Dump Truck Tarping Laws by State: Federal Rules, Fines, and Fleet Compliance

If you operate a dump truck or manage a fleet that hauls materials on public roads, all 50 states and Washington, D.C., require that loads be secured in the truck. Twenty-four states plus D.C. require truck covers for loads of dirt, sand, or gravel, though 17 of them waive it when the load sits low enough in the bed. Only eight states require a cover no matter how the truck is loaded. Fines and other penalties vary by state, starting as low as $5 for some first offenses and ranging up to $25,000 and jail time if a loose load severely injures someone. This guide explains how federal cargo-securement rules apply, breaks down the requirements of each state, and shows how choosing the right dump truck cover material can keep you compliant.

Legal note: This guide is general information, not legal advice. Tarping laws can change, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Links to official statutes are provided for each state section so that you can confirm the information yourself.

What Does Federal Law Require for Dump Truck Tarping?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) cargo securement rules apply to commercial vehicles and vehicle combinations operating in interstate commerce at or above the 10,001-pound threshold. The 10,001-pound threshold is determined by the higher of the applicable weight rating or actual operating weight:

• Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
• Actual gross vehicle weight (GVW)
• Gross combination weight rating (GCWR)
• Actual gross combination weight (GCW)

Note: Certain vehicles are exempt, including some government-operated vehicles under 49 CFR § 390.3T(f)(2), unless otherwise specifically provided.

The federal rule focuses on the outcome, not the equipment used. Under 49 CFR § 392.9(a)(2), any tarp used to cover cargo must also be properly secured.

Commercial vehicles must follow the applicable state and local laws where they operate. If federal rules require a higher standard of care, drivers must meet that standard.

Why Dump Truck Tarping Matters Beyond Compliance

DOT inspectors can issue violations for escaping material, damaged tarps, or improperly secured coverings found during a roadside inspection. But fines are only one piece of the equation. Loose aggregate, sand, gravel, and commercial waste create real hazards when they escape an uncovered dump truck at highway speeds:

Road safety. Gravel thrown from an uncovered dump truck bed at highway speed can chip or crack a windshield. Dust clouds formed by exposing loads without a cover can reduce sight lines and increase accident risk.

Road surface damage. Loose stone and debris wear down road markings and shoulders, compounding maintenance costs for municipalities and liability exposure for carriers. Spilled tar and asphalt adhere to pavement and create uneven surfaces that become hazardous to drivers.

Environmental contamination. Waste taken from commercial facilities can escape during transport and contaminate nearby waterways and soil. This creates cleanup obligations and regulatory consequences that far exceed the cost of any tarp.

For fleet managers, the math is straightforward: a quality dump truck tarp starts at about $70. Set that against a fine, a cleanup bill, downtime, and liability exposure that follow an unsecured load violation.

States Where a Cover is Required

The following states have an official statute that requires a cover for dirt, sand, or gravel loads.

Alaska requires that every load of material is contained or confined so nothing drops, sifts, leaks, or escapes the vehicle. A cover is required only for dirt, sand, gravel, rock, or similar loads, and only when six inches of freeboard is not kept, which is the state's low-load option.

Before the vehicle travels on the highway, the load must be treated using a method approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety to settle its contents or remove any loose material.

Exemptions: Vehicles dropping sand, liquids, or other materials used to clean or maintain the highway or improve traction; commercial trucks covered by the federal cargo securement rules; natural buildup of snow, ice, mud, or dirt; vehicles removing or hauling snow; and random litter such as wrappers, bags, paper, and leaves.

Penalties: Fines are capped at $300 with no prior conviction, $750 with one prior, $1,500 with two priors, and $2,500 with three or more priors. Criminal negligence causing at least $5,000 in damage is a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to $2,000 and 90 days in jail. Criminal negligence causing serious physical injury is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to $25,000 and one year in jail.

Official sources: AS 28.35.251; AS 12.55.035; and AS 12.55.135

Arkansas requires that open-bed trucks and trailers manufactured after September 30, 2001 need to use a cover when hauling sand, gravel, or rock on paved public streets and highways. All other loads fall under the general rule that nothing may drop, sift, leak, or escape. Trucks and trailers that are older may haul materials uncovered if the load stays at least six inches below the cargo area.

Commercial garbage haulers are required to cover their loads. Individuals hauling their own household trash are not subject to the same strict cover requirement, but they are expected to take reasonable precautions to prevent material from escaping the vehicle.

Exemptions: Sand dropped for road traction, water or other substances used to clean or maintain a roadway, and loads of mostly metallic material loaded so the material cannot fall out.

Penalties: Code violations may be charged as misdemeanors, with growing fines and jail time for repeat offenses. Uncovered waste loads carry separate consequences: $100 to $1,000 for a first offense, and $200 to $2,000 plus community service for a second or later offense within three years.

Official sources: Arkansas Code §§ 27-35-110, 27-50-304, and 8-6-407(b)(2)

California enforces some of the nation's most detailed load-covering laws. "Aggregate material" includes rock fragments, pebbles, sand, dirt, gravel, cobbles, crushed base, asphalt, and similar substances, and none may be hauled on public highways unless covered.

They do offer a load-low option for uncovered aggregate if it stays six inches below the upper edge where it touches the front, back, and sides, and no part of the load rises above the upper edge at its peak.

Trash, garbage, and recyclables must be totally covered.

Aggregate trucks are required to have:

• Sealed dump gates and tailgates
• Splash flaps behind every tire
• Center flaps behind bottom dump release gates
• Fenders extending at least six inches beyond axle centers
• Full vertical enclosures around cargo area, including sides and shed boards

Exemptions: Asphalt-only loads are exempt from the cover requirement but not the equipment requirements. Petroleum coke-only loads are exempt when loaded using safety procedures, specialized equipment, and a chemical surfactant. Fully enclosed rigid-body trucks are exempt only from the center-flap and shed-board requirements. Trucks leaving loading sites where the scale house is within 100 yards of the exit may travel uncovered only until the driver can safely cover the load near the exit, and never more than 200 yards from the exit.

Penalties: Violations are infractions. The base fine can reach $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense within one year, and $250 for a third offense within one year, plus state and county penalty assessments.

Official sources: California Vehicle Code §§ 23114, 23115, and 42001

Colorado has separate rules for aggregate and waste loads. Aggregates one inch or smaller, including rock, clay, silt, gravel, limestone, dimension stone, marble, and shale, need to be equipped with a dump truck cover when traveling more than two miles on a highway. Hot asphalt and wet concrete are not considered aggregate because they are not susceptible to blowing or spilling.

Trash and recyclables must be contained at any distance of travel. A cover is one way to comply; the statute also accepts another technology that keeps materials in, federal securement methods, or a load that cannot escape.

Exemptions: Aggregate vehicles operating entirely within a marked construction zone, performing public road maintenance during snow or ice removal, or involved in emergency operations requested by law enforcement or a designated emergency response authority. Trash and recyclable vehicles while collecting material within a one-mile radius of their last pickup point. 

Penalties: Fines range from $35 (plus a $10 surcharge) for most trucks and up to $100 (plus a $30 surcharge) for cars and pickups. If a car or pickup truck violation causes bodily injury, it is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense with a $500 fine (plus a $200 surcharge) and possible jail time. A larger truck causing injury remains a class B traffic infraction at $35 (plus a $10 surcharge).

Official sources: Colorado Revised Statutes §§ 42-4-1407 and 42-4-1701

The District of Columbia requires loose loads carried on any vehicle to be covered and secured properly to prevent material from shifting, blowing, or falling onto the road. The cover requirement does not apply if the load remains at least six inches below the top of the vehicle’s sides and no part of the load rises above the top.

Trash and garbage loads need to be covered. Regulations in D.C. also require vehicles hauling refuse or dusty material to have a tight body and secure cover, regardless of how far below the top edge the load is.

Exemptions: Sand dropped for traction, and water or other substances used to clean or maintain the road.

Penalties: Violations can result in civil fines up to $500, with no jail sentence. Police tickets are $250 for an open load that is not covered securely and $150 for a spilled load.

Official sources: D.C. Code § 50-2101(a); 24 DCMR § 1007; 18 DCMR § 2503.2; and MPD ticket schedule.

Hawaii requires loads of dirt, sand, gravel, loose paper, plastics, loose rubbish, and empty cartons to be completely covered with a tarp, canopy, cargo net, or similar dump truck covers. A granular load of dirt, sand, or gravel does not need a cover if its peak stays at or below the lowest point of the container's top edge. Separate requirements apply to loads of rocks, stones, or boulders, which may not extend above the container edge regardless of covering.

Exemptions: Agricultural produce hauled from fields during harvest (the owner must still make reasonable efforts to remove spilled produce), sand dropped for traction, water or other substances used to clean or maintain the highway.

Penalties: Hawaii enforces a fine between $250 and $500 for a first offense. A second offense within one year carries a $500 to $750 fine and a 5 to 10 working-day suspension of the driver's license or registration. A third or later offense within one year carries a $750- $1,000 fine and a 30-day suspension.

Official sources: H.R.S. § 291C-131 and 701-107

Idaho requires all vehicle loads to be secured so they cannot become loose, detached, or hazardous to other highway users. Vehicles hauling dirt, sand, or gravel on paved public highways must cover loads that could spill, leak, or otherwise escape, unless the material remains at least six inches below the top of the cargo area.

Exemptions: Highway maintenance and construction by government agencies and their contractors, irrigation and water-delivery entities, and unprocessed farm products and farm inputs.

Penalties: Violations are infractions rather than criminal offenses that lead to jail time. Although the statute does not establish a specific fine for load-securement violations, a typical citation totals about $72 to $90, including court costs, subject to a statutory maximum of $300 with no jail time.

Official sources: Idaho Code §§ 18-113A, 49-613, and 49-236; Idaho infraction penalty schedule

Kentucky prohibits operating any vehicle on a public highway for more than one mile if the load is susceptible to shifting or spillage unless it is covered with a device suitable for preventing spillage. This rule applies to trash and garbage, along with dirt, sand, or gravel. The state law does not provide a load-height option for haulers.

Exemptions: None in the statute.

Penalties: Violations can result in fines ranging from $20 to $100.

Official sources: KRS 189.150 and KRS 189.990(1)(a)

Louisiana requires commercial haulers to cover the load in a way that prevents it from blowing, spilling, or dropping out of the vehicle. In addition to commercial vehicles, this requirement applies to vehicles purchased by the state or a political subdivision after August 15, 1999.

A truck cover is required for commercial garbage, refuse, and sludge haulers, with no load-low option. A state solid-waste rule says that garbage trucks must stay covered except while loading and unloading.

Exemptions: Farm products and wood chips (if contained), sand used for road traction, liquid used for roadway cleaning, and dirt or sand transported at 25 mph or less inside one small municipality.

Penalties: Fines for uncovered loose materials range from $100 to $200. Uncovered garbage carries fines up to $500, six months in jail, or both.

Official sources: La. R.S. 32:383, 32:383.1, and 32:57

Maryland defines "loose materials" as dirt, sand, gravel, wood chips, or other materials susceptible to blowing, spilling, or falling off a vehicle. Vehicles hauling these materials need to have a secured cover on top and a fully enclosed bed without holes or cracks in it. Tailgates need to remain closed whether the vehicle is empty or loaded, and loose material must be swept off before driving.

Trucks with factory beds may skip the cover if the load touching the sides stays six inches below the top, and trailers may skip it if the entire load stays six inches below the top. Trucks with beds altered to carry more must always be covered.

Exemptions: Farm products in their natural state, including sod, and traction, road-maintenance, and road-repair materials. The following are only exempt from the tarp rule: Class K farm vehicles, construction or mining equipment crossing a highway, public works sites up to one mile, and the Port of Baltimore up to one mile.

Penalties: Violations are treated as misdemeanors with fines as high as $500. No jail time.

Official sources: Maryland Transportation Code §§ 24-106.1, 24-106, and 27-101

Massachusetts states that loads of gravel, sand, loam, dirt, stone, rubbish, or debris that can fall from a vehicle must be fully and adequately covered. The state law does not offer a low-load option. The liability of operating with an unsecured load applies to the owner and the driver of the vehicle.

Exemptions: Sand spreading for traction is permitted, along with water or other substances used for cleaning or maintaining roadways.

Penalties: Violations come with fines ranging from $50 to $200.

Official source: M.G.L. c. 85 § 36

Minnesota requires vehicles hauling dirt, sand, gravel, aggregate, lime rock, or similar materials to secure the load with a cover if the load is less than six inches below the cargo-box wall or less than two feet inward of the top edge. Aggregate can only be carried in the cargo box, and debris needs to be cleaned off before entering a roadway.

Under the vehicle code, garbage loads need to be covered at 35 mph or faster, or on any interstate highway. This 35 mph speed threshold was increased from 30 mph in 2025. A separate solid-waste rule goes further for garbage and similar putrescible waste: vehicles that collect and transport it must be covered, leakproof, durable, and easily cleanable regardless of speed. In practice, garbage trucks need a cover all the time. Other solid waste must be loaded so it does not spill and covered when necessary to prevent blowing.

Exemptions: Garbage, rubbish, trash, and debris vehicles traveling under 35 mph off the interstate are exempt from the vehicle code's cover rule if no part of the load escapes and any escaped material is retrieved. Also, farmers hauling produce, sand dropped for traction, and water or other substances used to clean or maintain the roadway.

Penalties: Violations are considered petty misdemeanors with fines up to $300. If the violation puts people or property in danger or follows two violations within 12 months, it may be charged as a misdemeanor and carry fines up to $1,000, 90 days jail time, or both.

Official sources: Minn. Stat. §§ 169.81 and 169.89; Minn. R. 7035.0800

Mississippi law requires a cover on open-top trucks and trailers hauling dirt, sand, gravel, or rock on state, interstate, or U.S. highways. It offers a load-low option if the load stays at least six inches below the top of the bed, or six-inch sideboards are raised with at least six inches of clearance above the load.

Exemptions: None in the statute.

Penalties: Violations are treated as misdemeanors with fines ranging from $25 to $100. Violations related to commercial solid waste can incur civil penalties as high as $25,000 per violation.

Official sources: Miss. Code §§ 63-7-83, 63-7-85, 63-7-89, and 17-17-29

Nebraska mandates that vehicles on hard-surfaced state highways carrying gravel, sand, refuse, or rock less than two inches in diameter be enclosed or completely covered when the material rises above the sides of the cargo area. A load that stays below the sides needs no cover. On local roads, loads are generally expected to be secured to prevent material from escaping.

Garbage and trash covers are required on state highways unless they stay below the sides of the cargo box.

Exemptions: None in the statute.

Penalties: Violations are Class IV misdemeanors carrying fines up to $500. A commercial motor vehicle or trailer with improperly secured cargo commits an infraction with a fixed fine of $200 for a first offense and $500 for a second or later offense. This applies to cargo securement violations, not the sand, gravel, and refuse cover rule, which is a class IV misdemeanor. For commercial cargo securement violations, the state may also assess the vehicle owner a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation on top of the driver's fine.

Official sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-6,304 and 28-106

New Hampshire calls for all vehicle loads and covers to be secure so they do not get loose, detach, or become a hazard to other road users. Loads also cannot drop, sift, leak, or escape from the vehicle during transit.

An open vehicle loaded with earth, sand, asphalt, stone, gravel, or other particulate substance must have the load entirely covered and secured by a tarpaulin or similar cover. Similar to the above rule, to operate a vehicle with light scrap metal, the load must be secured with a dump truck cover. The state defines “light scrap metal” as any fragments less than 8 inches wide and no more than ⅛ inch thick.

Exemptions: Local farmers hauling their own agricultural products or farm supplies (reasonable care still required), vehicles traveling under 30 mph (tarp rules only, no-spill still applies), highway construction vehicles inside a construction zone, highway maintenance equipment, and trucks hauling crushed vehicles to shredders or heavy scrap metal to or from scrap dealers or remelting facilities (scrap-metal tarp rule only).

Penalties: If an individual violates the law, it is considered a violation and can result in fines of up to $1,000. If companies violate the law, it is considered a misdemeanor and fines can reach up to $20,000. Violators are also liable for damages to the road. No jail time is possible.

Official sources: RSA 266:72; RSA 651:2; and RSA 625:9

New Jersey prohibits operating a vehicle in a manner that could allow the contents to scatter onto a roadway. Vehicle loads other than farm products must be securely covered by a tarpaulin or other cover if the load rises above the sides, tailgate, or rear of the body. If the load stays below the sides and tailgate, it is not subject to this requirement. 

Garbage and trash collection vehicles require a cover if the load rises above the sides and the tailgate.

Exemption: Farm products

Penalties: A violation of the covering requirement carries a payable ticket of $56. If the matter gets handled in court, the statutory penalty is a fine of up to $50, up to 15 days of jail time, or both.

Official sources: N.J.S.A. 39:4-77 and 39:4-203, NJ Courts violations schedule

New York requires that open trucks and trailers hauling loose material be equipped with an approved cover that covers the cargo opening entirely. If the load is arranged properly to keep material from falling or blowing out, a cover is not needed. There is no exception for solid waste, which always needs to be covered in transit.

A cover is required at all times for vehicles collecting garbage and trash.

Exemptions: Farm products are exempt from the loose cargo cover rule but not the solid waste rule.

Penalties: Fines for a first loose-cargo violation can go up to $150, 15 days in jail, or both. Penalties increase for repeat offenses within 18 months: up to $300 or 45 days in jail for a second, and up to $450 or 90 days for a third. Solid waste violations carry substantially higher penalties under the Environmental Conservation Law.

Official sources: N.Y. VTL §§ 380-a and 1800; ECL §§ 27-0712 and 71-2703

North Carolina calls for all vehicle loads to be secured, and truck bodies to be free of holes or openings through which material could fall through. Requirements then vary by the vehicle’s licensed weight and the material being hauled. Trucks licensed for more than 7,500 pounds hauling rock, gravel, stone, or similar material must keep the load six inches below the top and cover it with a dump tarp. Lighter trucks and any truck hauling sand have three ways to comply: maintaining six inches of clearance below the top of the cargo area, using a secure tarp or truck cover, or operating a vehicle body designed to prevent material from escaping.

Exemptions: Sand used for traction, liquids used for road cleaning, seed cotton, poultry, livestock, silage, and feed grain used for poultry or livestock.

Penalties: Violations are infractions punishable by fines of up to $100.

Official sources: G.S. 20-116 and G.S. 20-176

Oklahoma law says that every load hauling sand, cinders, or other loose material must have a secure cover if susceptible to blowing off or escaping. The state law does not list a load-height expectation.

Waste haulers are also expected to enclose their loads. This is stated in a DEQ rule.

Exemptions: Sand used for traction, liquids used for road cleaning, livestock, poultry, hay, and agricultural products.

Penalties: Violations are misdemeanors, with first offenses ranging from $5 to $500 or up to 10 days' jail time. Fines double if the offense happens while the driver’s privileges are suspended, revoked, cancelled, denied, or disqualified, or were never granted. Repeat convictions within one year increase the jail term.

Official sources: 47 O.S. §§ 14-105 and 17-101; OAC 252:515-33-4

Rhode Island calls for all dump trucks carrying rubbish, refuse, debris, or other loose material to use a secure truck cover. The cover needs to remain in place until the truck or trailer has been emptied and cleaned. The state does not provide a low-load alternative. 'Loose material' was added to the law back in 2024; before that, the rule covered rubbish, refuse, and other debris. The 2024 amendment also requires the cover to stay on until the contents are cleaned and purged.

Exemptions: Lumber, wood, sawmill waste transported in a solid-sided box body, provided the truck is not loaded higher than its sideboards.

Penalties: Violations result in a fine up to $100 for a first offense, and $100 to $500 after that.

Official sources: R.I.G.L. §§ 31-25-10, 31-25-9, and P.L. 2024 ch. 77 and 78

South Carolina offers drivers of rock, gravel, stone, or similar materials three ways to comply:

• Secure the load with a tarp or other suitable truck or trailer cover
• Keep material six inches beneath the top of the four cargo walls
• Implement a vehicle body that is designed to prevent material from falling off or out

These same rules apply for vehicles hauling garbage or trash to a refuse site.

Exemptions: Seed cotton, soybeans, tobacco, livestock, poultry, forest products, textile products, silage, paper products, feed grain used to feed poultry or livestock, and wastepaper used to manufacture industrial products.

Penalties: Violations are misdemeanors punishable by a fine of up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail. Drivers are also responsible for cleanup costs and road spills.

Official sources: S.C. Code §§ 56-5-4100 and 56-5-6190

Tennessee requires a truck cover or enclosure for operations hauling litter or loose material likely to fall or blow off the vehicle. The rule is found within the state's litter code and applies to both aggregate and trash. Listed aggregates may travel uncovered if kept four inches below the bed walls, unless material is seen blowing off. Trucks under 16,000 pounds hauling litter to an energy-recovery facility must carry it in an enclosed space, unless the truck has a factory-installed hydraulic lift that raises the entire bed, as a dump truck does.

A separate law requires open-bed trucks to keep loose material four inches below the bed walls, even when the load is tarped.

Exemptions: Farm produce headed to market or storage, recyclables headed to a convenience center or scrap dealer, and personal, not-for-hire pickups, which only need to secure the load.

Penalties: Violating this law is considered a Class B misdemeanor with a fine up to $500, six months of jail time, or both. If the four-inch rule is violated, a fine can be up to $50, 30 days of jail time, or both.

Official sources: T.C.A. §§ 39-14-507 and 55-7-109

Texas dedicates an entire chapter of its Transportation Code to loose materials, defined as any material that can be blown or spilled from a vehicle due to movement or exposure to air, wind, or weather. This explicitly includes dirt, sand, gravel, refuse, and wood chips. The statute draws a key distinction based on vehicle type.

Commercial motor vehicles transporting loose material must have the load covered with the covering firmly secured at the front and back, or the load must be completely enclosed by the compartment, with no exception for loads that sit below the container edge.

Non-commercial vehicles have slightly more flexibility. Covering is required unless the load is completely enclosed or does not blow or spill over the top of the compartment. All vehicles must have beds with no holes, cracks, or openings, enclosed by side panels; a front panel or cab, and a tailgate or rear panel. Tailgates must be securely closed during transport, and material spilled onto non-load-carrying parts, along with residue left after unloading, must be removed before driving.

Exemptions: Texas exempts agricultural products in their natural state, vehicles or equipment moving between construction barricades on a public works project, and any vehicle or equipment crossing a highway.

Penalties: Violations are classified as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $25 to $500.

Official source: Texas Transportation Code Chapter 725

Utah law requires loose materials (dirt, sand, gravel, rock aggregate, scrap metal) to have cover unless the load remains below the cargo bed sides and its outer edges stay six inches below the top inside edges. Garbage and trash always need to be covered. Loads heading to a landfill or transfer station must be securely covered by a solid barrier. Facilities must collect a minimum $10 fine for uncovered loads and may charge more.

Garbage and trash trucks are required to have a cover, and the six-inch load-height exception does not apply here.

Exemptions: Hot-mix asphalt, bagged or boxed goods, snow removal or road maintenance work, certain agricultural products, and adjacent-parcel highway crossings.

Penalties: At least $200, and can rise to $500 for repeat violations within six years. Fines for commercial vehicles typically range from $500 to $1,000. If it causes a crash, it is a class B misdemeanor with up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. If the crash causes serious injury or death, it is a class A misdemeanor, with up to 364 days in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Official sources: Utah Code §§ 72-7-409 and 72-7-410

Washington requires all vehicles, not just commercial, to be secured so that material cannot drop, sift, leak, or otherwise escape onto a public highway. On paved highways, the material needs to be covered unless it stays six inches below the top of the cargo area. Operators are expected to remove rocks and debris from the truck before entering a paved roadway. Vehicles collecting garbage need to have a cover or screen attached tightly.

Exemptions: Sand spreading for road traction and public maintenance using substances for road cleanup.

Penalties: Most violations are infractions with a fine up to $250. The base penalty on the court schedule is $93 before statutory assessments. If the load spillage is criminally negligent and damages property, it becomes a misdemeanor. If it causes substantial bodily harm, it increases to a gross misdemeanor, with a fine up to $5,000, 364 days of jail time, or both.

Official sources: RCW 46.61.655; RCW 70A.200.120; and WAC 173-350-300

States Where You Must Cover or Secure

The states below require you to take action with the load, but let you choose between a cover and a different securing method.

Florida requires every owner and driver hauling dirt, sand, lime rock, gravel, silica, other similar aggregate, trash, garbage, or loose objects on a public road to prevent those materials from escaping from the vehicle.

Haulers can comply with one of the following methods:

• A close-fitting tarpaulin or other appropriate truck cover
• A  load-securing device that meets 49 CFR § 393.100 standards
• A device designed to ensure cargo will not shift or fall from a vehicle

Exemptions: Vehicles carrying agricultural products locally from a harvest site, or to or from a farm, are exempt from the cover requirement on roads posted at 65 mph or less. The duty to prevent the load from escaping still applies.

Penalties: A standard violation is a noncriminal traffic infraction and a nonmoving violation. The civil penalty is $200; a second violation within five years results in a license suspension. If a person willfully violates the rules and causes serious bodily injury or death, it can be elevated to a second-degree misdemeanor. The penalty is a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days in jail, or both.

Official sources: Fla. Stat. §§ 316.520, 318.18(13), 775.082, and 775.083

Maine requires loads of gravel, sand, crushed stone, rubbish, building debris, and garbage to be covered or otherwise secured so material cannot escape the vehicle. A dump truck tarp is one compliance option, but the state permits different methods if it effectively secures the load.

Exemptions: Loose hay, pea vines, cornstalks, straw, and grain. Minor amounts of sawdust, shavings, or wood chips blown from the vehicle in transit are not a violation if a reasonable effort was made to completely cover the load.

Penalties: Violations are treated as traffic infractions with fines between $150 and $500.

Official source: 29-A M.R.S. § 2396

Michigan requires every vehicle operating on a highway to be loaded so its contents cannot escape. For loads that are not completely enclosed, the operator must either cover the load with secured canvas or fasten it with enough binders to keep material in place.

The State of Michigan has a separate requirement for solid waste like trash and garbage. The load must have a suitable cover to prevent contents from escaping. The driver is responsible for positioning the cover properly.

Exemptions: Vehicles hauling agricultural commodities are exempt from the cover and binder rule only and must still prevent contents from escaping. Highway maintenance vehicles removing snow or ice are exempt from the entire section. Farm trucks hauling dirt, sand, or gravel for farm use are exempt from the cover-or-binder rule only, and nothing may spill.

Penalties: A violation is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both.

Official sources: MCL § 257.720; Mich. Admin. Code R 299.4601 and R 299.4602

Missouri law applies to every motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer hauling goods, materials, or farm products that can become dislodged due to wind, air pressure, or vehicle movement. These loads are required to use a protective truck cover or another method that keeps the load sufficiently in place. This cover or secure rule also applies to solid waste like trash and garbage.

Exemptions: Cotton trailers traveling under 70 mph from field to field or field to market and back, provided no part of the load falls and the load is immobilized or secured as the statute requires.

Penalties: Violations are considered a Class C misdemeanor, with fines as high as $750, 15 days of possible jail time, or both. If a corporation is convicted, fines of $10,000 may be imposed by the court.

Official sources: RSMo § 307.010; 558.002; and 558.011

Virginia rules that vehicles carrying gravel, sand, coal, and other non-farm, non-forestry products on public highways either secure the material or cover it. Commercial solid-waste vehicles follow the same cover-or-secure rule. If one of them uses a cover, the cover must be secured so it holds at any speed and in any weather.

A separate law makes it a crime for a load to drop, leak, or escape from a vehicle and requires drivers to clean up any glass or other objects that fall from it.

Exemptions: Pickup trucks, utility company vehicles, and snow removal equipment while clearing snow. Farm vehicles and other vehicles hauling forest products, poultry, or livestock are exempt from the no-escape rule for vehicles. These exemptions do not apply to the escaping load law.

Penalties: Violating Va. Code § 46.2-1156 is a traffic infraction with a fine as high as $250. Violating Va. Code § 10.1-1424 is treated as a Class 1 misdemeanor that can result in a fine of up to $2,500, 12 months in jail, or both.

Official sources: Va. Code §§ 46.2-1156, 10.1-1424, 46.2-113, and 18.2-11

States Where a Cover is Required for Some Loads

Connecticut has a general load-securement statute that focuses on containing load contents rather than a strict requirement for a tarp or cover. If a cover is used, it must be securely fastened so it does not come loose and become a hazard. Vehicles of 5,000 pounds gross weight or more that are designed and used exclusively for refuse collection, and that carry a separable open-top container, must secure the contents with a screen or other material with perforations no larger than two square inches. This is not a general rule for every refuse load.

Other trash and garbage loads do not need a cover or net. They just need to keep the load from escaping. 

Exemptions: Farm vehicles, along with vehicles used for spreading traction sand or cleaning roadways.

Penalties: Violations are considered infractions that carry a $117 fine for a general load-secure violation and $158 for an unscreened refuse container. In a designated work zone, these two fine types can rise to $167 or $233, respectively.

Official sources: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-271; CT infractions schedule

Illinois treats most loose loads as a containment issue, but commercial motor vehicles hauling garbage or refuse face a specific cover requirement. Those vehicles must have a securely closing tailgate and an attached cover or tarpaulin large enough to prevent any load, residue, or other material from escaping.

Trucks rated at 8,000 pounds or more and carrying aggregate, refuse, garbage, or other materials must keep the load within the cargo area with the tailgate securely closed. Dirt, sand, and gravel do not require a cover, but the material cannot fall, blow, sift, or drop from the truck.

Exemptions: Snow/ice removal vehicles and farm vehicles hauling farm products to or from a farm. The garbage/refuse requirement separately exempts highway maintenance vehicles.

Penalties: A violation is a petty offense with fines up to $150. A person, firm, or corporation convicted of four or more violations of the commercial garbage/refuse cover rule within 12 months faces an additional $150 fine for the fourth and each later conviction in that period. For an employer, a fourth or later conviction must be attributable to a single employee-driver.

Official sources: 625 ILCS 5/15-109.1 and 625 ILCS 5/15-109

Ohio draws a clear distinction between garbage and loose aggregate. If the vehicle is carrying garbage, trash, rubbish, refuse, and other unsanitary solid waste material, a sufficient cover is mandatory.

Dirt, sand, gravel, rock, and similar materials are subject to the state’s general containment rule, which says a vehicle must be loaded or constructed so its contents cannot escape the vehicle while traveling on the highway.

Exemptions: Farm vehicles transporting agricultural produce or production materials, and rubbish vehicles only while acquiring their load, are exempt from the garbage and refuse cover rule. Sand spreading trucks and road cleaning trucks are exempt from the general no-escape rule.

Penalties: Violations are minor misdemeanors with fines up to $150. No jail time is possible.

Official sources: Ohio Rev. Code §§ 4513.31, 4513.99, and 2929.28

Pennsylvania law requires that loose garbage be hauled in a truck with four solid sides, loaded no higher than the side walls, and contained under a tight cover or tarp. All other load materials, including sand, dirt, and gravel, need to be fastened to prevent them from escaping the vehicle. The state does not require a cover for these non-garbage materials.

Exemptions: Highway maintenance vehicles spreading material and feathers falling from a motor vehicle transporting birds or animals. Rear-loading garbage collection vehicles are exempt from the loose garbage provision only.

Penalties: Garbage rule violations carry fines of $300 to $1,000. Other load violations carry fines of $100 to $300, rising to $300 to $1,000 if the load causes injury to another person or damages another vehicle or property.

Official sources: 75 Pa.C.S. § 4903 and 25 Pa. Code § 285.214

States Where Law Only Requires Containment

Alabama has a general load rule focused on containment rather than requiring a cover specifically. Any vehicle traveling on a highway needs to be constructed or loaded so the material it is hauling cannot escape in any way. A “willful and knowing spill” of gravel, rock, slag, or bricks is a class B misdemeanor. It applies to the operator, the owner, or anyone who causes the vehicle to be operated. Litter is covered separately. 

If you are in the business of hauling solid waste like garbage and rubbish, a separate law requires these loads to be covered, secured, or sealed so nothing is displaced during transit.

Exemptions: Sand dropped for traction, water or other substances used on a roadway to clean or maintain it, and agricultural products in their natural state that are unintentionally deposited on a road, which are not treated as litter.

Penalties: A willful load spill gets prosecuted as criminal littering (Class B misdemeanor) and carries a fine up to $500 and six months' jail time. For a second or later conviction, the court may impose either a fine of up to $1,000 plus litter-pickup community service, or a fine of $2,000 to $3,000. Violating the commercial garbage-and-rubbish hauling rule is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $50 to $200 per day of violation.

Official sources: Ala. Code §§ 32-5-76, 13A-7-29, 22-27-3(f), and 22-27-7

Arizona law requires that all vehicles on highways, streets, or roadways be loaded to prevent any cargo from dropping, sifting, leaking, or escaping. Any covering on the load must be securely fastened to prevent it from becoming loose, detached, or creating a hazard to other highway users. The statute does not specifically require a tarp or other cover; instead, it imposes a general requirement to contain the load.

The state has separate solid waste rules that require garbage-collection vehicles to have covered, watertight metal bodies. Vehicles carrying rubbish or manure must be designed to prevent leakage or spillage and must provide a cover to prevent materials from creating a nuisance.

Exemptions: Farm vehicles used on a farm, sand used for road traction, water used for roadway cleaning, and minor pieces of agricultural material like leaves.

Penalties: Up to $250 for a first violation within 60 months (no injuries), up to $350 for a second violation within 60 months (no injuries), up to $500 if the violation results in an accident causing serious physical injury to another person, and up to $1,000 if the violation results in an accident causing another person’s death.

Official sources: A.R.S. § 28-1098; Ariz. Admin. Code R18-13-310 and R18-2-605

Delaware focuses on preventing lost cargo rather than tarp mandates in their state motor vehicle code. Specifically, it says that vehicles need to be constructed or loaded so their contents, whatever the material, do not drop, sift, leak, or otherwise escape the truck.

The state has stricter requirements for trash and garbage collectors and transporters. These operations are required to cover or fully enclose the solid-waste load to prevent it from being released into the environment.

Exemptions: The solid-waste regulation excludes household waste generated in a Delaware residence and hauled non-commercially by the individual in a vehicle of 26,000 pounds GVW or less, along with on-site transport and farm-generated waste hauled by the farm. The general no-escape rule still applies.

Penalties: A first offense carries a fine ranging from $10 to $28.75, and each repeat offense carries a fine ranging from $28.75 to $100. Hauling meat scrap or animal waste outside a closed body carries up to $115, 30 days' jail time, or both.

Official sources: 21 Del. C. §§ 4371 and 4372; 7 Del. Admin. Code 1301 § 7.2

Georgia requires that all vehicles on public roads be built, loaded, or covered so that no part of the load can drop, escape, or shift and create a hazard or deposit litter. Loads and any covering must be securely fastened to prevent them from becoming loose, detached, or dangerous to other road users. A cover is one of three ways to comply, but it is not required. Commercial trucks must also meet state and federal cargo securement rules.

The state has a solid-waste (EPD) rule that requires a truck cover specifically for those collecting trash and garbage.

Exemptions: Substances being spread during public-road maintenance or construction. Organic debris is exempt from the litter provisions only (not the safety-hazard provisions) when it escapes during transport of silage from field or farm to storage and from feedlot, or of agricultural and silvicultural products from farm or forest to a processing plant or point of sale or use.

Penalties: A violation of requirements is a misdemeanor that may be punished by a fine of up to $1,000, confinement for up to 12 months, or both.

Official sources: O.C.G.A. §§ 40-6-248.1, 40-6-1, 17-10-3, and 40-6-254; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.06

Indiana does not allow you to operate a vehicle on the highway when its contents are dripping, sifting, leaking, or spilling onto the road. The rule does not specifically require a cover; it simply must be contained. Motor carriers must also follow the federal cargo securement rules that Indiana adopted into state law (49 C.F.R. Part 393).

Exemptions: Highway trucks spreading deicer or sand and vehicles moving poultry or livestock to market.

Penalties: Violations are class C infractions with fines up to $500, or up to $10,000 if someone is injured. Motor carrier rule violations carry fines up to $1,000.

Official sources: IC §§ 9-21-8-48, 9-21-8-49, 34-28-5-4, 8-2.1-24-18, and 8-2.1-24-24

Iowa prohibits operating a motor vehicle unless it is constructed, loaded, or covered so the contents of the load cannot escape. A cover is an option, but the state does not require one.

The State of Iowa does not have a law that requires a cover for trash and garbage collection trucks, but some Iowa cities do.

Exemptions: Dropping sand for traction, sprinkling water for road cleaning. Also, a range of agricultural products: hay, stover, raw farm products, soil fertilizers including ground limestone, raw dairy products, livestock, live poultry, and eggs. Distillers grains are exempt only when carried by a special truck, and cracked or ground grain only when delivered directly to a farm from the place where it was cracked or ground.

Penalties: A violation carries a scheduled fine of $260, plus applicable surcharge and court costs.

Official sources: Iowa Code §§ 321.460, 321.466, and 805.8A(13)(c)

Kansas law prohibits hauling materials like dirt, rock, gravel, sand, and garbage unless they are secured to prevent dropping, leaking, or generally escaping from the vehicle. A tarp or cover is not explicitly named as a requirement in the statute.

Exemptions: Spreading substances for highway maintenance and construction, livestock trailers while hauling livestock with a closed cleanout trap, certain in-state forage hauls, and certain cotton-bale loads. The forage exception applies to loose agricultural forage hauled within Kansas from the place of production to a market or storage site, or from storage to the place of use. It does not cover hay bales or bundled forage. The highway maintenance and construction carve-out applies to the containment rule only.

Penalties: A violation is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Official sources: K.S.A. §§ 8-1906 and 8-1901

Montana does not directly require a cover on truck loads. The state calls for all motor vehicles to be loaded or secured to prevent littering or road hazards. If an escaped object could create a dangerous obstruction, such as building materials, furniture, or appliances, the driver must remove it or arrange for removal when it is safe to do so. If the state or local crew does the cleanup, the vehicle operator must pay the removal cost billed by the roadway authority.

State rules require solid waste to be hauled so it does not spill or leak, but do not require a cover. Only those hauling oilfield exploration or production waste are required to cover and secure their load throughout transport.

Exemptions: Commercial trucks that follow state and federal cargo securement rules, farm products and inputs, road maintenance, and marked work zones.

Penalties: A violation is a misdemeanor. The fine ranges from $10 to $100 for a first conviction, $25 to $200 for a second conviction within one year, and $50 to $500 for a third or later conviction within one year of the first.

Official sources: MCA §§ 61-8-370 and 61-8-711, Mont. Admin. R. 17.50.523

Nevada requires truckloads to be secured so material cannot escape, and any cover must be securely fastened. The statute does not require a cover for dirt, sand, or gravel, but a state solid-waste rule separately requires garbage and refuse collection trucks to be covered.

Exemptions: Vehicles dropping sand for traction and water for road cleaning.

Penalties: Violations are civil infractions with fines up to $500 plus court assessments.

Official sources: NRS §§ 484D.850, 484A.900, and 484A.7043; NAC 444.664

New Mexico law bars the operation of a vehicle on a highway unless it is constructed, loaded, secured, or covered so the load cannot drop, sift, leak, or otherwise escape. Any load and any covering must also be securely fastened.

The state has a separate solid-waste rule that requires any person hauling solid waste or recyclable materials to use a vehicle with an enclosure or cover. This same rule applies to commercial solid-waste haulers.

Exemptions: Vehicles dropping sand for traction and sprinkling water or another substance while cleaning or maintaining a roadway.

Penalties: Violations carry a $100 penalty assessment, rising to $300, 90 days in jail, or both if the violation contributes to a crash causing injury or death.

Official sources: NMSA §§ 66-7-407, 66-8-116, and 66-8-7; 20.9.2.8 NMAC and 20.9.5.14 NMAC

North Dakota law requires vehicle loads to be secured so material cannot escape, and any cover in use must be securely fastened. The statute does not require a cover, but the state has a solid-waste rule that requires commercial household-trash haulers to use a covered vehicle or a closed body.

Exemptions: Vehicles dropping sand for traction and sprinkling water or another substance while cleaning or maintaining a roadway.

Penalties: Violations of the traffic-law load-securement requirements are treated as a noncriminal traffic violation with a statutory $20 fee.

Official sources: N.D.C.C. §§ 39-21-44.1 and 39-06.1-06; N.D. Admin. Code § 33.1-20-01.1-05

Oregon prohibits driving a vehicle on a highway when any part of its load can drop, sift, leak, or otherwise escape. The statute applies to any load, not just sand, gravel, or other aggregate, and it does not impose a cover requirement.

The state has separate DEQ solid-waste rules that require collection and transfer vehicles carrying loads to use a cover while in transit if they are likely to blow or fall off.

Exemptions: Private roads and property, roads owned by irrigation or drainage district and water-control corporations, and roads other than state highways or county roads used under agreements with a federal agency or its licensee. A written sifting or leaking-load permit, valid for up to one year, allows fluid leakage only from food-processing by-products used as livestock feed or fertilizer, and from agricultural products moving from harvest to processing, storage, or sale. It does not cover dry or solid loads.

Penalties: Operating with a sifting or leaking load is a Class B traffic violation. The presumptive fine is $265; the maximum fine is $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a corporation. Presumptive fines are higher in work zones, school zones, and safety corridors.

Official sources: ORS §§ 818.300, 818.230, 818.310, 153.018, and 153.019; OAR 340-093-0220

South Dakota prohibits operating a vehicle on a highway unless it is constructed or loaded to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping. There is no requirement in the statute or solid waste rules for covering dirt, sand, gravel, or garbage with a dump truck tarp.

Exemptions: None in the statute.

Penalties: A violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both.

Official sources: SDCL §§ 32-15-18 and 22-6-2; ARSD 74:27:17:03

Vermont law calls for all vehicles to be loaded so they cannot be a hazard to others on the highways. The statute does not impose a cover requirement for dirt, sand, gravel, rock, garbage, or other materials; just a general hazard-prevention standard.

Exemptions: None in the statute.

Penalties: A violation is a civil traffic violation, with a penalty of up to $1,000.

Official sources: 23 V.S.A. §§ 1454 and 2302

West Virginia requires every vehicle operated on a roadway to be loaded so cargo cannot escape the vehicle. The statute does not include a cover requirement for dirt, sand, gravel, rock, garbage, or similar materials.

Exemptions: Vehicles dropping sand for traction and sprinkling water or another substance while cleaning or maintaining a roadway.

Penalties: Violations are treated as misdemeanors. A first conviction carries up to $100 or 10 days in jail, a second within a year up to $200, 20 days, or both, and a third or later up to $500, six months, or both.

Official sources: W. Va. Code §§ 17C-17-6 and 17C-18-1

Wisconsin does not impose a blanket cover requirement for dirt, sand, gravel, rock, garbage, or other loose materials. The state only requires vehicles on highways to be constructed and loaded so their contents do not drop, sift, leak, or otherwise escape.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources separately requires solid-waste collection and transportation services to load and move vehicles so contents do not fall, spill, or leak, and to provide covers that prevent littering and spillage. Services hauling only gravel pit spoils, quarry materials, or earth materials are exempt from most of this rule.

Exemptions: None in the statute.

Penalties: Violations range from $10 to $200 under the general load rule, or $20 to $400 if waste or foreign matter is spilled.

Official sources: Wis. Stat. §§ 348.10(2), 348.11, 346.94(7), and 346.95; Wis. Admin. Code NR 502.06

Wyoming requires every vehicle operated on a roadway to be loaded so cargo cannot escape the vehicle. The statute does not include a cover requirement for dirt, sand, gravel, rock, garbage, or similar materials. It requires the load to be contained.

Exemptions: Necessary spreading of any substance during highway maintenance or construction operations.

Penalties: Violations are treated as misdemeanors with fines that escalate with each conviction you receive within a year. The first offense carries up to $200, the second up to $300, and a third or later within a year escalates to $500, six months in jail, or both. A $5 fee is added to the total fine of each conviction.

Official sources: Wyo. Stat. §§ 31-5-228 and 31-5-1201

What Are the Fines for Dump Truck Tarping Violations?

The table below summarizes penalties for all 50 states and D.C. Amounts are for individuals unless noted. See each state's section above for conditions and exemptions. 

State	Group	Fine Range	Penalty Type	Jail Possible
Alabama	Containment Only	Up to $500 (first time); up to $3,000 (repeat); garbage haulers $50-$200/day	Class B misdemeanor	Yes
Alaska	Cover Required	Up to $300 (no priors); to $2,500; up to $25,000 with serious injury	Infraction; misdemeanor with injury or damage	Yes
Arizona	Containment Only	Up to $250 / $350 (repeat) / $500 (serious injury) / $1,000 (death)	Civil	No
Arkansas	Cover Required	Up to $100 for a first, to $500 for a third time; uncovered trash $100-$2,000	Misdemeanor	Yes
California	Cover Required	$100 / $200 / $250 base, plus assessments	Infraction	No
Colorado	Cover Required	$35 + $10 (trucks, even with injury); $100 + $30 (cars, pickups); $500 + $200 if a car or pickup causes injury	Traffic Violation	Yes
Connecticut	Some Loads	$117; $158 refuse container, $167-$233 work zone	Infraction	No
Delaware	Containment Only	$10-$28.75; $28.75-$100 repeat; up to $115 for animal waste	Fine; misdemeanor for animal waste	Yes
District of Columbia	Cover Required	Up to $500 civil; $250 / $150 police tickets	Civil	No
Florida	Cover or Secure	$200; license suspension on repeat; up to $500 and 60 days if a willful violation causes injury or death	Civil; misdemeanor if willful with injury	Yes
Georgia	Containment Only	Up to $1,000	Misdemeanor	Yes
Hawaii	Cover Required	$250-$500; $500-$750 plus 5 to 10 working-day suspension (2nd in a year); $750-$1,000 plus 30-day suspension (3rd or later)	Violation	No
Idaho	Cover Required	About $72-$90 including court costs; $300 cap	Infraction	No
Illinois	Some Loads	Up to $150; an added $150 (up to $300) for a 4th garbage-load conviction in 12 months	Petty offense	No
Indiana	Containment Only	$500; up to $10,000 with injury; motor carriers up to $1,000	Class C infraction	No
Iowa	Containment Only	$260 plus surcharge and court costs	Scheduled fine	No
Kansas	Containment Only	Up to $500	Fine	No
Kentucky	Cover Required	$20-$100	Fine	No
Louisiana	Cover Required	$100-$200 loose material, up to $500 garbage	Fine	Yes
Maine	Cover or Secure	$150-$500	Traffic infraction	No
Maryland	Cover Required	Up to $500	Misdemeanor	No
Massachusetts	Cover Required	$50-$200	Fine	No
Michigan	Cover or Secure	Up to $500	Misdemeanor	Yes
Minnesota	Cover Required	Up to $300; up to a $1,000 misdemeanor if the violation endangers people or property, or after two petty misdemeanor convictions in 12 months	Petty misdemeanor; misdemeanor	Yes
Mississippi	Cover Required	$25-$100, commercial solid-waste haulers face a separate civil penalty up to $25,000	Misdemeanor	No
Missouri	Cover or Secure	Up to $750; up to $10,000 for corporations	Class C misdemeanor	Yes
Montana	Containment Only	$10-$100 first time to $50-$500 for third time	Misdemeanor	No
Nebraska	Cover Required	Up to $500; commercial vehicles $200, $500 on repeat; owner may face a $1,000 civil penalty	Class IV misdemeanor	No
Nevada	Containment Only	Up to $500 plus assessments	Civil infraction	No
New Hampshire	Cover Required	Up to $1,000; up to $20,000 for companies	Violation, misdemeanor for companies	No
New Jersey	Cover Required	$56 payable, up to $50 in court	Traffic offense	Yes
New Mexico	Containment Only	$100; up to $300 with injury crash	Penalty assessment	Yes
New York	Cover Required	Up to $150 (first); $300 (second); $450 (third)	Traffic infraction	Yes
North Carolina	Cover Required	Up to $100	Infraction	No
North Dakota	Containment Only	$20 fee	Noncriminal traffic violation	No
Ohio	Some Loads	Up to $150	Minor misdemeanor	No
Oklahoma	Cover Required	$5-$500 for first offense	Fine or jail	Yes
Oregon	Containment Only	$265 presumptive; up to $1,000 for an individual; up to $2,000 for a corporation	Class B traffic violation	No
Pennsylvania	Some Loads	Garbage $300-$1,000; $100-$300 (other loads); $300-$1,000 (injury or damage)	Fine	No
Rhode Island	Cover Required	Up to $100 for the first violation; $100-$500 for later violations	Fine	No
South Carolina	Cover Required	$100; other spills up to $100	Misdemeanor	Yes
South Dakota	Containment Only	Up to $500	Class 2 misdemeanor	Yes
Tennessee	Cover Required	Up to $500 (tarp law); up to $50 (4-inch rule)	Misdemeanor	Yes
Texas	Cover Required	$25-$500	Misdemeanor	No
Utah	Cover Required	At least $200; $500 for repeats; commercial at least $500 ($1,000 for repeats); up to $2,500 and 364 days if serious injury or death	Infraction, misdemeanor if it causes a crash	Yes
Vermont	Containment Only	Up to $1,000	Civil	No
Virginia	Cover or Secure	Up to $250; up to $2,500 for escaping load	Infraction; class 1 misdemeanor	Yes
Washington	Cover Required	Up to $250; up to $5,000 with substantial bodily harm	Infraction, misdemeanor; gross misdemeanor	Yes
West Virginia	Containment Only	Up to $100 the first time; $500 the third time	Misdemeanor	Yes
Wisconsin	Containment Only	$10-$200; spilling waste goes to $20-$400	Forfeiture	No
Wyoming	Containment Only	Up to $200 first/ $300 second/ $500 third, plus a $5 fee	Misdemeanor	Yes

What Happens When You Haul Across State Lines?

The general rule is that federal FMCSA regulations provide the baseline, and the law of the state you are currently traveling through applies on top of that baseline. If a state's law is stricter than the federal standard, the state law governs within that state's borders. If a state's law is less restrictive, the federal standard still applies to trucks of 10,001 pounds or more in interstate commerce. For in-state hauling, federal rules reach you only where the state has adopted them.

This matters most for haulers crossing into one of the 24 states plus D.C. with an explicit cover rule, and above all into the eight states with no low-load option, such as New Hampshire and Massachusetts. If you regularly operate in or through these states, compliance planning should be built into your fleet's standard operating procedures, not left to individual driver judgment.

How to Keep Your Dump Truck Tarp Compliant

Every state rule comes down to one thing: the load stays in the truck. When a tarp is how you keep it secured, a tear, a loose grommet, or a gap in coverage is a violation waiting to happen. Two habits keep you compliant. Inspect your dump truck cover before every haul, and match the material to your load.

Daily Inspection

Before every trip, walk the truck and confirm the following:

• Load is fully covered with no exposed material at the front, rear, or sides
• Grommets are intact, with no tears or pull-through at any attachment point
• Seams show no splitting, fraying, or separation along heat-welded or stitched lines
• Tarp is securely attached to the truck, with tie-downs or the roll-tarp system under proper tension
• Tarp material matches the load (aggregate, asphalt, debris, and mixed loads each have different requirements)

Check the cargo securement rules for every state on your route. If your trucks are 10,001 pounds or more and operate in interstate commerce, review FMCSA 49 CFR Parts 392 and 393 as well. Many states go further than the federal rule, especially for aggregate, demolition debris, and garbage.

Choose the Right Dump Truck Tarp Material

The right tarp material depends on the load type, temperature exposure, and whether full containment or airflow-permitting coverage is required. Vinyl is the workhorse for aggregate and asphalt. Mesh options range from heavy-duty debris containment to lightweight, high-airflow designs for yard waste and light materials. Below are the six dump truck tarp materials Humphrys manufactures.

18 oz. Vinyl (PVC Coated Polyester)

• Workhorse truck cover; solid and tough
• Suitable for use with asphalt
• Stocked in black with 10 color options available upon request
• Keeps cargo dry and out of the wind
• 100% closed weave

Iron Mesh

• 100% polypropylene construction
• Category-leading resistance to the outdoor elements
• Extreme high tear and rip resistance
• 8.1 oz. per square yard
• 95% closed weave

11-11 Mesh

• 1000 denier polyester yarns extrusion coated with PVC
• 11 oz. per square yard
• 11 yarns each direction per square inch
• High tear strength and UV resistance
• 51% closed weave

Multi-Mesh HD

• 1000 denier polyester yarns extrusion coated with PVC
• 10 oz. per square yard
• 11 yarns per square inch each direction
• Random colored yarns mean no two tarps will be the same
• A waste and dump truck standard; value priced
• High tear and UV resistance
• 54% closed weave

Maxi Mesh

• 1000 denier polyester yarns extrusion coated with PVC
• 9 oz. per square yard
• 12 yarns per square inch each direction
• White color stays cooler in sun
• Flame resistant
• High tear and UV resistance
• 72% closed weave

Super Mesh

• 1000 denier polyethylene yarns extrusion coated with PVC
• 6 oz. per square yard
• 15 yarns per square inch each direction
• Best bang for the buck
• Extreme flexibility
• 55% closed weave

Construction quality matters as much as material. At Humphrys, every dump truck tarp is manufactured in our USA facilities with heat-welded seams, three-ply hems, double-stitched reinforced pockets, and brass grommets built for years of daily use. For a deeper comparison of materials, thickness ratings, and applications, see our tarp buying guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does federal law require dump truck tarps?

Federal law does not explicitly require tarps, but FMCSA rules prohibit cargo from leaking, spilling, blowing, or falling from commercial vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more during interstate commerce. If a tarp is used, federal law requires that it be secured properly. Certain state dump truck tarping laws require covers for dirt, sand, or gravel.

Which states have the strictest dump truck tarping laws?

No single state is strictest on every count. Three states stand out for different reasons:

• New Hampshire: No low-load option for earth, sand, stone, gravel, or other particulate loads once the truck is moving at 30 mph or more, and company violations are misdemeanors with fines up to $20,000.

• Massachusetts: A full cover is required with no low-load option, though fines are among the lowest in the country at $50 to $200.

• California: The most detailed equipment requirements of any state, including sealed gates, splash flaps, fenders, and full enclosures, even though a six-inch low-load option exists for aggregate. 

What is the maximum fine for a dump truck tarping violation?

Fines vary significantly by state, with the key factors being repeat offenses and causing an injury. Most states impose fines ranging from $100 to $500 for first offenses that do not cause damage. Alaska penalties can reach $25,000 when negligence causes serious injury; Indiana will fine you up to $10,000. Many states will consider jail time when the load causes significant harm to somebody. See the fines table above for details on every state.

What type of tarp is best for dump truck compliance?

It depends on the load. Mesh tarps are the standard for dry aggregate such as sand, gravel, and stone, since they hold the load while letting air pass through. 18 oz vinyl is the choice for hot asphalt and wet loads, where a waterproof, closed-weave cover is needed. Either way, the tarp has to cover the load fully and stay secured in transit.

What does "low-load" or freeboard mean in dump truck tarping laws?

The freeboard is the distance between the top of the truck bed and the load itself. Some states allow a low-load option, where you can go uncovered if the load sits far enough below the top of the truck bed. The figure is typically six inches, but it is not universal. Tennessee uses four inches, and Minnesota adds a two-foot setback from the sides. Nebraska, New Jersey, and New York set no inch figure at all. Arkansas, Maryland, and North Carolina limit who can use the option. Eight cover-required states have no low-load option: Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Texas. Check your state's section above for confirmation.