Chapter 11. Load Covers

“Bed” means the load-carrying part temporarily or permanently attached to a vehicle and separated from the passenger compartment and fully enclosed on both sides by side boards or side panels, on the front, by a board or panel or by the cab of the vehicle and, on the rear, by a tailgate, board, or panel.

“Enclosures” means the front, rear, and sides of a vehicle bed as defined in Transportation Article, §24-106.1(d), Annotated Code of Maryland.

“Load cover” means a device made of canvas or other type material authorized under Regulation .05 and used to enclose the open top of a vehicle bed.

“Loose material” means loose material as defined in Transportation Article, §24-106.1(a), Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 11.15.20.01.

“Safety equipment repair order” means a safety equipment repair order as defined in COMAR 11.14.01.01B(30).

“Securement hardware” means any device or equipment used to attach or secure a load cover on a vehicle bed.

“Vehicle” means a vehicle as defined in Transportation Article, §11-176, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Any Class K (farm area) vehicle as defined in Transportation Article, §13-935, Annotated Code of Maryland;

Any Class E (truck) vehicle registered or capable of being registered under Transportation Article, §13-917, Annotated Code of Maryland, regardless of the date of manufacture or how the vehicle is loaded provided the vehicle manufacturer's original design specifications for bed enclosures have not been altered to increase the vehicle's load carrying capacity;

Any Class G (trailer) vehicle registered or capable of being registered under Transportation Article, §13-927, Annotated Code of Maryland, carrying loose material if the top of the load is not within 6 inches of the top of any enclosure it touches;

Any construction vehicle working within the confines of a public works construction work project site as outlined in the construction project's plans and specifications, provided the distance travelled does not exceed 1 mile or the distance specified in an extension granted by the Maryland Department of Transportation;

Any construction vehicle or mining equipment while crossing a highway between construction or mining sites; or

Within the Port of Baltimore for a distance not to exceed 1 mile, any vehicle carrying a load of loose material between a stockpile or storage facility and a vessel docked at the port.

Class E (truck) vehicle registered or capable of being registered under Transportation Article, §13-917, Annotated Code of Maryland, on which the manufacturer's original design specifications for bed enclosures have been altered to increase the vehicle's load carrying capacity;

Class G (trailer) vehicle registered or capable of being registered under Transportation Article, §13-927, Annotated Code of Maryland, regardless of the date of manufacture, and carrying loose material if the top of the load of loose material is within 6 inches of the top of any enclosure it touches;

Vehicle not otherwise exempted after January 1, 1992 regardless of how the vehicle is loaded.

Part of the vehicle load from blowing, falling, or spilling out of the vehicle;

The cover from blowing off the vehicle.

Of sufficient strength to prevent the cover from blowing off the vehicle or permitting any part of the load from blowing, falling, or spilling out of the bed of the vehicle;

Maintained in a good state of repair.