Commercial trucks causing road hazards

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Recent complaints about trucks dropping produce on the roads and highways has sparked concerns about safety regulations for truck drivers hauling produce. According to Trooper Alexander Baird with Idaho State Police, there are laws in place, however agriculture is exempt for those laws.

“As long as there is nothing hazardous going onto the roadway like nails, glass, any large debris, but other than that, they have to have tarps on their loads as long as it’s not over the threshold of 6 inches,” says Baird.

President and CEO of the Idaho Trucking Association, Allen Hodges, says the organization is working on drafting a bill to help make roads safer for drivers.

“Currently in Idaho Code 49-613 it discusses putting litter, glass, you know, objects coming off vehicles onto the highways and there’s a lot of contradictions that stems from a law from 2011,” says Hodges. “We’re working on a drafted piece of legislation, hopefully its introduced next week in committee to close some of those contradictions.”

The Trucking Association plans to revise the Idaho Code that requires the 6-inch free board on trucks and making it a requirement for certain loads like dirt, gravel, and sand going at speeds of 45 miles or higher to be covered with no exemptions.

“Our association is about safety, and we hope that all trucking companies do the best they can when they have their trucks on the road as far as safety with other motorist,” says Hodges

Although agriculture may be exempt, ISP advises other drivers to do their part in being cautious to any hazards falling from a commercial vehicle

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