Req. No. 6811 Page 1 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
HOUSE BILL 2479 By: Frix
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to motor vehicles; amending 47 O.S.
2011, Section 14-109, as last amended by Section 2,
Chapter 317, O.S.L. 2019 (47 O.S. S upp. 2020, Section
14-109), which relates to load limits and gross
weight of vehicle and load; allowing certain vehicles
an exception to operate on roadways; stating that
certain vehicles shall be considered a load that
cannot be easily dismantled, divided or nondivisible;
requiring certain vehicles purchase annual permit;
providing for deposit of monies collected into the
Weight Station Improvement Revolving Fund; requiring
Department of Public Safety create certain fee; and
providing an effective date .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 47 O.S. 2011, Section 14 -109, as
last amended by Section 2, Chapter 317, O.S.L. 2019 (47 O.S. Supp.
2020, Section 14-109), is amended to read as follows:
Section 14-109. A. On any road or highway:
1. No single axle weight shall exceed twenty thousand (20,000)
pounds; and
2. The total gross weight in pounds imposed thereon by a
vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the value
Req. No. 6811 Page 2 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
calculated in accordance with the Federal Bridge formula imposed by
23 U.S.C., Section 127.
B. Except as to gross limits, the formula of this section shall
not apply to a truck -tractor and dump semitrailer when used as a
combination unit. In no event shall th e maximum load in pounds
carried by any set of tandem axles exceed thirty -four thousand
(34,000) pounds. Any vehicle operating with split tandem axles or
tri-axles shall adhere to the formula.
C. Except for loads moving under special permits as provided in
this title, no department or agency of this state or any county,
city, or public entity thereof shall pay for any material that
exceeds the legal weight limits moving in interstate or intrastate
commerce in excess of the legal load limits of this state.
D. 1. An annual special overload permit may be purchased for
vehicles transporting rock, sand, gravel, coal, flour, timber,
pulpwood, and chips in their natural state, oil field fluids, oil
field equipment or equipment used in oil and gas well drilling or
exploration, and vehicles transporting grain, fertilizer,
cottonseed, cotton, livestock, peanuts, canola, sunflowers,
soybeans, feed, any other raw agricultural products, and any other
unprocessed agricultural products, if the following conditions are
met:
a. the vehicles are registered for the maximum allowable
rate,
Req. No. 6811 Page 3 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
b. the vehicles do not exceed five percent (5%) of the
gross limits set forth in subsection A of this
section,
c. the vehicles do not exceed eight percent (8%) of the
axle limits set forth in subsection A of this section,
d. no component of the vehicles exceeds the
manufacturer's component weight rating as shown on the
vehicle certification label or tag, and
e. the vehicles operating pursuant to the provisions of
this paragraph will not be a llowed to operate on the
National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
2. Vehicles operating pursuant to this section must register
for the maximum allowable rate and additionally shall purchase a
nontransferable annual special overload permit from the Department
of Public Safety for a fee of Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00).
All monies collected shall be deposited to the credit of the Highway
Construction and Maintenance Fund.
E. 1. Oversize or overweight vehicles used for specialized
transportation if the maximum weight does not exceed twenty -three
thousand (23,000) pounds on any single axle and:
a. is a dual lane trailer with dual lane axles and the
width of the transport vehicle or trailer exceeds
twelve (12) feet in width, or
Req. No. 6811 Page 4 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
b. the overall gross vehicle weight of a single trailer
meets or exceeds three hundred thousand (300,000)
pounds, originates or terminates at the Tulsa Port of
Catoosa, and the trip is confined within a thirty -mile
radius of the Port.
2. Permit fees for oversize or o verweight vehicles used for
specialized transportation shall be in accordance with subsection A
of Section 14-116 of this title.
3. Vehicles operating pursuant to the provisions of this
paragraph will not be allowed to operate on the National System of
Interstate and Defense Highways.
F. Exceptions to this section will be:
1. Public electric utility vehicles or rural electric
cooperative vehicles regulated by the Corporation Commission ,
Utility utility or refuse collection vehicles used by counties,
cities, or towns or by private companies contracted by counties,
cities, or towns if the following conditions are met:
a. calculation of weight for a public electric utility
vehicle or rural electr ic cooperative vehicle, utility
or refuse collection vehicle sh all be "Gross Vehicle
Weight". The "Gross Vehicle Weight " of a public
electric utility vehicle or rural electric cooperative
vehicle, utility or refuse collection vehicle may not
exceed the otherwise applicable weight by more than
Req. No. 6811 Page 5 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
fifteen percent (15%). The weight on individual axles
must not exceed the manufacturer 's component rating
which includes axle, suspension, wheels, rims, brakes,
and tires as shown on the vehicle certification label
or tag, and
b. public electric utility vehicle or rural electric
cooperative vehicle, utility or refuse collection
vehicles operated under these exceptions will not be
allowed to operate on interstate highways;
2. A combination of a wrecker or tow vehicle and another
vehicle or vehicle combination if:
a. the service provided by the wrecker or tow vehicle is
needed to remove disabled, abandoned, or accident -
damaged vehicles, and
b. the wrecker or tow vehicle is towing the other vehicle
or vehicle combination directly to the nearest
appropriate place of repair, terminal, or vehicle
storage facility;
3. A vehicle operating pursuant to the provisions of paragraph
2 of this subsection will not be allowed to operate on the National
System of Interstate and Defense Highways unless it is a covered
heavy-duty tow and recovery v ehicle that:
Req. No. 6811 Page 6 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
a. is transporting a disabled vehicle from the place
where the vehicle became disabled to the nearest
appropriate repair facility, and
b. has a gross vehicle weight that is equal to or exceeds
the gross vehicle weight of the disabled vehicle b eing
transported; and
4. On the interstate highway system a vehicle designed to be
used under emergency conditions to transport personnel and equipment
and to support the suppression of fires and mitigation of other
hazardous situations with a vehicle wei ght limit up to a maximum
gross vehicle weight of eighty -six thousand (86,000) pounds with
less than:
a. twenty-four thousand (24,000) pounds on a single
steering axle,
b. thirty-three thousand five hundred (33,500) pounds on
a single drive axle,
c. sixty-two thousand (62,000) pounds on a tandem axle,
or
d. fifty-two thousand (52,000) pounds on a tandem rear
drive steer axle.
G. 1. Any vehicle utilizing an auxiliary power or idle
reduction technology unit in order to promote reduction of fuel use
and emissions because of engine idling shall be allowed an
Req. No. 6811 Page 7 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
additional four hundred (400) pounds total to the total gross weight
limits set by this section.
2. To be eligible for the exception provided in this
subsection, the operator of the vehicle must obtain wr itten proof or
certification of the weight of the auxiliary power or idle reduction
technology unit and be able to demonstrate or certify that the idle
reduction technology is fully functional.
3. Written proof or certification of the weight of the
auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit must be available
to law enforcement officers if the vehicle is found in violation of
applicable weight laws. The additional weight allowed cannot exceed
four hundred (400) pounds or the actual proven or certifi ed weight
of the unit, whichever is less.
H. On the Interstate Highway System, a vehicle carrying fluid
milk products shall be considered a load that cannot be easily
dismantled or divided, or "nondivisible".
I. Utility, refuse collection vehicles or a c ombination of a
wrecker or tow vehicle as described in paragraphs 1 and 2 of
subsection F of this section operating under exceptions shall
purchase an annual special overload permit from the Department of
Public Safety for One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). A ll monies
collected shall be deposited to the credit of the Highway
Construction and Maintenance Fund.
Req. No. 6811 Page 8 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
J. A public electric utility vehicle or rural electric
cooperative vehicle regulated by the Corporation Commission, whose
"Gross Vehicle Weight " does not exceed the otherwise applicable
weight by more than fifteen percent (15%) and whose weight on
individual axles does not exceed the manufacturer 's component rating
which includes axle, suspension, wheels, rims, brakes, and tires as
shown on the vehicle ce rtification label or tag, shall be considered
a load that cannot be easily dismantled or divided, or
"nondivisible".
K. A public electric utility vehicle or rural electric
cooperative vehicle regulated by the Corporation Commission
operating under these e xceptions shall purchase an annual special
overload permit from the Department of Public Safety. All monies
collected shall be deposited to the credit of the Weigh Station
Improvement Revolving Fund as provided in Section 1167 of this
title. The Department shall determine a reasonable fee for the said
annual special overload permit.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
58-1-6811 JBH 01/13/2021