WASHINGTON STATE PATROL

Under authority of RCW 46.37.005 ((and)), 46.37.490, and 46.61.655, the ((state)) patrol hereby adopts the following rules pertaining to the use of safety chains or other devices on vehicles to secure and protect the loads thereon.

(1) "Patrol" means the Washington state patrol.

(2) "Securely fastened" as used in RCW 46.37.490, 46.61.655, and this chapter means that the load will be secured using an adequate number of approved tiedown devices to prevent the load from shifting or dropping from the vehicle.

(1) The following types of tiedown devices are approved by the patrol:

(a) Steel chain;

(b) Steel cable;

(c) Steel strapping; and

(d) Fiber webbing.

(2) Tiedown devices for a commercial motor vehicle must:

(a) Have a minimum breaking strength of at least 15,000 pounds, except that tiedown devices used to secure baled hay and baled straw may have a breaking strength of not less than 9,000 pounds.

(b) Meet or exceed federal standards contained in 49 C.F.R. 393.102.

(3) Tiedown devices used for all vehicles other than commercial vehicles must have a breaking strength sufficient for the weight of the load being carried.

(([(1)])) (1) Any motor truck, truck tractor, trailer, semi-trailer, or any combination thereof, transporting logs upon a public highway where ((binder)) tiedown devices are required, ((shall)) must have the load thereon securely fastened and protected (([as follows:])) as follows:

(a) ((Placement and number of wrappers required)) On log trucks using stakes((.)):

(i) ((In the hauling of)) For one log loads, one wrapper chain or cable ((shall)) will be required and it ((shall)) must be secured to the rear bunk and the log ((shall)) must be properly blocked or secured in a manner which will prevent it from rolling or shifting. An additional wrapper((,)) secured to the front bunk((,)) is optional.

(ii) ((In the hauling of)) For two log loads, not less than two wrapper chains or cables ((shall)) will be used to secure the load. The logs ((shall)) must be properly blocked to prevent them from rolling or shifting.

(iii) ((On)) For loads consisting of three or four logs not over 44 feet in length, the load ((shall)) must be secured by not less than two properly spaced wrapper chains or cables. Ends of short logs not secured by such wrappers ((shall)) must be secured with extra wrappers. If any log is over 44 feet in length, the load ((shall)) must be secured by not less ((that)) than three properly spaced wrappers. If the logs have different lengths, they must be secured so that the longer logs are on the bottom, and each log is secured by not less than two properly spaced wrappers.

(iv) For loads consisting of five or more logs, when the logs are all 17 feet or less in length, ((shall)) they must be secured by not less than two properly spaced wrappers. Loads consisting of five or more logs, when any log is over 17 feet in length, ((shall)) must be secured by not less than three properly spaced wrappers.

(b) ((Placement and number of wrappers required)) On log trucks using chock blocks((.)):

(i) ((In the hauling of)) For one log loads, one wrapper chain or cable ((shall)) will be required and secured to the rear bunk and the log ((shall)) must be properly blocked in a manner to prevent it from rolling or shifting.

(ii) One additional wrapper chain or cable ((shall)) will be required on log trucks using chock blocks over and above the requirements in ((subdivisions)) (a)(iii) and (iv) of this ((section)) subsection, and logs must be properly blocked in a manner to prevent them from rolling or shifting.

(c) ((Placement and number of wrappers required on crosswise loaded trucks, trailers, etc.)) In the case of short logs loaded crosswise, the following method of securing the load ((shall)) must be used if the truck trailer is not provided with solid ends of a height sufficient to prevent any log in the load from rolling off:

(i) Not less than two chock blocks ((shall)) must be used at each open end of the vehicle and the load ((shall)) must be held with at least two wrapper chains or cables. The wrappers ((shall)) must be firmly attached to the end of the truck or trailer.

(ii) Rigid standards or stakes may be used in lieu of chock blocks but each such standard or stake ((shall)) must be either rigidly connected to the bed of the truck or trailer or ((shall)) must be placed in a tight fitting socket at least 12 inches in depth. ((Other means furnishing equivalent security may be acceptable.))

(d) ((Wrapper placement.)) When two wrappers are required, they ((shall)) must be applied within six feet of the front and rear bunks. When more than two wrappers are required, the front and back ((binder shall)) tiedowns must be applied within six feet of the front and rear bunks.

(e) ((Short logs.)) To properly secure short logs, ((binders shall)) tiedowns must be placed near the end, not less than 12 inches from the end of the log.

(f) ((Log on top or in outside saddle.)) No log loaded on top or in outside saddles of a load ((shall)) will be transported unless secured by not less than two wrapper chains or cables, one of which ((shall)) must be placed near each end of such log.

(g) ((Fasten in place.)) All wrappers and ((binders shall)) tiedowns must be fastened in place prior to tightening to prevent the displacement of logs on the top of the load.

(h) ((Surround load.)) All wrapper chains or cables, except in the case of one log loads, ((shall)) must entirely surround the load. This does not apply to gut-wrappers.

(i) ((Gut-wrappers.)) Gut-wrappers, when used, ((shall)) will be adjusted so as to be tightened by, but not carry the weight of the logs above them.

(j) ((Wrappers and binders to be placed before leaving immediate loading area.)) Wrappers and ((binders shall)) tiedowns must be placed and tightened around the completed load before the truck leaves the immediate loading area.

(k) ((Construction of wrappers and binders.)) Wrapper chains or cables, ((binders)) tiedowns, fasteners, or attachments thereof, used for any purpose as required by these standards, ((shall)) must have a minimum breaking strength of not less than 15,000 pounds and ((shall)) must be rigged so that it can be safely released.

(l) ((Bundle straps or banding.)) For the purposes of this standard, applied bundle straps or banding are not acceptable as wrappers and ((binders)) tiedowns.

(m) ((Loose ends secured.)) All loose ends of wrapper chains or cables ((shall)) must be securely fastened so as to prevent their swinging free in a manner that will create a hazard.

(n) ((Trucks in sorting yards.)) Trucks and trailers used around sorting yards, etc., which travel ((as [at])) at slow speeds, will not be required to use wrappers providing all logs are contained by and lie below the height of the stakes and there are no persons on the ground exposed to such traffic.

(o) ((Binder hook design. Binders)) Tiedowns for securing wrappers on logging trucks ((shall)) must be fitted with hooks of proper size and design for the wrapper chain being used.

(p) ((Defective wrappers.)) Wrappers ((shall)) must be removed from service when any of the following conditions exist:

(i) Excessively worn links on chains;

(ii) Deformed or stretched chain links;

(iii) Cracked chain links;

(iv) Frayed, stranded, knotted, or otherwise defective wire rope.

(q) ((Binder extensions.)) Pipe extension handles (swedes) for tightening or securing ((binders shall)) tiedowns must be limited to not longer than 36 inches. ((Care shall be taken that)) A sufficient amount of the pipe must extend((s)) over the ((binder)) tiedown handle.

(r) ((Defective binders.)) Defective ((binders shall)) tiedowns must be immediately removed from service.

Any empty pole trailer loaded upon any truck-tractor (except pole trailers that straddle the truck-tractor bunks) ((shall)) must be fastened to the truck-tractor by not less than one 5/16" grade seven or better chain and one tensioning or locking device in such a manner as to prevent it from falling or shifting while in transit. The chain ((shall)) must be securely fastened between the forward point on the reach tunnel and a point on the truck-tractor frame or from either axle of the pole trailer to a point directly below the truck-tractor frame or crossmember.