- Washington's capital city is Olympia.Washington state contour against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
In Washington State, various government departments--including the department of transportation--adopt regulations intended to uphold state and federal laws. These rules constitute executive branch protocol in response to legislative branch decisions. Collectively, these rules are known as the Washington Administrative Code. Six regulations in the WAC mention flatbed trailers specifically. A seventh regulation also mentions flatbed trailers, but spells it as two words: "flat bed." - This rule helps to regulate the transportation of dangerous waste. An open flatbed trailer parked at a transfer station and loaded with hazardous waste has to be under constant surveillance or held behind a barrier. Failing this, the truck must be placarded and locked. If the truck cannot be placarded and locked, then it must be moved to a secure location. Federal Code 49 CFR Part 172.500-172.560 describes the placarding regulations in exhaustive detail. Unauthorized people should not have access to hazardous waste parked at transfer stations.
- This code defines tow truck equipment standards. It defines a flatbed truck trailer loaded with a vehicle as a class "E" tow truck. It also provides a laundry list of regulations defining standard equipment on these class "E" tow trucks. As an example, some of these standards include dual rear tires, at least four securing devices rated at 3,400 pounds apiece, and a 14,500 pound gross vehicle weight rating.
- This code addresses safety standards for logging operations using flatbed trucks designed to carry six or fewer passengers. It specifies that loggers may carry fuel on flatbed truck trailers in approved containers. However, they may not carry fuel in the passenger compartment of the truck.
- This regulation deals specifically with vehicles being used in marine terminals. If you load a flatbed truck at marine terminal with pipe or any similar material that tends to shift, roll or spread, then you must secure the material so that it will not shift.
- A tarping system on a flatbed truck trailer may be excluded from the truck's width determinations provided that no component of the tarping system sticks out more than three inches over the side or back edge of the vehicle while it is in use.
- Auto wrecking yards may use a flatbed to pick up and otherwise transport junk vehicles and parts.
- This rule deals with the handling of intermodal freight, which consists of materials transported in universal cargo boxes that can be loaded onto barges, trains, trucks etc. Instead of unloading and reloading boxes at each freight terminal, the boxes themselves are loaded and stacked like blocks. Flatbed trucks used to move intermodal freight boxes must be equipped with means, such as pins, to keep the boxes from shifting. Furthermore, the rule specifies that cargo capacities must be marked on intermodal flatbed trucks and that the trucks must not be overloaded.
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