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Tarp / covered loose load laws by state

People search “Tarp / covered loose load by state”, “Tarp / covered loose load laws by state”, and “Tarp law map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for tarp / covered loose load. Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

Open the Tarp law difference map

How states differ

Must sand, gravel, dirt, or trash be tarped?.

  • Statute names a cover / tarp for aggregate or loose material
  • Must not spill or blow — tarp is the practical compliance path
  • No named tarp rule; spilling / unsecured-load penalties still apply

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

  • Tarp / covered loose load by state
  • Tarp / covered loose load laws by state
  • Tarp law laws by state
  • Tarp / covered loose load map
  • Tarp / covered loose load traveling across state lines
  • does tarp / covered loose load change by state
  • tarp laws by state
  • covered load requirements
  • do I have to tarp my load
  • Tarp / covered loose load in California / Texas / Florida / New York
  • is tarp / covered loose load legal while traveling

All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL)
Alabama: unsecured-load / escape statute — no sentence that says “tarp” (Ala. Code § 32-5-76). You can still be cited if anything drops, blows, or escapes.
Alaska (AK)
Alaska: load must not spill or blow (Alaska unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Arizona (AZ)
Arizona: cover / tarp required for loose material (dirt, sand, gravel) (A.R.S. § 28-1098). An open dump or hotshot bed of gravel is a ticket.
Arkansas (AR)
Arkansas: unsecured-load / escape statute — no named tarp sentence (Ark. Code § 27-35-110). You can still be cited if anything drops, blows, or escapes.
California (CA)
California: aggregate cover, flaps, and sealed gates — Veh. Code § 23114 (Cal. Veh. Code § 23114). An open dump or hotshot bed of gravel is a ticket.
Colorado (CO)
Colorado: cover for aggregate, trash, and recyclables; 2-mile aggregate short-haul exception (C.R.S. § 42-4-1407). An open dump or hotshot bed of gravel is a ticket.
Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut: load must not spill or blow (Connecticut unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Delaware (DE)
Delaware: unsecured-load / escape statute — no named tarp sentence (21 Del. C. § 4371). You can still be cited if anything drops, blows, or escapes.
Florida (FL)
Florida: cover or enclose loads that can drop or blow (Fla. Stat. § 316.520) (Fla. Stat. § 316.520). An open dump or hotshot bed of gravel is a ticket.
Georgia (GA)
Georgia: cover required for loads of dirt, sand, gravel, or other loose material (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-248.1). An open dump or hotshot bed of gravel is a ticket.
Hawaii (HI)
Hawaii: cover or enclose a load that can escape (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-131). An open dump or hotshot bed of gravel is a ticket.
Idaho (ID)
Idaho: load must not spill or blow (Idaho unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Illinois (IL)
Illinois: 15-109 secure-so-nothing-drops; 15-109.1 names a cover for second-division vehicles hauling dirt, stone, gravel, or garbage (625 ILCS 5/15-109, 15-109.1).
Indiana (IN)
Indiana: load must not spill or blow (Indiana unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Iowa (IA)
Iowa: load must not spill or blow (Iowa unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Kansas (KS)
Kansas: load must not spill or blow (Kansas unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Kentucky (KY)
Kentucky: load must not spill or blow (Kentucky unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Louisiana (LA)
Louisiana: unsecured-load / escape statute — no named tarp sentence (La. R.S. 32:383). You can still be cited if anything drops, blows, or escapes.
Maine (ME)
Maine: unsecured-load / escape statute — no named tarp sentence (29-A M.R.S. § 2396). You can still be cited if anything drops, blows, or escapes.
Maryland (MD)
Maryland: canvas or approved cover when loose material is within 6 inches of the top of the enclosure (Md. Code, Transp. § 24-106.1). An open dump or hotshot bed of gravel is a ticket.
Massachusetts (MA)
Massachusetts: load must not spill or blow (Massachusetts unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Michigan (MI)
Michigan: load must not spill or blow (Michigan unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Minnesota (MN)
Minnesota: load must not spill or blow (Minnesota unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Mississippi (MS)
Mississippi: load must not spill or blow (Mississippi unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Missouri (MO)
Missouri: load must not spill or blow (Missouri unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Montana (MT)
Montana: load must not spill or blow (Montana unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Nebraska (NE)
Nebraska: load must not spill or blow (Nebraska unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Nevada (NV)
Nevada: load must not spill or blow (Nevada unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
New Hampshire (NH)
New Hampshire: load must not spill or blow (New Hampshire unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
New Jersey (NJ)
New Jersey: unsecured-load / escape statute — no named tarp sentence (N.J.S.A. 39:4-77). You can still be cited if anything drops, blows, or escapes.
New Mexico (NM)
New Mexico: load must not spill or blow (New Mexico unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
New York (NY)
New York: load must not spill or blow (New York unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
North Carolina (NC)
North Carolina: load must not spill or blow (North Carolina unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
North Dakota (ND)
North Dakota: load must not spill or blow (North Dakota unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Ohio (OH)
Ohio: load must not spill or blow (Ohio unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Oklahoma (OK)
Oklahoma: load must not spill or blow (Oklahoma unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Oregon (OR)
Oregon: unsecured-load / escape statute — no named tarp sentence (Or. Rev. Stat. § 818.300). You can still be cited if anything drops, blows, or escapes.
Pennsylvania (PA)
Pennsylvania: load must not spill or blow (Pennsylvania unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Rhode Island (RI)
Rhode Island: load must not spill or blow (Rhode Island unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
South Carolina (SC)
South Carolina: load must not spill or blow (South Carolina unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
South Dakota (SD)
South Dakota: load must not spill or blow (South Dakota unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Tennessee (TN)
Tennessee: load must not spill or blow (Tennessee unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Texas (TX)
Texas: commercial vehicles hauling loose material must cover the load, secured front and back, or fully enclose it (Tex. Transp. Code ch. 725). An open dump or hotshot bed of gravel is a ticket.
Utah (UT)
Utah: load must not spill or blow (Utah unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Vermont (VT)
Vermont: load must not spill or blow (Vermont unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Virginia (VA)
Virginia: load must not spill or blow (Virginia unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Washington (WA)
Washington: load must not spill or blow (Washington unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
West Virginia (WV)
West Virginia: load must not spill or blow (West Virginia unsecured-load statute + 49 CFR 393.100 for CMVs). No named statewide tarp sentence. For sand, gravel, trash, or chips a tarp is the compliance path.
Wisconsin (WI)
Wisconsin: unsecured-load / escape statute — no named tarp sentence (Wis. Stat. § 348.10). You can still be cited if anything drops, blows, or escapes.
Wyoming (WY)
Wyoming: unsecured-load / escape statute — no named tarp sentence (Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-228). You can still be cited if anything drops, blows, or escapes.

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Not legal advice. Confirm statutes before you travel. Disclaimer.