Do chains make it a wide load?

According to the state of Missouri at the scale on I55 securement counts against width. The way they explained it to me if you have straps they would let it slide, but chains have to be counted.

 

That's what I thought too that is why I went to court but I could not find a reg that specifically exempted securement from width. Cop told the judge that there was no such rule and I lost (see above). If you can post the reg I would love to see it.

Safety devices are exempt.

 

I agree except that they don't "have" to be counted. Only pricks count them.

 

Below is a MN rule. I have not found a FMCSA rule...yet.

Maximum Legal Dimensions (M.S. § 169.80 and 169.81)
The maximum vehicle dimensions, loaded or unloaded, that may be operated without special permits
on Minnesota highways are:
• Height: 13' 6";
• Width: 8' 6", exclusive of rear view mirrors or temporary load securement devices that may
extend an additional three inches on each side of the vehicle or load; and
• Length1
: Maximum lengths for various vehicles are:

 

I have asked several of the guys at the scales and they say that most DOT officers measure just the load but in Louisiana the securement counts. I can't find anything that says otherwise. Only what people think or that they have never had theirs measured. One of the guys that works for the escort service we use worked heavy haul for 20 years. He said that Louisiana was one of four states that count securement in the width. We don't pull enough of anything that is exactly on the measurement to worry too much about it. Most plate if 12'. Is really cut to 12'1" -12'2" anyway. This was just some specialty stuff that had been cut exactly 12' by the end user and was transported to be blasted and painted then transported back to end user. If I could find something in writing I would make a copy and put in the truck. Also remember states can make the rules more stringent. Guess that's why you don't need escorts for 12 wide in Ms and tx. But you need 2 in Al and 1 in Louisiana. I try to respect state rights but it sure makes it difficult sometimes.

 

Since it is raining cats and dogs looked up Louisiana DOT and this is the definition for width in their glossary.
The total outside transverse dimension of a vehicle including any load or load holding devices thereon, but, excluding approved safety devices and tire bulge due to load.
so I guess I was lucky he didn't give me a citation.

 

Yes states can and do have their own laws that apply to their own state roads but do not apply to the roads within the state that are part of the national network. On the NN, the FMCSA rule trumps the state DOT rule. Pape, I encourage you to keep looking for a federal law that deals with width but the only one I have been able to find is 685.15 that has been quoted above, which makes no mention of excluding securement devices.

 

So, I was going to fleetpride today to get that reflective tape. In the little car. The DOT were out in the parking lot across from albany steel. Well on the way back I stopped in and asked the questions. Chains, binders, and D rings are not counted in the width of the trailer. They even said theres no regulation on how you hook the chain to the trailer, d ring or hooked on a cross member. The state trooper DOT said they are safety devices and not counted when measuring width. Now with a favorable response as this was, I was not going to argue that a safety device was a flag or a marking device. They had to look up the regs on the reflective tape also. So in summation, YMMV, and who knows what you are going to run into, but these troopers seem to have a good head on there shoulders.

 

Where was he when I made that argument in a PA court?

 

24 years of oversize and I guess I have been lucky, never cited or even scolded for width of securement beyond the permitted width. As for Colorado, been checked at Lamar, Limon and Fort Collins for overhang on a 96" trailer with 101" crates and no citations. Have pulled a 102" RGN with the D-rings flipped up and chained and well over 105".

Have pulled 108" wide conestoga's in almost every state and again not a second look but have had issues with setting off over height sensors out east.