SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6202

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 8, 1994

Brief Description:  Regulating the size and weight of motor vehicles.

SPONSORS: Senators Vognild and Nelson

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Drew, Haugen, Morton, Nelson, Oke, Prentice, Prince, M. Rasmussen, Schow, Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786‑7309)

Hearing Dates: January 24, 1994

BACKGROUND:

A truck combination consisting of a truck-tractor and a single trailer may operate on our highways without a permit if the trailer is 48 feet or less in length.  Special overlength permits may be purchased from the Department of Transportation which allow the operation of a tractor/trailer combination if the trailing unit does not exceed 56 feet.  The 30-day permit fee is $10; an annual permit may be purchased for $100.

Forty-eight states (Washington and Utah excluded) allow a truck-tractor/trailer combination whose trailing unit is 53 feet or less in length to operate without a special overlength permit.

SUMMARY:

A combination consisting of a truck-tractor and single trailer may operate on the public highways without a permit if the trailing unit is 53 feet or less in length. 

The maximum length allowed by special overlength permits remains at 56 feet.  A special overlength permit is required for a single trailing unit over 53 feet and up to the maximum of 56 feet.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill brings state licensing provisions regarding truck length permits into conformance with 48 other states.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Barry Diseth, DOT; Larry Pursley, Washington Trucking Association (pro)