 An unsecured load of items on a trailer bed
Summer travel season is a reminder to secure your load to keep Oregon roads safe
June 4, 2026
News Media: Chris Crabb, chris.c.crabb@odot.oregon.gov, 971-304-9705
Customer Assistance: oregondmv@odot.oregon.gov, 503-945-5000, oregondmv.com
SALEM – Lumber, tires, ladders, mattresses, loose trash. These are just some of the items that can fly off truck beds and car roofs, potentially striking other vehicles or becoming dangerous road hazards. Cargo striking vehicles at high speeds or drivers swerving to avoid debris can trigger multi-car pileups, severe injuries and significant traffic gridlock.
June 6 is National Secure Your Load Day, observed annually to honor individuals whose lives were lost or forever changed by debris falling from vehicles. As summer travel season begins, Oregon Department of Transportation is reminding you to secure your load and protect others on the road.
From 2015 to 2024, nearly 2,500 crashes in Oregon involved a lost or shifted load or a vehicle being struck by an object set in motion by another vehicle. These crashes caused 144 serious injuries and 43 fatalities.
Tips for properly securing your cargo
- Tie it down with rope, netting, straps or tarps.
- Tie large objects directly to your vehicle or trailer; you may need tie-down hooks.
- Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting.
- Do not overload your vehicle or trailer.
- Always double-check your load to make sure it’s secure.
Secure your load – it’s the law
Oregon law requires all vehicle loads to be fully secured to prevent dropping, shifting, leaking or falling. Unsecured loads on public highways can result in traffic violations, fines, and potential criminal charges if the load causes injury or property damage. Additionally, drivers are responsible for safe operation of their vehicle – this includes properly securing anything that could separate from your vehicle, creating dangerous obstacles on the road.
Before driving with cargo, ask yourself:
- Is there any chance of debris or cargo falling or blowing out of my vehicle?
- Is my load secured at the back, sides, and top?
- What would happen to my load if I had to brake suddenly, if I hit a bump or if another vehicle hit me?
- Would I feel safe if my loved ones were driving behind my vehicle?
No matter what you’re hauling or how far you’re going, securing your load keeps roads safe. Call 911 if you see a dangerous unsecured load or something fall off a vehicle that could cause a crash or injure someone.
# # #
View more photos on our Flickr page.
 Unsecured load of lumber falling onto truck cab
Traffic Alert
Whether you are commuting in Portland or planning a trip through the area, ODOT would like travelers across Oregon to be aware of a major closure of all southbound lanes of I-5 in Portland between I-84 and I-405 starting Sept. 11 and lasting up to five weeks. During the closure, overdue road repairs will be done as part of the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project. Learn more about the closure at the project website and sign up for traffic alerts.
|
|
