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)