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Washington State Patrol title head

CVE PhotoCommercial Vehicle Division

Our Mission "We, the Commercial Vehicle Division, through education and enforcement, ensure compliance with commercial motor vehicle regulations to protect resources, prevent accidents, and save lives."

Attention! Truckers Needing Permits

What We Do
Documents
Hours of Service Regulations (Effective 10/01/05)
CDL Drug Testing
Chaining Requirements 
C.J.'s Law - Backup Devices
Load Securement Information
What is Interstate Commerce?: Definitions
Useful Links
Defective Equipment Examples
Fuel Tax Evasion
How to Obtain a...
  - If you operate in interstate commerce, you are required to have a DOT number.
  - Required if you are hauling interstate commerce for hire.
  - When picking up and delivering for hire within Washington
  Washington Prorate, PRISM Information, Trip Permit, Over Dimensional Permit Information



What We Do

The Washington State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD) actively promotes the safe travel of commercial vehicles on the state's highways through the following safety programs:
  • Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) certified inspectors conduct levels 1-5 CVSA North American Standard inspections. These inspections examine the commercial driver's license, medical certificate, logbook, and vehicle equipment. (See RCW 46.32)

  • The Commercial Vehicle Division, in partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, works to ensure the safe transportation of school children through the inspection of over 9,300 school buses annually.

  • With the implementation of intelligent transportation technology at our ports of entry, CVD is striving to make Washington highways safe, enhance freight mobility, and increase economic interests of our state and the commercial transportation industry. (See the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Network Web site)

  • The major objective of Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) is to reduce the number and severity of commercial motor vehicle collisions and hazardous material incidents on interstate and state highways. This task is accomplished through comprehensive inspections of commercial motor vehicles and their drivers.

  • The Compliance and Review Section conducts in-depth reviews of carrier compliance with safety and hazardous materials regulations. (See Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)

  • The Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD) is responsible for promoting safe travel of commercial vehicles on state highways. This is accomplished by conducting driver and vehicle inspections and enforcing size, weight and load laws. (See RCW 46.44)
CVD is also responsible for the following functions:
  • The Tow Truck Inspection Unit inspects equipment and business records of registered tow truck operators in the state of Washington. (See RCW 46.55)


  • The Equipment and Standards Review Unit coordinates laws and regulations concerning motor vehicle equipment to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The unit also develops recommendations concerning vehicle equipment changes to the Washington Administrative Code. In addition, it provides information and assistance to the public and other law enforcement agencies regarding rules on vehicle equipment. (See RCW 46.37)


  • The Fuel Tax Evasion Task Force, comprised of personnel from the Washington State Patrol and the Department of Licensing, which works to educate the public and industry, and to investigate suspected evasion and enforce the fuel tax laws. The task force vigorously pursues criminal and civil prosecution of fuel-tax evaders.

    See our Fuel Tax Evasion Page for additional informaiton


 

Attention Truckers Needing Permits

The Washington State Patrol (WSP), in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT), will be modifying permit sales policies and practices in early 2003. The transition will occur in two phases.

PHASE ONE: Effective January 1, 2003, permit availability at Washington State Patrol Ports of Entry located at Plymouth (near Kennewick), Bow Hill (near Bellingham), Ridgefield (near Vancouver) and Spokane, will be restricted to the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. No permits of any kind will be available from the WSP or DOT between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. or on weekends.

PHASE TWO: Effective July 1, 2003, Permits will no longer be available for sale from the WSP. Additionally, trucks entering Washington will be required to have needed permits at the border. Permit enforcement at the Ports of Entry will be limited to warnings until January 1, 2004. However, trucks arriving at Ports of Entry without required permits will be placed out of service until permits are obtained. Carriers will be able to avoid unnecessary delays by planning ahead.

As always, truckers entering Washington may obtain needed permits from the DOT during business hours (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.) utilizing a telephone and fax machine with the use of a credit or debit card. Please refer to the "Washington State Commercial Vehicle Guide" for other approved vendors who sell permits at locations throughout the state. Additionally, DOT is developing options which will include permits available on the internet.

Motor carriers are encouraged to use Western Regional Permitting as an option. Information on the Western Regional Permitting process is available from the DOT Motor Carrier office in Olympia at (360) 704-6340.



C.J.'s Law - Mirrors & backup devices

Every truck registered or based in Washington that is equipped with a cube-style walk-in cargo box, up to eighteen feet long, used in the commercial delivery of goods and services must be equipped with a rear crossview mirror or backup device to alert the driver that a person or object is behind the truck.
  • This does not include recreational vehicles or rental vans used to transport personal property. See RCW 46.37.400



    General Load Securement Information Load securement diagram

    PREVENTING ESCAPE OF LOAD - All loads and any required covering must be secured. All vehicles loaded with dirt, sand, or gravel which do not maintain at least six (6) inches of freeboard must have a secured cover.

    Any vehicle with deposits of mud, rock, or other debris on the vehicle's body, fenders, frame, undercarriage, wheels, or tires shall be cleaned of such material before the operation of the vehicle on a paved public highway. A broom and shovel should be carried in the truck to accomplish this cleaning.

    If the load is a type of material that will be blown from the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, then that type of load shall be covered to prevent this from occurring.

    The six (6) inches of freeboard shall be maintained, if the load is not covered, after the load has had an opportunity to settle. See RCW 46.61.655



    Contact Information

    If you have additional questions about regulations, equipment, inspections, or other standards for large commercial trucks and buses, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page. For laws, rules, and regulations please call or write to the WSP Commercial Vehicle Division at: Commercial Vehicle Division Logo

    Commercial Vehicle Division
    Washington State Patrol
    PO Box 42614
    Olympia WA 98504-2614
    Phone: (360) 753-0350
    Fax: (360) 586-8233

    Washington Ports of Entry

    • Plymouth: 133302 E Law Ln, Kennewick - NB I-82 (509) 734-7044
    • Spokane: RR1 Westbound I-90, Milepost 299, Liberty Lake (509) 226-3366
    • Ridgefield: 29317 I-5 N, Ridgefield - NB I-5 (360) 696-6049
    • Bow Hill: 7220 I-5, Bow - SB I-5 (360) 766-6196


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