[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 5]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR396.15]



[Page 466]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 396_INSPECTION, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE--Table of Contents

 

Sec. 396.15  Driveaway-towaway operations and inspections.



    (a) General. Effective December 7, 1989, every motor carrier, with 

respect to motor vehicles engaged in driveaway-towaway operations, shall 

comply with the requirements of this part. Exception: Maintenance 

records required by Sec. 396.3, the vehicle inspection report required 

by Sec. 396.11, and the periodic inspection required by Sec. 396.17 of 

this part shall not be required for any vehicle which is part of the 

shipment being delivered.

    (b) Pre-trip inspection. Before the beginning of any driveaway-

towaway operation of motor vehicles in combination, the motor carrier 

shall make a careful inspection and test to ascertain that:

    (1) The towbar or saddle-mount connections are properly secured to 

the towed and towing vehicle;

    (2) They function adequately without cramping or binding of any of 

the parts; and

    (3) The towed motor vehicle follows substantially in the path of the 

towing vehicle without whipping or swerving.

    (c) Post-trip inspection. Motor carriers shall maintain practices to 

ensure that following completion of any trip in driveaway-towaway 

operation of motor vehicles in combination, and before they are used 

again, the towbars and saddle-mounts are disassembled and inspected for 

worn, bent, cracked, broken, or missing parts. Before reuse, suitable 

repair or replacement shall be made of any defective parts and the 

devices shall be properly reassembled.



[44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 53 FR 49410, Dec. 7, 1988; 53 

FR 49968, Dec. 12, 1988]