Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024
Each motor carrier, and its officers, agents, drivers,
representatives and employes directly concerned with the installation and
maintenance of equipment and accessories shall comply and be conversant with
the requirements and specifications of this section, and no motor carrier shall
operate any motor vehicle, or cause or permit it to be operated, unless it is
equipped in accordance with such requirements and specifications, including the
following:
(1)
Lighting
devices. Each motor vehicle shall be equipped with the lighting
devices and reflectors as required by this subchapter.
(2)
Brakes. Each motor
vehicle shall be equipped with brakes as required and shall satisfy the braking
performance requirements as specified in this subchapter.
(3)
Coupling devices-Fifth wheel
mounting and locking. The lower half of each fifth wheel mounted on
any truck-tractor or dolly shall be securely affixed to the frame of such
truck-tractor or dolly by U-bolts of adequate size, securely tightened or by
other means of at least equivalent security. The U-bolts shall not be of welded
construction. The installation shall be such as not to cause cracking, warping,
or deformation of the frame. Adequate means shall be provided to prevent the
shifting of the lower half of a fifth wheel on the frame to which it is
attached. The upper half of every fifth wheel shall be fastened to the motor
vehicle with at least the security required for the securing of the lower half
to a truck-tractor or dolly. Locking means shall be provided in every fifth
wheel mechanism including adapters when used, so that the upper and lower
halves may not be separated without the operation of a positive manual release.
A release mechanism operated by the driver from the cab shall be deemed to meet
this requirement. On fifth wheels designed and constructed as to be readily
separable, the fifth wheel locking devices shall apply automatically on
coupling for any motor vehicle the date of manufacture of which is subsequent
to December 31, 1952.
(4)
Tires. Each motor vehicle shall be equipped with tires of
adequate capacity to support its gross weight. No motor vehicle shall be
operated on tires which have been worn so smooth as to expose any tread fabric
or which have any other defect likely to cause failure. No vehicle shall be
operated while transporting passengers while using any tire which does not have
tread configurations on that part of the tire which is in contact with the road
surface. No vehicle transporting passengers shall be operated with regrooved,
recapped or retreaded tires on front wheels.
(5)
Passenger compartment.
Every motor vehicle transporting passengers, other than a bus, shall have a
passenger compartment meeting the following requirements:
(i)
Floors. A substantially
smooth floor, without protruding obstructions more than 2 inches high, except
as are necessary for securing seats or other devices to the floor, and without
cracks or holes.
(ii)
Sides. Sidewalls and ends above the floor at least 60 inches
high, by attachment of sideboards to the permanent body construction if
necessary. Stake body construction shall be construed to comply with this
requirement only if all 6-inch or larger spaces between stakes are suitably
closed to prevent passengers from falling off the vehicle.
(iii)
Nails, screws and splinters.
The floor and the interior of the sides and ends of the
passenger-carrying space shall be free of inwardly protruding nails, screws,
splinters or other projecting objects, likely to be injurious to passengers or
their apparel.
(iv)
Seats.
A seat shall be provided for each worker transported. The seats shall
be as follows:
(A) Securely attached to the
vehicle during the course of transportation.
(B) Not less than 16 inches or more than 19
inches above the floor.
(C) At
least 13 inches deep.
(D) Equipped
with backrests extending to a height of at least 36 inches above the floor with
at least 24 inches of space between the backrests or between the edges of the
opposite seats when face to face.
(E) Designed to provide at least 18 inches of
seat for each passenger.
(F)
Without cracks more than 1/4 inch wide, and the backrests, if slatted, without
cracks more than 2 inches wide, and the exposed surfaces, if made of wood,
planed or sanded smooth and free of splinters.
(v)
Protection from weather.
Whenever necessary to protect the passengers from inclement weather
conditions, the passenger compartment shall be equipped with a top at least 80
inches high above the floor and facilities for closing the sides and ends of
the passenger-carrying compartment. Tarpaulins or other such removable devices
for protection from the weather shall be secured in place.
(vi)
Exit. Adequate means of
ingress and egress to and from the passenger space shall be provided on the
rear or at the right side. The means of ingress and egress shall be at least 18
inches wide. The top and the clear opening shall be at least 60 inches high, or
as high as the side wall of the passenger space if less than 60 inches. The
bottom shall be at the floor of the passenger space.
(vii)
Gates and doors. Gates
or doors shall be provided to close the means of ingress and egress and each
gate or door shall be equipped with at least one latch or other fastening
device of the construction as to keep the gate or door securely closed during
the course of transportation. Such gates and doors shall be readily operative
without the use of tools.
(viii)
Ladders or steps. Ladders or steps for the purpose of ingress
or egress shall be used when necessary. The maximum vertical spacing of
footholds shall not exceed 12 inches, except that the lowest step may be not
more than 18 inches above the ground when the vehicle is empty.
(ix)
Handholds. Handholds or
devices for similar purpose shall be provided to permit ingress and egress
without hazard to passengers.
(x)
Emergency exit. Vehicles with permanently affixed roofs shall
be equipped with at least one emergency exit having a gate or door latch and
handhold as prescribed in this section and located on a side or rear not
equipped with the exit as set out in this section.
(xi)
Communication with the driver.
Means shall be provided to enable the passengers to communicate with
the driver. The means may include telephone, speaker tubes, buzzers, pull cords
or other mechanical or electrical means.
(6)
Protection from cold.
Each motor vehicle shall be provided with a safe means of protecting passengers
from cold or undue exposure, but in no event shall heaters of the following
types be used:
(i)
Exhaust heaters.
Any type of exhaust heater in which the engine exhaust gases are
conducted into or through any space occupied by persons or any heater which
conducts engine compartment air into any such space.
(ii)
Unenclosed flame heaters.
Any type of heater employing a flame which is not fully
enclosed.
(iii)
Heaters
permitting fuel leakage. Any type of heater from the burner of which
there may be spillage or leakage of fuel upon the tilting or overturning of the
vehicle in which it is mounted.
(iv)
Heaters permitting air
contamination. Any heater taking air, heated or to be heated, from the
engine compartment or from direct contact with any portion of the exhaust
system, or any heater taking air in ducts from the outside atmosphere to be
conveyed through the engine compartment, unless the ducts are so constructed
and installed as to prevent contamination of the air so conveyed by exhaust or
engine compartment gases.
(v)
Fastening. Any heater not securely fastened to the
vehicle.
