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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Josephine County brothers die in single-car crash ... Since You Asked: Pedestrians can be cited for carelessness ... Wolf once believed to be dead shows up near Crater Lake ... Josephine County brothers die in single-car crash ... Since You Asked: Pedestrians can be cited for carelessness ... Wolf once believed to be dead shows up near Crater Lake ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Trucks should keep material from blowing out Drivers can be liable if material blows out of untarped truck beds and breaks the windshields of other vehicles. Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Sep. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News I was driving on I-5 near Central Point when I passed a truck carrying a load of what looked like dirt and rocks. Material was blowing out and hitting the windshields of other drivers. The truck had a sign that said, "Construction vehicle. Do not follow." Shouldn't the truck driver have to cover his load instead of relying on a sign? — Roger, Medford Gary Leaming, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said companies have a responsibility to make sure material isn't blowing out onto roads. "Vehicles carrying sand and gravel can operate without a cover on their load as long as the material isn't blowing out," he said. "If they're hauling asphalt or rock, that won't blow out. But sawdust will blow out." He said the sign is actually meant to warn other drivers not to accidentally follow a truck onto a construction site. "The 'Do Not Follow' sign does not absolve the contractor truck of liability," Leaming said. He said if material is blowing out of a truck and could damage windshields, people in other vehicles should get the name of the trucking company and remember the time, date and location of the incident, then call the trucking company to notify owners of the problem. If the situation is egregious, people can also call local law enforcement or ODOT, Leaming said. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501