SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5295

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 19, 1991

Brief Description:  Requiring identification on big trucks.

SPONSORS:Senators Conner, Patterson, Stratton and Nelson.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5295 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Barr, Conner, Erwin, Hansen, Madsen, McMullen, Oke, Sellar, Skratek, and Snyder. 

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786‑7309)

Hearing Dates:February 5, 1991; February 19, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Trucks operating in the state of Washington are required to display certain identification markings.  By law, trucks over 10,000 pounds are required to display the licensed gross weight on the cab in letters not less than two inches high.

By administrative rule, the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) requires intrastate common and contract carriers to display the company's name and operating authority permit number on the vehicle in letters three inches high.  All interstate common, contract and private carriers are required by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to display the company name and city of address on the vehicle.  Intrastate private carriers are subject only to the licensed gross weight marking.

SUMMARY:

Common, contract and private carriers, other than UTC exempt carriers and private carriers with a licensed gross weight of less than 26,000 pounds, must display an identifying name and/or number on both sides of the power unit in letters no less than three inches high and in a contrasting color.  UTC exempt carriers include U.S. mail carriers, publicly-owned vehicles, farm vehicles, towing vehicles and vehicles weighing less than 8,000 pounds transporting legal documents.

For common and contract carriers the identification is the name of the permittee or business name, and (1) the UTC permit number if the carrier is an intrastate carrier, or (2) the ICC certificate or UTC permit number if the carrier engages in interstate commerce.  For a private carrier with a licensed gross weight of 26,000 pounds or more, the identification is the name and address of the business operating the truck or the registered owner.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The identification must be permanent.  Any required identification that is added, modified or renewed after September 1, 1991 must be located on the driver and passenger doors.  Intrastate carriers whose existing markings are in locations other than the doors of the power unit are not required to relocate their identification until certain modifications are made.  Leased carriers may display a placard instead of permanent markings.  The identification provisions apply to intrastate (1) common and contract carriers, (2) leased carriers, and (3) private carriers weighing 36,000 pounds or more.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  No one