HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2651

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed Legislature

Title: An act relating to vehicle maximum gross weight values.

Brief Description: Concerning vehicle maximum gross weight values.

Sponsors: Representatives Rossetti and Orcutt; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 2/8/16, 2/9/16 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/16/16, 98-0.

Passed Senate: 3/2/16, 46-0.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Places the maximum gross weights for vehicles registered using gross vehicle weights in statute where the weights are currently not listed.

  • Places the formula for calculating the federal code weight limits in statute.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Moscoso, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Gregerson, Hayes, Hickel, Kochmar, McBride, Moeller, Morris, Ortiz-Self, Pike, Riccelli, Rodne, Rossetti, Sells, Shea, Stambaugh, Tarleton and Young.

Staff: Jerry Long (786-7306).

Background:

No vehicle or combination of vehicles may operate upon the public highways of Washington with a gross weight on any single axle in excess of 20,000 pounds, or upon any group of axles in excess of that which is in a table in statute. The exception is that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each, if the distance between the first and last axles of the sets of tandem axels is 36 feet or more. Presently some of the fields in the existing gross weight chart in statute used to establish weight on axles or a combination of axles are blank.

The weight chart is based on federal code weight limits (Title 23 CFR Section 658.17) calculated by using the Bridge Gross Weight Formula and the formula is not currently mentioned in Washington statute. The federal weight limits preserve the Interstate Highway System. Washington uses these weight limits for all state highways.

Summary of Bill:

The bill places the maximum gross weights in the fields that are currently blank, and places the formula for calculating the federal code weight limits in statute.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill is supported by the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Trucking Association. This is Department of Transportation (DOT) request legislation. This will place the DOT in compliance with federal requirements by placing the federal code weight limits formula in statute. Washington could lose federal funding if this is not placed in statute. The bill takes away confusion on how the allowable weights are calculated, as well as filling in the blanks in the existing table that is in statute.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Rossetti, prime sponsor; and Allison Camden, Washington State Department of Transportation.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.