La. Admin. Code tit. 55 § I-1921

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section I-1921 - Required Equipment

A. Tow trucks shall be equipped with the following properly functioning equipment at all times.

1. Oil-Absorbing Materials

a. Each tow truck shall be equipped with a minimum of 5 gallons of sand, dirt, or manufactured materials capable of absorbing sufficient quantities of fluids. Materials shall be carried in such a manner as to be free from exposure to the elements.

2. Broom

a. Each tow truck shall be equipped with a standard or push broom of a sufficient size to effectively clear debris.

3. Shovel

a. Each tow truck shall be equipped with a standard shovel of a sufficient size to effectively clear debris.

4. Flashlight or Electric Lantern

a. Each tow truck shall be equipped with an electric lantern or flashlight that provides sufficient lighting to facilitate recovery or towing work.

5. Fire Extinguishers

a. Tow trucks shall be equipped with a mounted fire extinguisher having no less than an Underwriters Laboratory rating of 10 B:C.

6. Emergency Warning Devices

a. Tow trucks shall be equipped with at least three, non-flammable emergency warning devices capable of warning motorists of a hazard in or near a roadway.

7. Steering Wheel Clamps

a. Steering wheel clamps, cable, ropes or their equivalents shall be of sufficient strength to adequately secure and lock the steering mechanism of a towed vehicle in a straight and forward position.

8. Tow Sling or Tow Plate

a. Tow trucks shall be equipped with a tow sling, plate, bar or equivalent that is structurally adequate to sustain the weight drawn. Slings or plates shall be properly and securely mounted to the tow truck without excessive "play" or slack.

b. The tow plates, slings and tow-bars shall be securely affixed to the towed vehicle by means of chains, hooks, straps or their equivalent. These devices shall be of a towing capacity equal to the weight of the towed vehicle requiring use of at least two chains, hooks, straps, etc.

9. Tow truck components including, but not limited to, winches, booms, cables, synthetic rope, cable clamps, thimbles, sheaves, guides, controls, blocks, slings, chains, hooks, bed locks, hydraulic components, etc., shall be in good working order and maintained to manufacturer/factory specifications.

B. Securement and Safety Devices; Detached or Shifting Loads

1. Securement and Safety Devices

a. Every vehicle towed by a tow truck shall be joined by at least two safety devices, chains or cables, spaced as far apart as practical to the forward portion of the towed vehicle, with a combined tensile strength equal to or greater than the gross weight of the towed vehicle times 1.3. Safety devices shall be attached in such a way as to prevent vehicle separation upon failure of the towing attachment and shall be anchored to both the tow truck and vehicle being towed with only enough slack to permit free turning of the vehicles.

b. In addition to Subparagraph a above, all towed vehicle placed in a wheel lift device shall be secured to the wheel lift on both sides by straps or chains of an adequate strength and design to safely couple the vehicle to the wheel lift.

c. Acceptable securement devices are chains, cables or synthetic webbing with a combined working load limit equal to or greater than one-half the gross weight of the transported vehicle and customarily used for securing a vehicle or load. Acceptable securement devices shall meet all requirements in CFR 49.

2. Slide-Back Tow Trucks; Trailers

a. A slide-back tow truck or trailer carrying a vehicle on its bed shall secure the vehicle with an acceptable securement device to the frame or other anchor points on the bed with at least one device (tiedown) securing the front and one device securing the rear of the transported vehicle in addition to the winch cable.

b. Transported vehicles over 10,000 pounds shall use a minimum of four acceptable securement devices (tiedowns); two at each end of the transported vehicle.

c. The securement devices shall not contain slack and shall prevent any movement of the transported vehicle and be of structural strength adequate to safely secure the vehicle.

La. Admin. Code tit. 55, § I-1921

Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of the State Police, LR 32:858 (May 2006), amended LR 40:799 (April 2014).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 32:1714.