Louisiana requires secure trailer connections and approved backup safety devices

People towing covered trailers must secure their connections and attach approved safety chains or other backup devices. Connection rules cover towing vehicles and farm equipment. Backup-device requirements cover trailers and semitrailers originally built with safety chains or other safety devices. Connections must follow manufacturer instructions, including all required pins, clips, and locks. Backup devices must meet manufacturer specifications or applicable federal vehicle safety standards and be strong enough to hold the trailer if its main connection fails. The section excludes fifth-wheel connections mounted on truck tractors or comparable towing vehicles, including converter dollies, that connect to a semitrailer's upper coupling assembly. Safety-chain and backup-device rules exclude use entirely on private property and road crossings solely between adjoining parcels owned or leased by the same person. The law took effect on August 1, 2026.

Farm operators must follow the towing-connection and applicable backup-device rules when towing trailers or farm equipment. These duties cover trailers, semitrailers, and farm implements used with farm vehicles and equipment. Connections must support the full towed weight and generally cannot exceed 15 feet. Longer connections are allowed when transporting long objects that cannot readily be taken apart. Operators must install all pins, clips, and locking parts required by the manufacturer. Backup-device rules retain the exceptions for private-property use and road crossings solely between adjoining parcels owned or leased by the same person.

Covered highway trailers must have brakes that stop and hold them, work from the towing vehicle's cab, and apply automatically if they break loose. The trailer brake rule applies on Louisiana highways to trailers and semitrailers used in commerce or originally built with brakes and weighing at least 3,000 pounds. Semitrailers, full trailers, and pole trailers weighing 3,000 pounds or less need no brakes when their total axle weight is no more than 40% of the towing vehicle's total axle weight. Sport, boat, and other nonfarm trailers and semitrailers not used in commerce need no brakes when weighing between 6,000 and 7,000 pounds. Vehicles built after December 31, 1962, then sold in Louisiana and operated on its highways must have brakes on all wheels if originally built with brakes. Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and semitrailers weighing less than 3,000 pounds are exempt from that rule.