck or truck tractor must—

(1) Assure himself/herself that the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section have been complied with before he/she drives that commercial motor vehicle;

(2) Examine the commercial motor vehicle's cargo and its load-securing devices within the first 25 miles after beginning a trip and cause any adjustments to be made to the cargo or load-securing devices (other than steel strapping) as may be necessary to maintain the security of the commercial motor vehicle's load; and

(3) Reexamine the commercial motor vehicle's cargo and its load-securing devices periodically during the course of transportation and cause any adjustments to be made to the cargo or load-securing devices (other than steel strapping) as may be necessary to maintain the security of the commercial motor vehicle's load. A periodic reexamination and any necessary adjustments must be made—

(i) When the driver makes a change of his/her duty status; or

(ii) After the commercial motor vehicle has been driven for 3 hours; or

(iii) After the commercial motor vehicle has been driven for 150 miles, whichever occurs first.

(4) The rules in this paragraph do not apply to the driver of a sealed commercial motor vehicle who has been ordered not to open it to inspect its cargo or to the driver of a commercial motor vehicle that has been loaded in a manner that makes inspection of its cargo impracticable.

[36 FR 18863, Sept. 23, 1971, as amended at 37 FR 12642, June 27, 1972; 38 FR 23522, Aug. 31, 1973; 60 FR 38746, July 28, 1995; 63 FR 33278, June 18, 1998]

Amendment history

5 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996
  1. Oct. 1, 2007 → presentannual editions 2007–2016diff vs. previous
    [67 FR 61224, Sept. 27, 2002, as amended at 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007]
  2. Oct. 1, 2003 → Oct. 1, 2007annual editions 2003–2006diff vs. previous
    [67 FR 61224, Sept. 27, 2002]
  3. Oct. 1, 2002 → Oct. 1, 2003annual edition 2002diff vs. previous
    [36 FR 18863, Sept. 23, 1971, as amended at 37 FR 12642, June 27, 1972; 38 FR 23522, Aug. 31, 1973; 60 FR 38746, July 28, 1995; 63 FR 33278, June 18, 1998]
  4. Oct. 1, 1998 → Oct. 1, 2002annual editions 1998–2001diff vs. previousviewing
    [36 FR 18863, Sept. 23, 1971, as amended at 37 FR 12642, June 27, 1972; 38 FR 23522, Aug. 31, 1973; 60 FR 38746, July 28, 1995; 63 FR 33278, June 18, 1998]
  5. Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 1998annual edition 1996
    [36 FR 18863, Sept. 23, 1971, as amended at 37 FR 12642, June 27, 1972; 38 FR 23522, Aug. 31, 1973; 60 FR 38746, July 28, 1995]

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.