49 C.F.R. § 392.9

Inspection of cargo, cargo securement devices and systems

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(a) General. A driver may not operate a commercial motor vehicle and a motor carrier may not require or permit a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle unless—

(1) The commercial motor vehicle's cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured as specified in §§ 393.100 through 393.136 of this subchapter.

(2) The commercial motor vehicle's tailgate, tailboard, doors, tarpaulins, 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 (except for drivers of self-steer dollies), 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) Inspect the cargo and the devices used to secure the cargo within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip and cause any adjustments to be made to the cargo or load securement devices as necessary, including adding more securement devices, to ensure that cargo cannot shift on or within, or fall from the commercial motor vehicle; and

(3) Reexamine the commercial motor vehicle's cargo and its load securement devices during the course of transportation and make any necessary adjustment to the cargo or load securement devices, including adding more securement devices, to ensure that cargo cannot shift on or within, or fall from, the commercial motor vehicle. Reexamination and any necessary adjustments must be made whenever—

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

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

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

(4) The rules in this paragraph (b) 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.

[67 FR 61224, Sept. 27, 2002, as amended at 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007]

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 51 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1979–2025 · leading case: Talbert v. Restoration Hardware, Inc.

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Talbert v. Restoration Hardware, Inc. (2018) lactapp · cites it 5× “Talbert argues that under 49 CFR 392.9, issues of material fact remain as to whether Ozark had a duty to inspect the load for safety, and that the trial court erred in finding a lack of evidence that shifting during transit caused the boxes to fall on Mr.”

Hensley v. National Freight Transportation, Inc. (2008) ncctapp · cites it 4× “]" 49 C.F.R. § 392.9 (a)(1) (2007). Further, under these regulations, the driver of the truck has an affirmative duty to ensure the truck's cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured before he operates the vehicle.”

Charles Spence v. Esab Grp Inc (2010) ca3 · cites it 2× “In this regard, it found persuasive the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations that impose upon the carrier the obligation to safely secure cargo to prevent shifting during transit, citing 49 C.F.R. § 392.9 (a) and (b), as well as 49 C.”

Camp v. TNT Logistics Corp. (2009) ca7 · cites it 2× “Under 49 C.F.R. § 392.9 (a)(1), “[a] driver may not operate a commercial motor vehicle and a motor carrier may not require or permit a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle unless 1) the commercial motor vehicle’s cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured as…”

Smart v. American Welding & Tank Co. (2003) nh · cites it 3× “See 49 C.F.R. § 392.9 (a)(1) (2002) (revised 2002).”

Decker v. New England Public Warehouse, Inc. (2000) me · cites it 2× “See 49 C.F.R. § 392.9 (b)(1) (2000). By the same token, a driver must take responsibility for the safety of his or her cargo by inspecting and securing the load.”

Marta Ramirez, as Personal Representative and Heir of Ronald Monroy v. Noble Energy, Inc. (2017) texapp “See 49 CFR 392.9. This evidence conclusively establishes that fact against Plaintiff.”

Edward Bujnoch, Judy Bujnoch, Jose C. Aguillon, as Next Friend of Tinley Bujnoch Aguillon, a Minor Child and Monica Jans (2017) texapp “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; 49 C.F.R. § 392.9 ;…”

Franklin Stainless Corporation, a New York Corporation v. Marlo Transport Corporation, a New Jersey Corporation (1984) ca4 “49 C.F.R. § 392.9 (1979). The jury’s verdict against Franklin, which under the court’s instruction could be based solely on improper loading, establishes conclusively that improper loading and the consequent shift of the cargo was a proximate cause of the accident.”

Vargo-Schaper Ex Rel. Schaper v. Weyerhaeuser Co. (2010) ca8 “See 49 C.F.R. 392.9 (providing drivers must inspect cargo and secure their load before operating the vehicle).”

Nora Johnson, Administratrix of the Estate of Melvin Mattingly, Deceased v. S.O.S. Transport, Inc., Central Transport, I (1991) ca6 “, 49 C.F.R. § 392.9 (1989) (driver to assure safe loading of vehicle); § 396.”

Castine Energy Construction, Inc. v. T.T. Dunphy, Inc. (2004) me “49 C.F.R. §§ 392.9 (b)(1), 393.102(c) (effective until 2002).”

Show all 51 citing cases →

— 49 C.F.R. § 392.9(a)(1) — 2 cases

Dean McMaster v. Dte Energy Company (2020) michctapp

J. F. Allen Company v. Hohman (1999) ca4

— 49 C.F.R. § 392.9(b)(1) — 4 cases

Dean McMaster v. Dte Energy Company (2022) mich

Romero v. Irving Tissue Company Limited (2023) nynd

— 49 C.F.R. § 392.9(b)(4) — 3 cases

Dean McMaster v. Dte Energy Company (2022) mich

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