Ask The Law™ - June 2008

Questions Regarding Idling Your Truck with
Pets, Steer Tire Safety & More Answered
by Law Enforcement Officials (as of June 2008)

Brought to you as a public service by Ol’ Blue, USA and 10-4.
Submit your questions to www.askthelaw.org

SAFETY CENTER RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS
Ol’ Blue, USA’s Safety Center™ will again be at the Great West Truck Show in Las Vegas, NV on June 26-28 in Booths #2536 & #2539.  Also for the 2nd time, Ol’ Blue, USA will have our Ask The Law™ booth as part of the Safety Center.  Drivers and fleet’s representatives are encouraged to stop by and meet with the law enforcement officers who participate in the Ask The Law programs.  Simulated roadside vehicle inspections and other safety inspections will be conducted every hour at the Safety Center with the help of state law enforcement officers.  There will also be presentations on hours-of-service regulations, logbook demonstrations and pre- and post-trip inspections.  Our Ask The Law programs can be found online at www.askthelaw.org.  Those who will be unable to attend the show may still take part in the action at the Ol’ Blue, USA Safety Center by visiting our web cam from the show floor, which can be found at www.olblueusa.org/video.  Additional information about Ol’ Blue, USA and its many programs is available at www.olblueusa.org.

IDLING WITH PETS IN YOUR TRUCK
Q: It is a widely held belief that having a pet in the truck exempts a driver from any anti-idling laws.  This “rumor” has now become so pervasive in the trucking industry that many drivers simply accept it as fact.  I’ve researched the law in regard to anti-idling exemptions and found nothing pertaining to pets.  Can you tell me if there is any truth to this rumor? – Ken in Tennessee

A: Provided by Senior Trooper Monty Dial, Texas Highway Patrol, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Garland, Texas: This one is going to be on a state-by-state basis.  There is nothing in the DOT Regulations that addresses anti-idling laws, so the drivers are going to have to check with each state they operate in to see if there is an exemption to the anti-idling laws if there is a pet in the vehicle.

RECAPPED TIRES ON THE STEER AXLE
Q: First of all, let me thank you for doing the “Ask The Law” program!  As a driver, I find your information very helpful and informative – and so does my safety department!  Now, on to my question: When it comes to front (steer) tires, are you required to use only new tires, not recaps?  Our shop director says recaps can be used as steer tires as long as there is 4/32 inch of tread left.  Are there regulations that cover this?  Thanks again – Lee in Utah

A: Provided by Jim Brokaw, formerly a Staff Sergeant with Nebraska State Patrol, Carrier Enforcement Div, Lincoln, NB: I’m afraid I have got bad news for you – the rules don’t specify new tires.  The regulations for tires are found in 49 CFR 393.75 and some of the key requirements are: 1) No motor vehicle shall be operated on any tire that has body ply or belt material exposed through the tread or sidewall, has any tread or sidewall separation, is flat or has an audible leak, or has a cut to the extent that the ply or belt material is exposed; 2) Any tire on the front wheels of a bus, truck, or truck tractor shall have a tread groove pattern depth of at least 4/32 of an inch when measured at any point on a major tread groove.  The measurements shall not be made where tie bars, humps, or fillets are located; 3) A re-grooved tire with a load-carrying capacity equal to or greater than 4,920 pounds shall not be used on the front wheels of any truck or truck tractor; and 4) No motor vehicle shall be operated on a tire which has a cold inflation pressure less than that specified for the load being carried.  I agree that new tires should be required on a steer axle, but the federal safety regulations won’t back us up on this.  I suggest you check with the state where your company is based to see if they have laws specifying tire requirements that may be more stringent than the safety regulations cited here.

~ The Ask The Law™ programs are an ongoing educational effort between Ol’ Blue, USA™ and commercial law enforcement agencies.  Founded in 1986, Ol’ Blue, USA is a non-profit organization dedicated to highway safety education and to improving relations between the motoring public, law enforcement and commercial drivers.  “Ask The Law” is a registered trademark of Ol’ Blue, USA.  This column is copyrighted by Ol’ Blue, USA.  Warning: Laws are subject to change without notice.  These interpretations were made on 5/08/08 .