DID YOU KNOW?
Unsecured loads are illegal!
TCA-39-14-507: Any motor vehicle that transports litter or any material likely to fall or be blown off onto the highways, shall be required to have such material either in an enclosed space or fully covered by a tarpaulin. Class B Misdemeanor, potential six months’ jail time and a $500 fine, 40 hours of litter pickup.
TCA-55-7-109: Any truck, or other motor vehicle, with an open bed, that is operated on any highway, road, or street open for public use in this state, shall be loaded so that any loose material transported in truck or other motor vehicle remains at least four inches below the walls of the open bed. Class C Misdemeanor, potential 30 days’ jail time and a $50 fine.
How to secure your load:
Cover or secure your load
Use a tarp to prevent loose items from blowing out
Use bungee cords, straps, cable, or rope to secure items
Transport waste in trash bags
Keep trash bags or containers tied or covered
Load vehicle to prevent load shifting during transport
Spot an unsecured load THAT IS causing litter?
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) hosts an online litter hotline for concerned citizens to report littering from vehicles on the state's roadways. To report a litterbug, call 1-877-8-LITTER or fill out the TDOT online form. With the information you provide, TDOT will send a friendly reminder letter to the owner of the vehicle that includes information about the negative consequences of their litter and how to contain it, plus it informs them that litterers can be fined up to $1,500.