HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6202

                       As Passed House

                        March 1, 1994

Title:  An act relating to the size and weight of motor vehicles.

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

Sponsors:  Senators Vognild and Nelson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 16, 1994, DP;

Passed House, March 1, 1994, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Hansen; J. Kohl; Quall; Romero; Sheldon; Shin; Wood and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

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 of Bill:  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.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This change brings Washington in line with 48 other states that allow the operation of 53-foot trailers without obtaining a special oversize permit.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Larry Pursley, Washington Trucking Association.