HLS 24RS-1961 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 950
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILDER
TRANSPORTATION: Provides relative to towing vehicle and axle weight limits
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 32:386(C), (D), (E), and (K), relative to vehicle weight limits;
3 to provide for an exception to vehicle weight and axle limits when a Louisiana
4 licensed towing company is engaged in a vehicle tow; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 32:386(C), (D), (E), and (K) are hereby amended and reenacted to
8read as follows:
9 ยง386. Weight
10 * * *
11 C. The total gross weight of any single axle attached to any vehicle and
12 equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires shall not exceed twenty thousand
13 pounds, except when a Louisiana licensed towing company is engaged in a vehicle
14 tow the weight limitation shall be twenty-two thousand pounds while operating on
15 any state-maintained highway except on the Interstate System.
16 D. The total gross weight of any tandem axle or tandem steering axle attached
17 to any vehicle and equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires shall not exceed
18 thirty-four thousand pounds, except when a Louisiana licensed towing company is
19 engaged in a vehicle tow the weight limitation shall be thirty-seven thousand pounds
20 while operating on any state-maintained highway except on the Interstate System.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-1961 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 950
1 However on any vehicle carrying forest products in their natural state, the weight
2 limitation shall be thirty-seven thousand pounds per tandem axle and equipped with
3 low pressure pneumatic tires except on the Interstate system.
4 E.(1) The total gross weight of any tridum axle attached to any vehicle and
5 equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires shall not exceed forty-two thousand
6 pounds, except when a Louisiana licensed towing company is engaged in a vehicle
7 tow the weight limitation shall be forty-five thousand pounds while operating on any
8 state-maintained highway except on the Interstate System.
9 (2) The total gross weight of any quadrum axle attached to any vehicle and
10 equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires shall not exceed fifty thousand pounds,
11 except when a Louisiana licensed towing company is engaged in a vehicle tow the
12 weight limitation shall be fifty-three thousand pounds while operating on any
13 state-maintained highway except on the Interstate System.
14 * * *
15 K. Vehicles and combinations of vehicles shall be loaded in such manner
16 that the axle limitations set forth in Subsections C, D, E, F, and G of this Section are
17 not exceeded. However, while operating on any state-maintained highway, except
18 the Interstate System, the provisions of Subsections C, D, E, F, and G of this Section
19 shall not be deemed to have been violated unless the axle weight exceeds by more
20 than two thousand pounds for Subsections C and F of this section Section. or
21 Additionally, vehicles and combinations of vehicles shall not be deemed to violate
22 this Section unless the axle weight exceeds by more than three thousand pounds for
23 Subsections D, E, and G of this Section. This Subsection shall in no way be
24 construed to allow the total gross weight in any vehicle or combination of vehicles
25 to exceed the gross weight limits set forth in Subsection A or I of this Section. The
26 weight limit provisions of this Subsection shall not be applicable for Subsection C
27 of this Section when a Louisiana licensed towing company is engaged in a vehicle
28 tow.
29 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-1961 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 950
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 950 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Wilder
Abstract: Provides for an exception to vehicle and axle weight limits for Louisiana licensed
towing companies engaged in a vehicle tow.
Present law provides the total gross weight of any single axle attached to any vehicle and
equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires cannot exceed 20,000 pounds.
Proposed law excepts the provisions of present law (R.S. 32:386(C)) when a La. licensed
towing company is engaged in a vehicle tow, during which the weight limitation can be
22,000 pounds while on state-maintained highways except for the Interstate System.
Present law provides the total gross weight of any tandem axle attached to any vehicle and
equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires cannot exceed 34,000 pounds.
Proposed law excepts the provisions of present law (R.S. 32:386(D)) when a La. licensed
towing company is engaged in a vehicle tow, during which the weight limitation can be
37,000 pounds while on state-maintained highways except for the Interstate System.
Present law provides the total gross weight of any tridum axle attached to any vehicle and
equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires cannot exceed 42,000 pounds.
Proposed law excepts the provisions of present law (R.S. 32:386(E)(1)) when a La. licensed
towing company is engaged in a vehicle tow, during which the weight limitation can be
45,000 pounds while on state-maintained highways except for the Interstate System.
Present law provides the total gross weight of any quadrum axle attached to any vehicle and
equipped with low pressure pneumatic tires cannot exceed 50,000 pounds.
Proposed law excepts the provisions of present law (R.S. 32:386(E)(2)) when a La. licensed
towing company is engaged in a vehicle tow, during which the weight limitation can be
53,000 pounds while on state-maintained highways except for the Interstate System.
Present law provides vehicles and combinations of vehicles must be loaded so that the axle
limitations set forth in present law are not exceeded, except on state-maintained highways,
excluding the Interstate System, when the axle weight exceeds by more than 2,000 pounds
for present law (R.S. 32:386(C) and (F)) and 3,000 pounds for present law (R.S. 32:386(D),
(E), and (G)).
Proposed law excepts the provisions of present law (R.S. 32:386(C)) when a La. licensed
towing company is engaged in a vehicle tow.
(Amends R.S. 32:386(C), (D), (E), and (K))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Transportation,
Highways and Public Works to the original bill:
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HB NO. 950
1. Change provision from when a towing company is engaged in a consensual
vehicle tow with the agreement of the owner from private property to when a
Louisiana licensed towing company is engaged in a vehicle tow.
2. Add weight limitations to the exceptions in proposed law (22,000 pounds
applicable to single axle vehicles) and provide that the exceptions are applicable
on state-maintained highways except for the Interstate System.
3. Add additional provisions to allow for exceptions when a Louisiana licensed
towing company is engaged in a vehicle tow, to provide weight limitations
(37,000 pounds applicable to tandem axle vehicles; 45,000 pounds applicable to
tridum axle vehicles; and 53,000 pounds applicable to quadrum axle vehicles),
and to provide for applicability of the exceptions on state-maintained highways
except for the Interstate System.
4. Make technical changes.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.