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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Rule 4901:2-22-01 | Definitions.

 

(A) "Advertisement" means any written communication to the public in connection with an offer or sale of any towing service but does not include a listing of a carrier name, address, and telephone number in a yellow or white pages listing, if that is the only information provided in the listing.

(B) "Boom" means a structural member of a tow truck that extends from a mast to support the load and to hold, extend, or lift a load free of the ground and clear of the tow truck body, and may be operated mechanically or hydraulically.

(C) "Breaking strength rating" means the maximum weight or load, as established by the manufacturer of the equipment, that equipment can bear under ideal laboratory conditions, without breaking or being damaged.

(D) "Certificate number" means the identification number issued to a for-hire motor carrier by the commission pursuant to the rules in Chapter 4901:2-21 of the Administrative Code.

(E) "Commission" means the public utilities commission of Ohio.

(F) "For-hire motor carrier" has the same meaning as in section 4923.01 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Front axle weight" means that gross axle weight of the front axle.

(H) "Gross axle weight means the weight, in pounds, that an individual axle actually weighs. The curb weight of an individual axle.

(I) "Gross axle weight rating" means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum load carrying capacity of a single axle.

(J) "Mast" means a structure that houses the boom and winches.

(K) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 4921.01 of the Revised Code.

(L) "Overhang" means the distance, in inches, from the center of the lift point to the center of the rear axle of the tow truck.

(M) "Safe towing capacity" means the maximum load that does not cause more than a fifty percent loss of a tow truck's original unloaded front axle weight. Safe towing capacity is determined by multiplying one-half of a tow truck's front axle weight by its wheelbase divided by the overhang (one-half times front axle weight, times wheelbase/overhang).

(N) "Safety device" means a device used as a secondary coupling system to connect the tow truck and towed motor vehicle and to help prevent separation of a towed motor vehicle from the tow truck.

(O) "Storage facility" means any place to which such a for-hire motor carrier delivers a motor vehicle towed pursuant to sections 4513.60, 4513.601, 4513.602, 4513.61, and 4513.66 of the Revised Code.

(P) "Thimble" means a shield to protect a cable at a hook assembly.

(Q) "Tow bar" means a device used to tow a motor vehicle that allows all four wheels to remain on the ground.

(R) "Tow dolly" means a carriage used to support the wheels of the trailing end of a towed motor vehicle whenever it is necessary to keep the wheels of the towed motor vehicle from touching the road.

(S) "Tow sling" means a device used to lift and tow a motor vehicle with part of the load supported on rubber belts.

(T) "Tow truck" means a motor vehicle that is equipped with towing equipment and used in the business of recovering or transporting a disabled, illegally parked, or abandoned motor vehicle, or a motor vehicle involved in an accident.

(U) "Towing device" means any item including but not limited to a wire rope, chain, cable, hook, or strap used in support of a piece of towing equipment to pull, lift, support, suspend, secure or tow a motor vehicle.

(V) "Towing equipment" means any mechanism including but not limited to a boom, winch, wheel lift, under lift, tow sling, or tow bar affixed to a tow truck to pull, lift, support, suspend, secure, or tow a motor vehicle.

(W) "Towing service" has the same meaning as in sections 4513.60, 4513.602, 4513.61, 4513.66, and 4513.67 of the Revised Code.

(X) "Under lift" means a device used for towing a motor vehicle by lifting with forks one end of the towed motor vehicle from under the axle or other structural member.

(Y) "Wheelbase" means the distance, in inches, from the centerline of the front axle to the centerline of the rear axle.

(Z) "Wheel lift" means a device extending from a tow truck and fitted under one set of wheels of a towed motor vehicle to cradle and lift one end of the towed motor vehicle by the wheels.

(AA) "Winch" means a device used to wind or unwind cable that is used to pull, hoist, raise or lower a load.

(BB) "Working load limit" means the maximum weight or load, as established by the manufacturer of the equipment, that equipment can bear under normal operating conditions.

Last updated July 10, 2023 at 9:30 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4921.25
Amplifies: 4921.25
Five Year Review Date: 6/29/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 12/18/2016, 6/13/2022