[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR396.15]

[Page 472]
 
                        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]