Trackout is dirt, mud, or debris that gets tracked onto a public road when a vehicle leaves a construction site. It happens when dirt and mud stick to a truck’s tires inside the job site, then get deposited onto the street, highway, or roadway as the vehicle drives off.
Trackout isn’t just a mess, it’s also classified as particulate matter (PM10) and regulated as an air pollutant. That’s why most job sites are required to control it, not just clean it up after the fact.
Why Trackout Matters
Every time a loaded truck exits a job site with muddy tires, some of that dirt ends up on the public street. Multiply that by dozens of trucks a day, and you’ve got a real problem: dust complaints from neighbors, potential citations from the city, and genuine air quality concerns under regulations like SWPPP, NPDES, and AQMD Rule 403 — especially in the South Coast Air Basin and across Los Angeles County, where enforcement is active.
What Is a Trackout Control Device?
A trackout control device is equipment placed at the exit of a construction job site to remove rocks, dirt, and debris from truck tires before vehicles reach the public road. Our trackout control devices are Rattle Track® and Rattle Grate®.
These are flat, metal devices with multiple bars laid down at the job site exit. As a truck drives over one, the combination of bars and vehicle vibration knocks dirt and debris off the tires and axles: a smoother, more complete removal process than a standard rock exit. It’s an approved, practical way to keep the streets immediately outside a construction site clean, without constantly re-rocking a gravel pad.
Our Trackout Products
- Rattle Track® — our standard trackout control device, reusable, transportable, and couplable to any length needed
- Rattle Grate® — built for heavier, more aggressive trackout conditions like clay-heavy or high-mud job sites
Also known as rumble tracks, rumble grates, mud plates, rock shaker plates, track-out plates, and track clear.
If your site also has an open trench or needs a temporary road surface, Steel Road Plates (also called street plates, rock plates, or trench plates) cover that separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly counts as trackout?
Any dirt, mud, rock, or debris that a vehicle carries out of a job site on its tires and deposits onto a public street, highway, or roadway.
Why is trackout regulated?
Trackout is classified as particulate matter (PM10), which is regulated as an air pollutant. That’s on top of the more obvious issues: dirty streets, drainage problems, and neighbor complaints.
Is a rock exit the same as a trackout control device?
No. A rock exit is a gravel pad that needs regular replacement as it gets loaded with mud. A trackout control device like Rattle Track® is a reusable metal device that actively knocks debris off tires and doesn’t need replacing.
Do I need a trackout control device on every job site?
If your site has vehicles exiting onto a public road and there’s dirt, mud, or loose material involved. Yes, most jurisdictions with active enforcement (like Southern California under AQMD Rule 403) expect some form of trackout control in place.
What's the difference between Rattle Track® and Rattle Grate®?
Rattle Track® is the standard option for most job sites. Rattle Grate® is built for tougher conditions. Heavy clay, constant mud, high truck volume, where a standard device would get overwhelmed.
Get a Quote
Need Rattle Track® on your next job? Request a quote or call our office at 928.778.1125.