SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1672

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Rasmussen, Schmidt, Walk, S. Wilson, Brough, May and Beck)

Requiring identification on large trucks.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Bender, Conner, DeJarnatt, Garrett, McMullen, Metcalf, Owen, Sellar.

Senate Staff:Brad Lovaas (786-7307)

                  February 23, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 22, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Trucks operating in the state of Washington are required to display certain identification markings on the vehicles.  By law, trucks over 4,000 pounds are required to display the licensed gross weight on the cab in letters not less than two inches high.  By UTC rule, intrastate common and contract carriers are required to display the company's name and operating authority permit number on the vehicle in letters three inches high.  All interstate carriers are required by the Interstate Commerce Commission to display the company name and city of address on the vehicle.  Intrastate private carriers are subject only to the licensed gross weight marking.

Farm vehicles that are operated within a 15-mile radius of the farm are not required to have a vehicle license.

SUMMARY:

Trucks over 26,000 pounds that are required to have a vehicle license must display an identifying name or number on both sides of the vehicle.  For a common or contract carrier, the identification is (1) the name of the owner or business, and (2) the Utilities and Transportation Commission or Interstate Commerce Commission operating authority permit number.  For private carriers, the identification is the name and address of the owner or business.  Farm vehicles that are not required by law to have a vehicle license are exempt from the marking provisions.

Identifying letters must be no less than four inches high and in a contrasting color.  The letters must be visible from a position four feet above the roadway in a lane adjacent to the truck.  For tractors, logging trucks, stake bodies, flat beds and dump trucks, the identification may be placed only on the cab.

Vehicles under 10,000 pounds are no longer required to display the licensed gross weight on the outside of the cab.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Rasmussen, original sponsor