§ 47-14-109. Single-axle load limit - Gross weight of vehicle and load - Exceptions - Additional fees - "Utility vehicle" defined.  


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  • A.  On any road or highway:

    1.  No single axle weight shall exceed twenty thousand (20,000) pounds; and

    2.  The total gross weight in pounds imposed thereon by a vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the value given in the following table corresponding to the distance in feet between the extreme axles of the group measured longitudinally to the nearest foot.

    Distance in Feet

    Between the Extremes of               Maximum Load in Pounds

    Any Group of 2 or More                Carried on Any Group of 2 or

    Consecutive Axles                     More Consecutive Axles

    2 Axles3 Axles4 Axles5 Axles6 Axles

    434,000------------------------

    534,000------------------------

    634,000------------------------

    734,000------------------------

    834,00042,000------------------

    939,00042,500------------------

    1040,00043,500------------------

    11------44,000------------------

    12------45,00050,000------------

    13------45,50050,500------------

    14------46,50051,500------------

    15------47,00052,000------------

    16------48,00052,50058,000------

    17------48,50053,50058,500------

    18------49,50054,00059,000------

    19------50,00054,50060,000------

    20------51,00055,50060,50066,000

    21------51,50056,00061,00066,500

    22------52,50056,50061,50067,000

    23------53,00057,50062,50068,000

    24------54,00058,00063,00068,500

    25------54,50058,50063,50069,000

    26------56,00059,50064,00069,500

    27------57,50060,00065,00070,000

    28------59,00060,50065,50071,000

    29------60,50061,50066,00071,500

    30------62,00062,00066,50072,000

    31------63,50063,50067,00072,500

    32------64,00064,00068,00073,500

    33------------64,50068,50074,000

    34------------65,00069,00074,500

    35------------66,00070,00075,000

    36------------68,00070,50075,500

    37------------68,00071,00076,000

    38------------69,00072,00077,000

    39------------70,00072,50077,500

    40------------71,00073,00078,000

    41------------72,00073,50078,500

    42------------73,00074,00079,000

    43------------73,28075,00080,000

    44------------73,28075,50080,500

    45------------73,28076,00081,000

    46------------73,28076,50081,500

    47------------73,50077,50082,000

    48------------74,00078,00083,000

    49------------74,50078,50083,500

    50------------75,50079,00084,000

    51------------76,00080,00084,500

    52------------76,50080,50085,000

    53------------77,50081,00086,000

    54------------78,00081,50086,500

    55------------78,50082,50087,000

    56------------79,50083,00087,500

    57------------80,00083,50088,000

    58------------------84,00089,000

    59------------------85,00089,500

    60------------------85,50090,000

    B.  Except as to gross limits, the table in subsection A of this section shall not apply to a truck-tractor and dump semitrailer when used as a combination unit.  In no event shall the maximum load in pounds carried by any set of tandem axles exceed thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds for vehicles exempt from the table; however, any vehicle operating with split tandem axles or tri-axles shall adhere to the table.

    C.  Special permits may be issued as provided in this title for divisible loads for vehicle configurations in excess of six (6) axles.  The permits may not exceed the Table "B" federal weights formula imposed by Title 23, U.S. Code, Section 127.  Vehicles moving under the permits shall not traverse H-15 bridges or less without the express approval of the Secretary of Transportation.

    D.  Except for loads moving under special permits as provided in this title, no department or agency of this state or any county, city, or public entity thereof shall pay for any material that exceeds the legal weight limits moving in interstate or intrastate commerce in excess of the legal load limits of this state.

    E.  Exceptions to this section will be:

    1.  Utility or refuse collection vehicles used by counties, cities, or towns or by private companies contracted by counties, cities, or towns if the following conditions are met:

    a.calculation of weight for a utility or refuse collection vehicle shall be "Gross Vehicle Weight".  The "Gross Vehicle Weight" of a utility or refuse collection vehicle may not exceed the otherwise applicable weight by more than fifteen percent (15%).  The weight on individual axles must not exceed the manufacturer's component rating which includes axle, suspension, wheels, rims, brakes, and tires as shown on the vehicle certification label or tag, and

    b.utility or refuse collection vehicles operated under these exceptions will not be allowed to operate on interstate highways;

    2.  Vehicles transporting timber, pulpwood, and chips in their natural state, vehicles transporting oil field fluids, oil field equipment, or equipment used in oil and gas well drilling or exploration, and vehicles transporting grain, if the following conditions are met:

    a.the vehicles are registered for the maximum allowable rate,

    b.the vehicles do not exceed five percent (5%) of the gross limits set forth in subsection A of this section, and

    c.the vehicles operating pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph will not be allowed to operate on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways;

    3.  Vehicles transporting rock, sand, gravel, coal, and flour if the following conditions are met:

    a.              the vehicles are registered for the maximum allowable rate,

    b.              the vehicles do not exceed five percent (5%) of the axle limits set forth in subsection A of this section, and

    c.              the vehicles operating pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph will not be allowed to operate on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways; and

    4.  A combination of a wrecker or tow vehicle and another vehicle or vehicle combination if:

    a.              the service provided by the wrecker or tow vehicle is needed to remove disabled, abandoned, or accident-damaged vehicles, and

    b.              the wrecker or tow vehicle is towing the other vehicle or vehicle combination directly to the nearest authorized place of repair, terminal, or vehicle storage facility.

    Vehicles operating pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph will not be allowed to operate on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.

    F.  1.  Any vehicle utilizing an auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit in order to promote reduction of fuel use and emissions because of engine idling shall be allowed an additional four hundred (400) pounds total to the total gross weight limits set by this section.

    2.  To be eligible for the exception provided in this subsection, the operator of the vehicle must obtain written proof or certification of the weight of the auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit and be able to demonstrate or certify that the idle reduction technology is fully functional.

    3.  Written proof or certification of the weight of the auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit must be available to law enforcement officers if the vehicle is found in violation of applicable weight laws.  The additional weight allowed cannot exceed four hundred (400) pounds or the actual proven or certified weight of the unit, whichever is less.

    G.  Utility or refuse collection vehicles, vehicles transporting timber, pulpwood, and chips in their natural state, vehicles transporting oil field equipment or equipment used in oil and gas well drilling or exploration, vehicles transporting rock, sand, gravel, coal, and flour and vehicles transporting grain, operating under exceptions shall purchase an annual special overload permit for One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).  This fee shall be apportioned as provided for in Section 1104 of this title.

    H.  For purposes of this section, "utility vehicle" shall mean any truck used by a private utility company, county, city, or town for the purpose of installing or maintaining electric, water, or sewer systems.

Added by Laws 1961, p. 415, § 14-109, eff. Sept. 1, 1961.  Amended by Laws 1969, c. 307, § 1, emerg. eff. April 28, 1969; Laws 1972, c. 52, § 4, emerg. eff. March 15, 1972; Laws 1977, c. 55, § 4, emerg. eff. May 16, 1977; Laws 1985, c. 155, § 1, emerg. eff. June 11, 1985; Laws 1985, c. 179, § 62, operative July 1, 1985; Laws 1986, c. 279, § 22, operative July 1, 1986; Laws 1987, c. 6, § 5, emerg. eff. March 16, 1987; Laws 1987, c. 232, § 2, emerg. eff. July 5, 1987; Laws 1990, c. 108, § 1, operative July 1, 1990; Laws 1995, c. 221, § 1, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 1996, c. 106, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1996; Laws 1998, c. 289, § 1, emerg. eff. May 27, 1998; Laws 2001, c. 84, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2001; Laws 2001, c. 263, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2002, c. 286, § 2, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2007, c. 324, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2007; Laws 2008, c. 69, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2009, c. 102, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009.