HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1991

                       As Passed House

                       March 13, 1991

Title:  An act relating to vehicle size and weight restrictions.

Brief Description:  Adjusting certain vehicle size and weight restrictions.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. Fisher, Betrozoff, R. Meyers and McLean; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 27, 1991, DP;

Passed House, March 13, 1991, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 25 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Cantwell; Cooper; Day; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Heavey; Horn; P. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Mitchell; Nelson; Orr; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:  In 1982 Congress created a "specialized equipment" category to accommodate the movement of auto and boat transporters.  By Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rule, these vehicles may have a three-foot front and four-foot rear overhang beyond the otherwise maximum length of 75 feet; this extends the overall length of the vehicle to 82 feet.  State law restricts the length of the overhang on any vehicle to 15 feet beyond the center of the last axle.  For certain auto transporters, this 15-foot restriction does not allow the vehicle to reach its maximum legal length of 82 feet. 

In 1990 FHWA added a combination consisting of four trucks and/or tractors with one truck or tractor towing the other three in a "triple saddlemount" position to the specialized equipment category.  The movement of a triple saddlemount combination currently requires a permit from the Department of Transportation (DOT).

FHWA has informed the DOT that the State must comply with federal regulations by: (1) exempting specialized equipment from the 15-foot overhang restriction; and (2) allowing the movement of a triple saddlemount combination without a permit.

Summary of Bill:  State law is brought into compliance with federal regulations governing specialized equipment by:  (1) exempting auto and boat transporters from the state's 15-foot vehicle overhang restriction; and (2) authorizing a combination with an overall length of 75 feet that consists of a truck or tractor towing three trucks or tractors in a triple saddlemount position.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Changes are needed to bring Washington into conformance with federal law.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Barry Diseth, Department of Transportation.