HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1470

BYRepresentatives Baugher, Schmidt and Walk; by request of Department of Transportation

Regulating tandem-axle vehicles.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Doty, Fisher, Fox, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Jacobsen, Jones, Kremen, Meyers, Prince, Schmidt, Sutherland, Vekich, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Current law is very restrictive in its definition of what constitutes tandem axles on trucks.  It specifies that they must "oscillate", which is a feature that is designed to equalize the load between axles to reduce pavement wear.  The conventional wisdom of the late fifties was that a common pivot point between the two axles provided for weight equality.  Many trucks are now equipped with pneumatic suspension systems that perform as well as suspension systems equipped with an oscillating mechanism in equalizing the weight of the load being carried.

SUMMARY:

The definition of "tandem axles" is modified to accommodate a wider variety of technical developments and allows the use of different types of axle suspensions for oversize and overweight vehicles.  A maximum variance of 3,000 pounds is allowed between tandem axles.  The legal load limitation on tandem axles remains at 34,000 pounds.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Dennis Ingham, Department of Transportation; Martin Sangster, Washington Trucking Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The change reflects new technology in equalizing the load between tandem axles, thereby reducing pavement wear.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.