Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-1156 (2026)

Construction, maintenance and loading must prevent escape of contents; load covers; exemptions

✓ current as of May 2026

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A. No vehicle shall be operated or moved on any highway unless it is so constructed, maintained, and loaded as to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping. No provision of this section, however, shall apply to any (i) motor vehicle that is used exclusively for agricultural purposes as provided in § 46.2-698 and is not licensed in any other state; (ii) agricultural vehicle, tractor, or other vehicle exempted from registration and licensing requirements pursuant to Article 6 (§ 46.2-662 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of this title; or (iii) motor vehicle transporting forest products, poultry, or livestock.

B. The loads of all trucks, trailers and semitrailers carrying gravel, sand, coal or other nonagricultural and nonforestry products on interstate, primary, or secondary highways or roads maintained by cities, counties or incorporated towns shall be either (i) secured to the vehicle in which they are being transported or (ii) covered. Covers used to prevent the escape of material from commercial vehicles used to transport solid waste shall be of such design, installation, and construction as to contain the vehicle's cargo within the vehicle, regardless of the vehicle's speed or weather conditions. Public service company vehicles, pickup trucks, and emergency snow removal equipment while engaged in snow removal operations shall be excluded from the provisions of this subsection.

Code 1950, § 46-307; 1958, c. 541, §§ 46.1-303, 46.1-401; 1975, c. 553; 1979, c. 213; 1980, c. 21; 1986, c. 639; 1988, cc. 662, 897; 1989, cc. 526, 727; 1992, c. 149; 1997, c. 283; 2001, c. 180.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 1993–2011 · leading case: Morris v. City of Virginia Beach, 707 S.E.2d 479 (Va. Ct. App. 2011).

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Morris v. City of Virginia Beach, 707 S.E.2d 479 (Va. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 4× “2-1139(A)), 2 and (ii) by failing to properly secure the trailer load, City Code § 21-1 (incorporating by reference Code § 46.2-1156). 3 In the trial court, Morris moved to suppress the evidence, claiming Officer Godwin had no legal basis to stop his tractor-trailer.”

Hansen v. McFarland, 32 Va. Cir. 84 (Richmond County Cir. Ct. 1993). · cites it 4× “2-1156 of the Code of Virginia, which makes it illegal to operate a vehicle on state highways without securing its contents, see Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-1156 (Supp. 1993), and even if a violation of that statute would constitute negligence per se, the Plaintiff in the present case…”

— Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-1156(A) — 1 case

Morris v. City of Virginia Beach, 707 S.E.2d 479 (Va. Ct. App. 2011). “2-1139(A)), 2 and (ii) by failing to properly secure the trailer load, City Code § 21-1 (incorporating by reference Code § 46.2-1156). 3 In the trial court, Morris moved to suppress the evidence, claiming Officer Godwin had no legal basis to stop his tractor-trailer.”

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