TWT H.B. 1342 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


TRANSPORTATION
H.B. 1342
By: Rodriguez
3-25-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

Currently under Section 621.206 (a), Transportation Code,   a vehicle or
combination of vehicles may not carry a load that extends more than three
feet beyond its front or more than four feet beyond its rear. Several
companies in Texas use a system called a piggyback material handler, a
very common forklift that is attached to the rear of a semi-trailer for
the use of loading and unloading materials from a trailer.  Under the
current statue these companies are in violation of Section 621.206 (a)
because the forklift extends further than the current law allows. 

Some believe the safest method of transporting the forklift is by
attaching it to the end of the trailer. The fact remains that doing so is
a violation of the law. Enforcement of the law from district to district
is not equally rendered.  

PURPOSE

C.S.H.B. 1342 would allow a motor vehicle that is designed to be carried
at the end of a trailer, and would extend no further than seven feet from
the end of the trailer to operate on the highway. Also the designed
vehicle would meet federal safety guidelines and state regulations. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 621, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 621.2061 as follows:  

 Notwithstanding Sec. 621.206, a trailer can carry a load which extends
more than four feet beyond the rear of the trailer if the load: 

 (1) is designed and intended to be carried at the rear of the trailer;
 (2) is used or intended to be used to load or unload a commodity;
 (3) does not exceed more than seven feet beyond the rear of the trailer;
and 
 (4) complies with each federal motor carrier safety regulation. 

SECTION 2. Effective date -- September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1. Creates new Sec. 621.2061 in place of Subsection (c) as
proposed in the original. Original stated vehicle had to comply with
requirements of federal regulations in Sec. 393.86 while substitute does
not cite a specific citation regulation.