Historical textIn force on Sept. 30, 2000Source: 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Wording in the annual edition revised as of Oct. 1, 1998, superseded by the 2002 annual edition.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, 1999 edition ↗

Compare with

Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 1999 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 1999 and Sept. 30, 2000 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates.

49 CFR § 392.9 — Safe loading.. Text in force on September 30, 2000. This wording effective October 1, 1998 to October 1, 2002. Source: govinfo, 1999 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-1999-title49-vol4/CFR-1999-title49-vol4-sec392-9. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/392.9?asof=2000-09-30, 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

Oct. 1, 2007 → presentannual editions 2007–2016diff vs. previous
[67 FR 61224, Sept. 27, 2002, as amended at 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007]
Oct. 1, 2003 → Oct. 1, 2007annual editions 2003–2006diff vs. previous
[67 FR 61224, Sept. 27, 2002]
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]
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]
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.