SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 2083

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


 

 

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES KELLEY (126) (Sponsor), POLLOCK, LARGENT, WELLS, CRAWFORD, RICHARDSON, ENTLICHER, SOMMER, BURLISON, LONG, BAHR, HODGES, SMITH (150), REIBOLDT, SCHATZ, CONWAY (14), BRATTIN, HAEFNER, FREDERICK, ROWLAND, CURTMAN AND JONES (89) (Co-sponsors).

6191L.01I                                                                                                                                                  D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk


 

AN ACT

To repeal section 304.180, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to emergency utility response permits.




Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:


            Section A. Section 304.180, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 304.180, to read as follows:

            304.180. 1. No vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be moved or operated on any highway in this state having a greater weight than twenty thousand pounds on one axle, no combination of vehicles operated by transporters of general freight over regular routes as defined in section 390.020 shall be moved or operated on any highway of this state having a greater weight than the vehicle manufacturer's rating on a steering axle with the maximum weight not to exceed twelve thousand pounds on a steering axle, and no vehicle shall be moved or operated on any state highway of this state having a greater weight than thirty-four thousand pounds on any tandem axle; the term "tandem axle" shall mean a group of two or more axles, arranged one behind another, the distance between the extremes of which is more than forty inches and not more than ninety-six inches apart.

            2. An "axle load" is defined as the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels whose centers are included between two parallel transverse vertical planes forty inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle.

            3. Subject to the limit upon the weight imposed upon a highway of this state through any one axle or on any tandem axle, the total gross weight with load imposed by any group of two or more consecutive axles of any vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the maximum load in pounds as set forth in the following table:

Distance in feet

between the extremes

of any group of two or

more consecutive axles,

measured to the nearest

foot, except where

indicated otherwise                              Maximum load in pounds

feet                  2 axles            3 axles            4 axles            5 axles            6 axles

4                      34,000

5                      34,000

6                      34,000

7                      34,000

8                      34,000             34,000

More than 8    38,000             42,000

9                      39,000             42,500

10                    40,000             43,500

11                    40,000             44,000

12                    40,000             45,000             50,000

13                    40,000             45,500             50,500

14                    40,000             46,500             51,500

15                    40,000             47,000             52,000

16                    40,000             48,000             52,500             58,000

17                    40,000             48,500             53,500             58,500

18                    40,000             49,500             54,000             59,000

19                    40,000             50,000             54,500             60,000

20                    40,000             51,000             55,500             60,500             66,000

21                    40,000             51,500             56,000             61,000             66,500

22                    40,000             52,500             56,500             61,500             67,000

23                    40,000             53,000             57,500             62,500             68,000

24                    40,000             54,000             58,000             63,000             68,500

25                    40,000             54,500             58,500             63,500             69,000

26                    40,000             55,500             59,500             64,000             69,500

27                    40,000             56,000             60,000             65,000             70,000

28                    40,000             57,000             60,500             65,500             71,000

29                    40,000             57,500             61,500             66,000             71,500

30                    40,000             58,500             62,000             66,500             72,000

31                    40,000             59,000             62,500             67,500             72,500

32                    40,000             60,000             63,500             68,000             73,000

33                    40,000             60,000             64,000             68,500             74,000

34                    40,000             60,000             64,500             69,000             74,500

35                    40,000             60,000             65,500             70,000             75,000

36                                            60,000             66,000             70,500             75,500

37                                            60,000             66,500             71,000             76,000

38                                            60,000             67,500             72,000             77,000

39                                            60,000             68,000             72,500             77,500

40                                            60,000             68,500             73,000             78,000

41                                            60,000             69,500             73,500             78,500

42                                            60,000             70,000             74,000             79,000

43                                            60,000             70,500             75,000             80,000

44                                            60,000             71,500             75,500             80,000

45                                            60,000             72,000             76,000             80,000

46                                            60,000             72,500             76,500             80,000

47                                            60,000             73,500             77,500             80,000

48                                            60,000             74,000             78,000             80,000

49                                            60,000             74,500             78,500             80,000

50                                            60,000             75,500             79,000             80,000

51                                            60,000             76,000             80,000             80,000

52                                            60,000             76,500             80,000             80,000

53                                            60,000             77,500             80,000             80,000

54                                            60,000             78,000             80,000             80,000

55                                            60,000             78,500             80,000             80,000

56                                            60,000             79,500             80,000             80,000

57                                            60,000             80,000             80,000             80,000

 

Notwithstanding the above table, two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of thirty-four thousand pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirty-six feet or more.

            4. Whenever the state highways and transportation commission finds that any state highway bridge in the state is in such a condition that use of such bridge by vehicles of the weights specified in subsection 3 of this section will endanger the bridge, or the users of the bridge, the commission may establish maximum weight limits and speed limits for vehicles using such bridge. The governing body of any city or county may grant authority by act or ordinance to the state highways and transportation commission to enact the limitations established in this section on those roadways within the purview of such city or county. Notice of the weight limits and speed limits established by the commission shall be given by posting signs at a conspicuous place at each end of any such bridge.

            5. Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting lawful axle loads, tandem axle loads or gross loads in excess of those permitted under the provisions of Section 127 of Title 23 of the United States Code.

            6. Notwithstanding the weight limitations contained in this section, any vehicle or combination of vehicles operating on highways other than the interstate highway system may exceed single axle, tandem axle and gross weight limitations in an amount not to exceed two thousand pounds. However, total gross weight shall not exceed eighty thousand pounds, except as provided in subsection 9 of this section.

            7. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the department of transportation shall issue a single-use special permit, or upon request of the owner of the truck or equipment, shall issue an annual permit, for the transporting of any concrete pump truck or well-drillers' equipment. The department of transportation shall set fees for the issuance of permits pursuant to this subsection. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.133, concrete pump trucks or well-drillers' equipment may be operated on state-maintained roads and highways at any time on any day.

            8. Notwithstanding the provision of this section to the contrary, the maximum gross vehicle limit and axle weight limit for any vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with an idle reduction technology may be increased by a quantity necessary to compensate for the additional weight of the idle reduction system as provided for in 23 U.S.C. Section 127, as amended. In no case shall the additional weight increase allowed by this subsection be greater than four hundred pounds. Upon request by an appropriate law enforcement officer, the vehicle operator shall provide proof that the idle reduction technology is fully functional at all times and that the gross weight increase is not used for any purpose other than for the use of idle reduction technology.

            9. Notwithstanding subsection 3 of this section or any other provision of law to the contrary, the total gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles hauling livestock may be as much as, but shall not exceed, eighty-five thousand five hundred pounds while operating on U.S. Highway 36 from St. Joseph to U.S. Highway 65, and on U.S. Highway 65 from the Iowa state line to U.S. Highway 36.

            10. Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other law to the contrary, the department of transportation shall issue emergency utility response permits for the transporting of utility wires or cables, poles, and equipment needed for repair work immediately following a disaster where utility service has been disrupted. Under exigent circumstances, verbal approval of such operation may be made either by the motor carrier compliance supervisor or other designated motor carrier services representative. Utility vehicles and equipment used to assist utility companies granted special permits under this subsection may be operated and transported on state-maintained roads and highways at any time on any day. The department of transportation shall promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2012, shall be invalid and void.