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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the weight limit of certain vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 621.101, Transportation Code Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 621.101. MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF VEHICLE OR COMBINATION. |
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(a) A vehicle or combination of vehicles may not be operated over |
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or on a public highway or at a port-of-entry between Texas and the |
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United Mexican States if the vehicle or combination has: |
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(1) a single axle weight heavier than 20,000 pounds, |
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including all enforcement tolerances; |
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(1-a) subsection (1) does not apply to vehicles that |
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are transporting items that have a reasonable possibility of |
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shifting during transit; |
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(2) a tandem axle weight heavier than 34,000 pounds, |
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including all enforcement tolerances; |
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(2-a) subsection (2) does not apply to vehicles that |
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are transporting items that have a reasonable possibility of |
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shifting during transit; |
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(3) an overall gross weight on a group of two or more |
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consecutive axles heavier than the weight computed using the |
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following formula and rounding the result to the nearest 500 |
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pounds: |
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W = 500((LN/(N - 1)) + 12N + 36) |
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where: |
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"W" is maximum overall gross weight on the group; |
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"L" is distance in feet between the axles of the group |
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that are the farthest apart; and |
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"N" is number of axles in the group; or |
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(4) tires that carry a weight heavier than the weight |
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specified and marked on the sidewall of the tire, unless the vehicle |
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is being operated under the terms of a special permit. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(3), two consecutive sets |
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of tandem axles may carry a gross load of not more than 34,000 |
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pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles |
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of the consecutive sets is 36 feet or more. The overall gross |
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weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles may not be |
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heavier than 80,000 pounds, including all enforcement tolerances, |
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regardless of tire ratings, axle spacing (bridge), and number of |
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axles. |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, |
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a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is powered by an engine |
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fueled primarily by natural gas may exceed any weight limitation |
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under this section by an amount that is equal to the difference |
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between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas |
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tank and fueling system carried by that vehicle and the weight of a |
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comparable diesel tank and fueling system, provided that the |
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maximum gross weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles may |
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not exceed 82,000 pounds. |
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(c) This section does not: |
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(1) authorize size or weight limits on the national |
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system of interstate and defense highways in this state greater |
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than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section 127, as amended; |
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(2) prohibit the operation of a vehicle or combination |
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of vehicles that could be lawfully operated on a highway or road of |
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this state on December 16, 1974; or |
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(3) apply to a vehicle or combination of vehicles that |
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operates exclusively: |
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(A) at a private port of entry; |
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(B) on private roads associated with the port of |
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entry; and |
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(C) across a public highway between private roads |
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associated with the port of entry under a contract under Section |
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623.052. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |