“What states is it legal to ride in the back of a truck?” is a valid question if you or someone else wishes to enjoy a ride in the truck bed without breaking any law. There are 20 states with no restrictions on riding in the back, including Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.
The other 30 states have laws clearly stating who, when, and under what circumstances people can ride in the back of a pickup truck. Continue reading to get the details of that and more.
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What States Allow Riding in the Back of a Truck?
States that allow riding in the back of a truck are Alabama, Alaska, Mississippi, Indiana, and Kentucky. These and 15 others, including Delaware, Arizona, Washington, and West Virginia, don’t have any regulations on who, when, or under what situations one can ride on a truck bed.
Riding in the bed of a truck can be a lot of fun. However, with the changes in traffic laws, you might wonder if that’s allowed these days. So, is it legal to ride in the back of a pickup truck? Generally, all states allow some passengers to ride in the truck beds in certain situations.
One is if the truck has a federal-approved restraint system installed to protect riders. Another situation is if riding on a family-owned truck driving to a family-owned farm or if showing up in a parade with the vehicle moving at low speeds. Riding in the bed of a truck is also allowed if it’s an emergency.
Obviously, riding into the back of a truck for a parade or farm work over a short distance and at low speed differs from enduring a long highway cruise. Riding in the back puts you at more significant safety risks, and that’s why most state authorities only allow it during the mentioned scenarios.
Safety vs. Legality of Riding in the Truck Bed
Many people ride in the back of a pickup without incident. Unfortunately, there are no seat belts in the back.
Thus, when the vehicle is hit by another or during a head-on collision, the lack of restraints causes passengers to be thrown around the truck or ejected due to the sudden stop. That leads to severe personal injuries, many of them being fatal.
Also, passengers riding in the back of a truck are closer to the vehicle’s exhaust fumes. That means they are more exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning, which causes serious health complications. But, the question of safety doesn’t really answer that of legality. The answer to whether it’s legal to ride in the back of a truck varies from state to state.
So, what states is it legal to ride in the back of a truck 2023? As mentioned, there are 20 states without legal restrictions on riding in the back of a car. These are Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Minnesota, Idaho, Delaware, Arizona, Illinois, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Indiana.
The others are New Hampshire, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.
For the remaining 30 states, you’ll have to ensure you check the legal requirements on who and when one is allowed to ride in the back. Most states have regulations only on the age of the passengers who ride in the truck bed, as detailed below.
What States Restrict Riding in the Back of a Truck?
States that restrict riding in the back of a truck include Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Oregon, and New York. Others are Missouri, Michigan, and Ohio. The restrictions in most of these states don’t apply to employees on duty or anyone during an emergency.
Can you ride in the bed of a truck on the highway? A highway cruise means the vehicle will move at high speeds and most likely cover a long distance. As mentioned, that is dangerous as it can lead to excessive exposure to carbon monoxide and/or severe injury in case of an accident.
So, most states put restrictions to prevent citizens from exposing themselves to unnecessary danger and enhance road safety.
- Colorado: Anyone can ride if the back of a truck is partly enclosed on all four sides.
- Georgia: The state has no limitations off the interstate. But on interstate rides, the law provides that riders 17 and younger are free to ride in the back of a truck only if secured behind an enclosed cargo area.
- Florida: Many have asked, Is it legal to ride in the back of a pickup truck in Florida? There are no restrictions for riders 18 and older. However, passengers 17 and younger must be in a seat fitted with a seatbelt or an enclosed cargo area. Some limited-access roads and local laws may prohibit minors from riding in the back.
- Connecticut: You can ride in the back for farming, parades, or hayrides. Also, there are no restrictions for passengers 16 and older. But people 15 and below are only permitted if there are seat belts.
- Hawaii: Only people 13 and older can ride in the back if it’s the only space available. During the ride, the tailgate must remain closed. However, employees are not restricted during work hours or anyone during parades or life-threatening emergencies.
- Kansas: There are no restrictions away from the highway and outside the city. Otherwise, only passengers 14 and above, employees during work hours, and parade participants can ride in the back of a truck.
- Nebraska: There are no rules against riding in the back of a truck, provided the passengers are 18 and older or are parade participants.
- Nevada: Like in Nebraska, you can ride if you’re 18 and older or during ranching or an authorized parade. There’s also no problem if riding in a camper shell or driving off the highway (on dirty roads).
- New Mexico: Anyone 18 and older can ride in the back of a truck. Restrictions apply only to minors.
- Oregon : No rules prohibit anyone 18 and older to ride on the bed floor of a truck. But minors can only ride there if it’s the only space available. The child must be a hunter during a hunt or an employee on duty. During the ride, the tailgate must be closed.
- Louisiana: Passengers can ride for parades, but the vehicle must move under 15 miles per hour. Riders under 12 aren’t allowed to ride in the back on the interstate highway unless it’s an emergency, in which case the minor (12 and under) must be in the company of an adult.
- Maine: The law allows anyone 19 and older to ride in the back of a truck. There are also no restrictions for parade participants, farmers, and agricultural workers 18 and older. Everyone else can ride in the back if there are OEM-installed seats.
- Maryland: Anyone 16 and above can ride. For 15 and younger, the truck must travel at no more than 25 miles per hour. The minors must use child restraints during the ride, or the cargo area should be covered. Employees and firm workers on duty can ride without restrictions.
- Massachusetts: Any passenger 12 and older can ride on the truck’s bed floor. Minors 11 and younger can only ride if the car covers a distance of at most five miles and a speed of 5 miles per hour.
- Michigan: No restrictions for passengers 18 and older or anyone in an emergency, in a military vehicle, in a parade, in construction, or in farming. For a 17 and younger to travel in the bed, the truck must be moving at 15 miles per hour maximum.
- Missouri: No restrictions for anyone 18 and older, parades, employees on duty, special events, and family-owned trucks if the bed is the only remaining space. Passengers can also travel on the truck’s bed floor without an issue if there’s safety equipment to keep them safe. Those 17 and younger can only ride in the back if it’s outside the city limits and away from the highway.
- N. Carolina: Many have asked, Is it legal to ride in the back of a pickup truck in North Carolina? The restrictions apply to passengers 15 and younger who can only ride if the car moves at 25 miles per hour or less. Otherwise, any minor must be in an OEM-installed seat with safety belts. The same laws apply in Ohio.
- Pennsylvania: Anyone 18 and older can ride in the back of the truck and travel at 35 mph or less. People 17 and younger must be in an enclosed cargo area.
- Rhode Island: The law allows anyone 16 and older to ride in the back of a truck. However, those 15 and younger must be in a secured cargo area.
- S. Carolina: Is it legal to ride in the back of a pickup truck in South Carolina? The law is only against passengers below 15 years who are only allowed to travel in the back in the company of an adult or if there are seat belts or as part of a parade. There are no restrictions in emergencies, agricultural activities, hunting, or if the tailgate is closed and the truck’s speed is less than 36 mph.
- Virginia: No restrictions for farmers crossing the highway and anyone above 16.
- Tennessee: Passengers between 6 and 11 years old can’t ride in the back of a truck on the highway. Anyone above 12 can ride for parades or agricultural activities, but only if the car moves at 20 mph.
- Texas: Anyone 18 and older can ride in a family-owned vehicle for a parade, hayride, during an emergency, a beach drive, or farm operations.
- Arkansas: Riding in the truck’s back is prohibited unless you’re an employee on duty in a covered cargo area.
- California: The state also prohibits people from riding in the back of a truck, apart from specific circumstances. These include using federal-approved systems during emergencies, parades, and vehicles moving less than 8 mph. Passengers are also allowed at the back if in a family-owned truck on a farm or 1 mile or shorter on a highway. It was in January 1991, for those asking, When did it become illegal to ride in the back of a truck in California?
- District of Columbia: Rides in the truck’s back are also prohibited. Only employees on duty are allowed inside an enclosed cargo area.
- New Jersey: Only employees on duty can ride in the back of a truck. Here’s what’s coming if you break the law – a fine of $50 and/or up to 15 days in jail!
- New York: Is it legal to ride in the bed of a truck in NY? Anyone can ride if traveling not more than 5 miles, with most passengers sitting for the entire trip. So, seats should be installed during the ride and tailgate and rails used; there should be less than 5 minors and at least one adult in the truck bed.
- Utah: There are no restrictions if riding away from the highway or employees on duty.
- Wisconsin: Riding in the back is prohibited apart from passengers in an enclosed area during a parade, deer hunting, and farming activities.
Conclusion
This article has helped you answer one of the frequently asked questions – what states it legal to ride in the back of a truck?
Here’s a summary of what we’ve discussed:
- 20 states, including Washington, Alaska, and Arizona, do not have any laws on riding in the back of a pickup truck.
- All the other states, including New York, Ohio, and New Jersey, have restrictions on who, when, and under what circumstances they can legally ride on the back of a truck.
- Some states only restrict minors; for example, anyone 18 and above can ride in the back of a car in New Mexico.
Whether you were just curious or are about to ride in the back of a truck, you now know whether it’s legal in your state. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of the law!
References
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