Intrastate Trucking Laws

PENNSYLVANIA LAW

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Title 49, Parts 350-399) places guidelines on all vehicles engaged in interstate traffic. Under certain circumstances, a commercial vehicle (tractor trailer, big rig, 18 wheeler) might be involved in only intrastate travel through Pennsylvania.

The following commercial motor vehicle safety regulations govern intrastate travel in Pennsylvania.

Truck Injuries .com has provided the full text of these laws as a PDF document, the below table of content is intended to assist you in locating specific information within the PDF.

Full Text: INTRASTATE MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

PENNSYLVANIA LAW
CHAPTER 231. INTRASTATE MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GENERAL … 231.1

• 231.1. General information and requirements.
• 231.2. Scope.
• 231.3. Definitions.
• 231.4. Other terms.
• 231.5. Vehicles used for purposes other than as defined.
• 231.6. Motor carrier to require observance of driver regulations.

B. QUALIFICATIONS OF DRIVERS … 231.21

• 231.21. Scope of this part; additional qualifications; duties of carrier-drivers.
• 231.22. General exemptions.
• 231.23. Definitions.
• 231.24. Familiarity with rules.
• 231.25. Aiding or abetting violations.

C. DRIVING OF MOTOR VEHICLES … 231.101

• 231.101. Scope of this part.
• 231.102. Applicable operating rules.
• 231.103. Ill or fatigued operator.
• 231.104. Narcotics, amphetamines and other dangerous substances.
• 231.105. Intoxicating beverage.
• 231.106. Schedules to conform with speed limits.
• 231.107. Equipment, inspection and use.
• 231.108. Emergency equipment, inspection and use.
• 231.109. Safe loading.
• 231.110. Corrective lenses to be worn.
• 231.111. Hearing aid to be worn.

D. PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION

• 231.191. Additional equipment and accessories.

LIGHTING DEVICES, REFLECTORS AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

• 231.201. Lamps operable.
• 231.202. Lamps and reflectors, small buses and trucks.
• 231.203. Lamps and reflectors, large buses and trucks.
• 231.204. Lamps and reflectors, truck tractors.
• 231.205. Lamps and reflectors, large semitrailers and full trailers.
• 231.206. Lamps and reflectors, small semitrailers and full trailers.
• 231.207. Lamps and reflectors, pole trailers.
• 231.208. Lamps and reflectors, combinations in driveaway-towaway operation.
• 231.209. Lamps of motor carrier vehicles with projecting loads.
• 231.210. Requirements for turn signaling systems.
• 231.211. Clearance lamps to indicate extreme width and height.
• 231.212. Combination of lighting devices and reflectors.
• 231.213. Lighting devices to be electric.
• 231.214. Requirements for head lamps and auxiliary road lighting lamps.
• 231.215. Requirement for lamps other than headlamps.
• 231.216. Requirements for reflectors.
• 231.217. Wiring specifications.
• 231.218. Wiring to be protected.
• 231.219. Grounds.
• 231.220. Battery installation.
• 231.221. Overload protective devices.
• 231.222. Detachable electrical connections.
• 231.223. Wiring, installation.

BRAKES

• 231.231. Required brake systems.
• 231.232. Parking brake system.
• 231.233. Brakes required on all wheels.
• 231.234. Breakaway and emergency braking.
• 231.235. Front brake lines, protection.
• 231.236. Brake tubing and hose, adequacy.
• 231.237. Brake tubing and hose connections.
• 231.238. Brake lining.
• 231.239. Brakes to be operative.
• 231.240. Single valve to operate all brakes.
• 231.241. Reservoirs required.
• 231.242. Warning devices and gauges.
• 231.243. Brake performance.

GLAZING AND WINDOW CONSTRUCTION

• 231.251. Glazing in specified openings.
• 231.252. Window construction.
• 231.253. Window obstructions.
• 231.254. Windows, markings.

FUEL SYSTEMS

• 231.261. All fuel systems.
• 231.262. Liquid fuel tanks.
• 231.263. Liquified petroleum gas systems.

COUPLING DEVICES AND TOWING METHODS

• 231.271. Coupling devices and towing methods, except for driveaway-towaway operations.
• 231.272. Coupling devices and towing methods, driveaway-towaway operations.

MISCELLANEOUS PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

• 231.281. Tires.
• 231.282. Sleeper berths.
• 231.283. Heaters.
• 231.284. Windshield wipers.
• 231.285. Defrosting device.
• 231.286. Rear-vision mirrors.
• 231.287. Horn.
• 231.288. Speedometer.
• 231.289. Exhaust system location.
• 231.290. Floors.
• 231.291. Rear-end protection.
• 231.292. Flags on projecting loads.231.293. Television receivers.
• 231.294. Buses, driveshaft protection.
• 231.295. Buses, standee line or bar.
• 231.296. Buses, aisle seats prohibited.
• 231.297. Buses, marking emergency doors.
• 231.298. Seats, seat belt assemblies and seat belt assembly anchorages.
• 231.299. Vehicle interior noise levels.

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

• 231.301. Emergency equipment on all power units.

PROTECTION AGAINST SHIFTING OR FALLING CARGO

• 231.311. General rules for protection against shifting or falling cargo.
• 231.312. Securement systems.
• 231.313. Blocking and bracing.
• 231.314. Front-end structure.

E. HOURS OF SERVICE OF DRIVERS … 231.331

DRIVERS SERVICE TIME

• 231.331. Definitions.
• 231.341. Maximum driving and on-duty time.
• 231.342. Travel time.
• 231.343. Driver’s record of duty status.
• 231.344. Adverse driving conditions.
• 231.345. Emergency conditions.
• 231.346. Relief from regulations.
• 231.347. Drivers declared out-of-service.

F. INSPECTION, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE … 231.361

• 231.361. Inspection, repair and maintenance.
• 231.362. Lubrication.
• 231.363. Unsafe operations forbidden.
• 231.364. Inspection of motor carrier vehicles in operation.
• 231.365. Driver vehicle inspection reports.
• 231.366. Driver inspection.
• 231.367. Driveaway-towaway operations, inspections.

G. TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS; DRIVING AND PARKING RULES … 231.381

• 231.381. Application of the rules in the subchapter.
• 231.382. Compliance with Federal motor carrier safety regulations.
• 231.383. State and local laws, ordinances and regulations.
• 231.384. Attendance and surveillance of motor vehicles.
• 231.385. Parking.
• 231.386. Routes.
• 231.387. Fires.
• 231.388. Smoking.
• 231.389. Fueling.
• 231.390. Tires.
• 231.391. Instructions and documents.
• 231.392. Marking of vehicles operated by private carriers.

H. STATEMENTS OF POLICY … 231.411

231.411. Adoption of interpretations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Federal Highway Administration, United States Department of Transportation.

§ 231.411. Adoption of interpretations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Federal Highway Administration, United States Department of Transportation.

(a) Adoption of interpretations. The Department adopts, as statements of policy, interpretations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Parts 390—397 published at 42 Fed. Reg. 60078 (1977) and Part 396 published at 45 Fed. Reg. 46425 (1980).

(b) Exception. The interpretation relating to Part 390 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations is deleted.

I. DRIVER OUT-OF-SERVICE CRITERIA … 231.431

§ 231.431. Application.
In determining whether a driver of a motor carrier vehicle will be placed out-of-service under 75 Pa.C.S. § 4704(c) (relating to inspection by police or Commonwealth personnel), State Police and qualified Commonwealth employes will use the criteria set forth in this subchapter.

Cross References

This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 231.347 (relating to drivers declared out-of-service).

§ 231.432. Adoption of Federal standards.
(a) The driver out-of-service criteria contained in Appendix A of the Federal Highway Administration’s National Uniform Driver-Vehicle Inspection Manual are incorporated by reference under 45 Pa.C.S. § 727(9) (relating to matter not required to be published), upon approval of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

(b) The National Uniform Driver-Vehicle Inspection Manual may be obtained by contacting: Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Safety Division, Center for Highway Safety, 215 Transportation and Safety Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120, (717) 787-7445.

Cross References

This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 231.347 (relating to drivers declared out-of-service).

J. VEHICLE OUT-OF-SERVICE CRITERIA … 231.451

• 231.451. Application.
• 231.452. Adoption of Federal standards.
• 231.453. Additional standards.