Or. Admin. R. 257-050-0200

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024

Section 257-050-0200 - Mandatory Equipment and Safety Standards for Tow Trucks

(1) All equipment used by a listed tow company must meet the equipment manufacturer's recommendations/load limit. Equipment shall not exceed manufacturer's safety specifications.

(2) All equipment used in conjunction with the tow truck winching system must be used in such a way as to not exceed the equipment safe working load.

(3) All winching equipment, booms, snatch blocks, rigging, must have permanently affixed durable factory identification which states the safe working load. If this identification has been removed or is no longer readable, it is deemed out-of-service and may no longer be used. Equipment may be re-inspected by a recognized recertification company. If the equipment is acceptable, it may be identified with a safe working load limit and a recertification company identifier. It will be deemed acceptable if the operator maintains a copy of the certification of winching equipment.

(4) All tow vehicles operated by a listed tow business must be equipped with the following minimum equipment: At least two (2) upper work lights (near light bar) and 2 lower work lights (36" or lower), mounted behind the cab of each tow vehicle which are controlled by a separate dedicated on/off switch at each level. This lighting must be capable of illuminating the work area;

(5) A cellular phone, an FCC licensed two-way radio or a similar means of maintaining constant contact, where conditions permit, with each tow truck operated by the business. Citizen band radios do not meet this requirement.

(6) Rope as required for each class of tow vehicle. Rope lengths shall be measured from the point of attachment on each drum. Ropes shall meet the following requirements:

(a) Each rope shall be capable of being fully extended from and fully wound onto its drum; this includes a properly functioning free spool mechanism on each winch.

(b) No less than five wraps of wire rope or eight wraps of synthetic rope must remain on the drum when the rope is fully extended.

(7) Wire ropes shall be free from the following defects or conditions:

(a) There must be no more than six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or more than three broken wires in one strand in one rope lay;

(b) Any evidence of heat damage from any cause;

(c) No end attachments that are cracked, deformed, worn or loosened.

(d) Synthetic rope must be free of the following defects:

(e) No evidence of heat damage;

(f) No evidence of abrasion damage;

(g) There must be no cut strands;

(h) No end attachments that are cracked, deformed, worn or loosened;

(i) No evidence of excessive damage.

(8) LED, strobe or rotator lights. These lights must meet the following requirements:

(a) At least one set of portable lights for the unit being towed. The portable light set must include taillights, brake lights and directional signal lights.

(b) Be red or amber in color;

(c) Be capable of being visible from 360 degrees;

(d) May only be used at the scene when necessary to warn approaching traffic.

(9) A broom and a shovel. The tow truck driver shall clean all debris associated with said incident scene. Tow truck driver is also responsible for cleanup of injurious substances as required by ORS 822.225.

(10) A wheel lift, car carrier, or other comparable device incorporating a material designed to protect vehicles.

(11) A wheel lift, car carrier, or other comparable device that can tow motorcycles.

(12) At least one 40 BC rated fire extinguisher.

(13) At least one snatch block, or equivalent block, in good working condition for each working line.

(14) At least one commercial grade manufactured dolly on all class A recovery vehicles up to 26,000 GVWR and on a class B Tow truck if it is being used to cover a class A zone.

(15) At least one set of portable lights for the unit being towed. The portable light set must include taillights, brake lights and directional signal lights.

(16) At least two warning signs notifying approaching traffic of an incident which comply with ORS 822.220. Warning signs must conform to the Oregon Department of Transportation's publication "Oregon Temporary Traffic Control Handbook" (OTTCH) as adopted by OAR 734-020-0005.

(17) Failure to meet these minimum equipment requirements for each tow vehicle may be cause for suspension or revocation of certification and removal from the non-preference tow list.

(18) Class A tow vehicle shall be capable of towing and recovery operations for passenger cars, pickup trucks, small trailers or equivalent vehicles. Class A tow trucks must meet the requirements of subsection (1) through (17) of this section, and must be equipped with or meet all of the following additional requirements:

(a) Have at least a 14,500 pound manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating;

(b) Have dual tires on the rear axle;

(c) Have a boom with at least an eight-ton hydraulic boom rating with dual or single winches to control a minimum of one service drum;

(d) Be equipped with either an 8000-pound winch with a minimum of one hundred (100) feet of 3/8-inch continuous length wire rope or equivalent rated synthetic rope, or with an 10,000-pound winch with a minimum of one hundred (100) feet of 7/16-inch continuous length wire rope or equivalent rated synthetic rope;

(e) A wheel lift system with at least a fully extended working load rating of 3,500 pounds.

(19) Class B tow vehicles shall be capable of towing and recovery operations for medium size trucks, trailers, motor homes with a front engine or equivalent vehicles. Class B tow trucks must meet the requirements of subsection (1) through (17) of this section, and must be equipped with or meet all of the following additional requirements:

(a) Have at least a 22,000 pound manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating or equivalent.

(b) Be equipped with an extendable hydraulic boom with a minimum 20,000-pound rating having a minimum of dual 10,000 lb winches and 150 feet of 7/16-inch continuous length wire rope or synthetic equivalent per winch;

(c) Class B tow vehicles more than 26,001 pounds GVWR are not required to carry dollies when used for heavy towing. However, dollies are required when a Class B tow vehicle is used for Class A Towing;

(d) A wheel lift system with a minimum fully extended working load rating of 5,000 pounds;

(20) Class C tow vehicles shall be capable of towing and recovery operations for large trucks, trailers, motor homes or equivalent vehicles. Class C tow vehicles must meet the requirements of subsection (1) through (17) of this section, and be equipped with and meet the following additional requirements:

(a) Have at least a 33,000 pound manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating or equivalent.

(b) Be equipped with a twenty-five-ton minimum rated hydraulic extendable boom with two duel 25,000-pound hydraulic winches;

(c) Have at least 2 separate, 150 feet continuous lengths of wire rope, with five-eighths inch diameter or an equivalent rated synthetic rope;

(d) Be equipped with air brakes and an air system capable of supplying air to the towed unit; Tow vehicle must be capable of operating the towed vehicles brake system.

(e) Portable dollies are not required;

(f) Be equipped with tandem rear axle truck chassis (three axle truck);

(g) Be equipped with rear axles which have dual tires;

(h) Be equipped with an under-lift suitable for Class C tow vehicles with a minimum rating of 12,000 pounds, fully extended;

(i) The tow vehicle must have a minimum wheelbase of 280 inches.

(21) Class D-A tow trucks shall meet the requirements of subsection (1) through (17) of this section, and be equipped with and meet the additional the following requirements:

(a) Class D-A tow trucks shall not be considered a recovery vehicle.

(b) Have at least a 14,500-pound manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating;

(c) Be equipped with dual tires on the rear axle;

(d) Be equipped with at least 50 feet of 3/8-inch diameter continuous length wire rope or an equivalent rated synthetic rope;

(e) The tow vehicle may include a wheel lift, if chassis GVWR is over 17,500 pounds and the wheel lift system has at least a fully extended working load rating of 3,000 pounds.

(22) Class D-B tow trucks shall meet the requirements of subsection (1) through (17) of this section, and in be equipped with and meet the following additional requirements:

(23) Class D-B tow trucks equipped with a commercially manufactured side puller system may be considered a recovery vehicle. Must have an A or B tow vehicle within an adjoining tow zone in order to use this as a recovery vehicle.

(a) Have at least a 22,000-pound manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating;

(b) Be equipped with dual tires on the rear axle;

(c) Be equipped with at least 75 feet of 3/8 inch continuous length diameter wire rope or an equivalent rated synthetic rope;

(d) Be equipped with a wheel lift system with a minimum fully extended working load rating of 3000 pounds;

(24) Class D-C tow trucks shall meet the requirements of subsection (1) through (17) of this section, and be equipped with and meet the following additional requirements:

(a) Class D-C tow trucks equipped with a commercially manufactured side puller system may shall be considered a recovery vehicle. There must be a Class C tow vehicle in an adjoining tow zone in order to use this vehicle as a recovery vehicle.

(b) Have at least a 33,000-pound manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating.

(c) Be equipped with at least 100 feet of continuous wire rope of 5/8 inch diameter or its synthetic equivalent.

(d) Be equipped with a tandem rear axle truck chassis with dual tires.

(e) The tow vehicle may include a wheel lift;

(f) Be equipped with air brakes and an air system capable of supplying air to the towed unit. Tow vehicle must be capable of operating the towed vehicles brake system.

Or. Admin. R. 257-050-0200

OSP 5-2005, f. & cert. ef. 11-18-05; OSP 1-2006, f. 3-29-06, cert. ef. 3-31-06; OSP 1-2009(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-6-09 thru 1-31-10; OSP 2-2009, f. 10-8-09 cert. ef. 1-1-10; OSP 3-2009(Temp), f. 12-18-09, cert. ef. 1-1-10 thru 6-29-10; OSP 3-2010, f. 6-1-10, cert. ef. 6-30-10; OSP 3-2011, f. & cert. ef. 3-8-11; OSP 1-2024, amend filed 04/04/2024, effective 4/9/2024

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 181.440

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 181.440