TWT H.B. 2469 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION H.B. 2469 By: McReynolds 4-16-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Current Texas law (Section 622.041, Transportation Code) regulates the transportation of timber or timber products on the state's highways. Chapter 621 of the Transportation Code provides maximum load guidelines for vehicles transporting timber or timber products. Section 621.101 provides the specific weight requirements for axle tractor trailers hauling goods across Texas' roads. That section provides that the overall gross weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles may not be heavier than 80,000 pounds, including all enforcement tolerances. Under these guidelines, for example, a five axle tractor trailer used for hauling timber must have a distance of 51 feet from steering axle to rear axle in order to qualify for an 80,000 pound load. There is little flexibility within the guidelines explained above. The logging industry in Texas has faced hardship under these guidelines because they do not take into account the specific needs of the timber industry. Plantation harvesting requires hauling timber, that varies greatly in length, from the forest to the mills. In thinning operations, pulp timber cannot be safely transported to mills at lengths of 51 feet. By sliding the rear axles and bolsters forward, however, the loads can be safely transported to their destinations while at the same time carrying maximum loads. Finally, Section 622.062(b), Transportation Code, requires a red flag or cloth to be attached at the end of a load carrying poles, piling or unrefined timber to enhance visibility of the load to approaching vehicles. Strobe lights are not currently mentioned in the statute as an equally effective means of ensuring visibility. PURPOSE C.S.H.B. 2469 provides an exception to the requirement that the width, height, and gross weight of a vehicle must conform to the guidelines provided in Chapters 621 and 623, Transportation Code, when it is necessary to transport the load, the distance between axles on a vehicle may be shortened by not more than 12 feet. The bill prohibits timber trucks from crossing load limit bridges if the truck weight exceeds that load limit. The bill also adds strobe lights to the list of authorized methods of increasing visibility to drivers approaching the vehicle from the rear. 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 D, Chapter 622, Transportation Code, by adding Sec. 622.0435. (a) that the width, height, and gross weight of a vehicle transporting timber or timber products must conform to the guidelines provided in Chapters 621 and 623 except when it is necessary to transport the load, the distance between axles on a vehicle may not be shortened by not more than 12 feet for gross weight determinations. (b) States that (a) does not authorize vehicles to cross a load-posted bridge with a load weight that exceeds that limitation. SECTION 2. Amends Section 622.062(b), Transportation Code, by adding strobe lights to the list of authorized methods of increasing visibility to drivers approaching the vehicle from the rear. SECTION 3. Effective date -- September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency Clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE SECTION 1. The original amended Sec. 622.043, Transportation Code. The substitute retains Sec. 622.043 as current law, but adds new Sec. 622.0435. The original exempted trucks from the width, height, and gross weight requirements of Chapter 621 (General Provisions Relating to Vehicle Size and Weight) if it was necessary to shorten the distance between any two axles to safely transport a load. The substitute in Sec. 622.0435 exempts trucks from the requirements of Chapters 621 and 623 (Permits for Oversize or Overweight Vehicles). The substitute adds Sec. 622.0435(b) which states that Subsection (a) does not authorize vehicles to cross a load-posted bridge with a load weight that exceeds that limitation.