A01013
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
589
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, TOMLINSON, EICHELBERGER, GORDNER, YAW,
VOGEL, VULAKOVICH, SCARNATI, RAFFERTY, RESCHENTHALER,
BARTOLOTTA, WHITE, STEFANO, MARTIN, WARD, WAGNER, AUMENT,
McGARRIGLE AND SCAVELLO, APRIL 13, 2017
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 13, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in fees, further providing for annual hauling
permits; and, in size, weight and load, further providing for
maximum gross weight of vehicles and for conditions of
permits and security for damages and providing for permit for
movement of freight via natural gas vehicles.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1943 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
ยง 1943. Annual hauling permits.
* * *
(s) Natural gas vehicles.--The annual fee for movement of
freight via natural gas vehicles, as provided for in section
4979.7 (relating to permit for movement of freight via natural
gas vehicles) shall be $500.
Section 2. Section 4941(a) of Title 75 Section 1. Section
4941(a) of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is
amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
read:
ยง 4941. Maximum gross weight of vehicles.
(a) General rule.--[No] Except as provided for in subsection
(d), no vehicle shall, when operated upon a highway, have a
gross weight exceeding 80,000 pounds, and no combination driven
upon a highway shall have a gross weight exceeding 80,000
pounds, or the applicable weight set as forth in subsection (b)
or (c), whichever is less.
* * *
(d) Natural gas vehicles.--
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
vehicle that is operated by an engine fueled primarily by
compressed or liquefied natural gas may exceed the gross
vehicle weight limits imposed under this section by an
amount, not to exceed a maximum of 2,000 pounds, that is
equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle
attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system
carried by the vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel
tank and fueling system.
(2) The weight exemption provided for under this
subsection shall apply to all State highways and interstate
highways as provided by the exemption permitted under 23
U.S.C. ยง 127 (relating to vehicle weight limitations--
Interstate System).
Section 3. Section 4962(f) of Title 75 is amended to read:
ยง 4962. Conditions of permits and security for damages.
* * *
(f) When loads permitted.--Only vehicles and combinations
permitted under the following provisions shall be authorized to
carry or haul loads while operating under the permit:
A01013 - 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
25
26
27
28
29
30
Section 4961(a)(2), (3) and (6) (relating to authority to
issue permits).
Section 4965 (relating to single permits for multiple
highway crossings).
Section 4968 (relating to permit for movement during
course of manufacture).
Section 4974 (relating to permit for movement of
containerized cargo).
Section 4975 (relating to permit for movement of special
mobile equipment).
Section 4976 (relating to permit for movement of domestic
animal feed).
Section 4976.1 (relating to permit for movement of live
domestic animals).
Section 4976.2 (relating to permit for movement of eggs).
Section 4977 (relating to permit for movement of wooden
structures).
Section 4978 (relating to permit for movement of building
structural components).
Section 4979 (relating to permit for movement of
particleboard or fiberboard used in the manufacture of ready-
to-assemble furniture).
Section 4979.1 (relating to permit for movement of bulk
refined oil).
Section 4979.2 (relating to permit for movement of waste
coal and beneficial combustion ash).
Section 4979.3 (relating to permit for movement of float
glass or flat glass for use in construction and other end
uses).
Section 4979.4 (relating to permit for movement of self-
A01013 - 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
25
26
27
28
29
30
propelled cranes).
Section 4979.5 (relating to permit for movement of
nonhazardous liquid glue).
Section 4979.6 (relating to permit for movement of waste
tires).
Section 4979.7 (relating to permit for movement of
freight via natural gas vehicles).
* * *
Section 4. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 4979.7. Permit for movement of freight via natural gas
vehicles.
An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on
specified highways of freight as allowed by law by a vehicle
powered by natural gas, be it compressed or liquefied, which
exceeds the maximum vehicle gross weight specified in section
4941 (relating to maximum gross weight of vehicles). The weight
of any vehicle permitted under this section may not exceed
82,000 pounds overall gross weight and 21,000 pounds on any
steering axle.
Section 5 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
A01013 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20