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A01140
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
SENATOR RAFFERTY, TRANSPORTATION, AS AMENDED, APRIL 25, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in fees, further providing for annual hauling
permits; and, in general provisions, further providing for
the definition of "stinger-steered automobile" or "boat
transporter"; and, in size, weight and load, further
providing for FIRE APPARATUS, FOR LENGTH OF VEHICLES AND 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:
§ 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 1. SECTIONS 4906 AND 4923(A)(2), (B.1) AND (C) OF
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TITLE 75 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES ARE AMENDED
TO READ:
Section 1. The definition of "stinger-steered automobile" or
"boat transporter" in section 102 of Title 75 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 102. Definitions.
Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
* * *
"Stinger-steered automobile" or "boat transporter." A truck
tractor-semitrailer combination [of a total length not greater
than 75 feet exclusive of an overhang of not more than three
feet on the front and four feet on the rear of the vehicle
configured as a semitrailer combination] wherein the fifth wheel
is located on a drop frame located behind and below the rearmost
axle of the power unit.
* * *
Section 2. Sections 4906 and 4923(a)(2), (b.1) and (c) of
Title 75 are amended to read:
§ 4906. FIRE APPARATUS AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT APPLY TO FIRE APPARATUS BEING OPERATED
ON THE HIGHWAY UNLESS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED OTHERWISE. THE
WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER DO NOT APPLY TO EMERGENCY
VEHICLES AS DEFINED IN 23 U.S.C. § 127(R)(2) (RELATING TO
VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITATIONS-INTERSTATE SYSTEM). IN LIEU OF THE
WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER, THE REQUIREMENTS OF 23
U.S.C. § 127(R)(1) SHALL APPLY TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
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§ 4923. LENGTH OF VEHICLES.
(A) MOTOR VEHICLES.--
* * *
(2) PARAGRAPH (1) DOES NOT APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING:
(I) A MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A BOOM OR BOOMLIKE
DEVICE IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EXCEED 55 FEET.
(II) A BUS, SCHOOL BUS OR MOTOR HOME WHICH DOES NOT
EXCEED 45 FEET.
(III) AN ARTICULATED BUS WHICH DOES NOT EXCEED 63
FEET.
(IV) AN AUTOMOBILE OR BOAT TRANSPORTER WHICH DOES
NOT EXCEED 45 FEET, EXCLUSIVE OF AN OVERHANG OF NOT MORE
THAN THREE FEET ON THE FRONT AND FOUR FEET ON THE REAR.
AN AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTER SHALL NOT BE PROHIBITED FROM
THE TRANSPORT OF CARGO OR GENERAL FREIGHT ON A BACKHAUL
IF THE AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTER COMPLIES WITH THE WEIGHT
LIMITATIONS FOR A TRUCK TRACTOR AND SEMITRAILER
COMBINATION motor vehicle .
(B.1) COMBINATIONS.--
(1) THE LENGTH OF A SINGLE TRAILER BEING TOWED BY A
TRUCK TRACTOR SHALL NOT EXCEED 53 FEET PROVIDED THE DISTANCE
BETWEEN THE KINGPIN AND THE CENTER LINE OF THE REAR AXLE OR
REAR AXLE GROUP DOES NOT EXCEED 41 FEET OR, IN THE CASE OF A
TRAILER USED EXCLUSIVELY OR PRIMARILY TO TRANSPORT VEHICLES
IN CONNECTION WITH MOTOR SPORTS COMPETITION EVENTS, DOES NOT
EXCEED 46 FEET.
(2) FOR A DOUBLE TRAILER, THE LENGTH OF EACH TRAILER
BEING TOWED IN COMBINATION BY A TRUCK TRACTOR SHALL NOT
EXCEED 28 1/2 FEET.
(3) THE OVERALL LENGTH OF THE COMBINATION OF A TRUCK
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TRACTOR WITH A CONVENTIONAL FIFTH WHEEL AND AN AUTO OR BOAT
TRANSPORTER SHALL NOT EXCEED 65 FEET, EXCLUSIVE OF AN
OVERHANG OF NOT MORE THAN THREE FEET ON THE FRONT AND FOUR
FEET ON THE REAR OF THE COMBINATION.
(4) THE OVERALL LENGTH OF A STINGER-STEERED AUTO OR BOAT
TRANSPORTER COMBINATION SHALL NOT EXCEED [75] 80 FEET,
EXCLUSIVE OF AN OVERHANG OF NOT MORE THAN [THREE] FOUR FEET
ON THE FRONT AND [FOUR] SIX FEET ON THE REAR OF THE
COMBINATION. A STINGER-STEERED AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTER SHALL
NOT BE PROHIBITED FROM THE TRANSPORT OF CARGO OR GENERAL
FREIGHT ON A BACKHAUL IF THE STINGER-STEERED AUTOMOBILE
TRANSPORTER COMPLIES WITH THE WEIGHT LIMITATIONS FOR A TRUCK
TRACTOR AND SEMITRAILER COMBINATION.
(5) THE OVERALL LENGTH OF A SADDLE-MOUNT COMBINATION
SHALL NOT EXCEED 75 FEET.
(6) THE OVERALL LENGTH OF A MAXI-CUBE COMBINATION SHALL
NOT EXCEED 65 FEET.
(7) A COMBINATION CONSISTING OF ANY TOW TRUCK TOWING A
DISABLED MOTOR VEHICLE TO A PLACE OF REPAIRS OR OTHER PLACE
OF SAFETY.
(8) A COMBINATION TRANSPORTING ARTICLES THAT,
THEMSELVES, DO NOT EXCEED 70 FEET IN LENGTH AND ARE
NONDIVISIBLE AS TO LENGTH.
(9) THE OVERALL LENGTH OF A TOWAWAY TRAILER TRANSPORTER
COMBINATION SHALL NOT EXCEED 82 FEET.
(C) DEFINITIONS.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING
WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS
SUBSECTION:
"AUTOMOBILE OR BOAT TRANSPORTER." A TRUCK OF A TOTAL LENGTH
NOT GREATER THAN 45 FEET, EXCLUSIVE OF AN OVERHANG OF NOT MORE
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THAN THREE FEET ON THE FRONT AND FOUR FEET ON THE REAR OF THE
VEHICLE CONFIGURED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO HAUL EITHER
AUTOMOBILES, LIGHT TRUCKS OR BOATS.
"TOWAWAY TRAILER TRANSPORTER COMBINATION." AS FOLLOWS:
(1) A COMBINATION OF VEHICLES CONSISTING OF A TRAILER
TRANSPORTER TOWING UNIT AND TWO TRAILERS OR SEMITRAILERS WITH
A TOTAL WEIGHT THAT DOES NOT EXCEED 26,000 POUNDS; AND
(2) THE TRAILERS OR SEMITRAILERS CARRY NO PROPERTY AND
CONSTITUTE INVENTORY PROPERTY OF A MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR
OR DEALER OF THE TRAILERS OR SEMITRAILERS.
"TRAILER TRANSPORTER TOWING UNIT." A POWER UNIT THAT IS NOT
USED TO CARRY PROPERTY WHEN OPERATING IN A TOWAWAY TRAILER
TRANSPORTER COMBINATION.
Section 2 3. Section 4941(a) of Title 75 is amended and the
section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 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
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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. § 127 (relating to vehicle weight limitations--
Interstate System).
Section 3 4. Section 4962(f) of Title 75 is amended to read:
§ 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:
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
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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-
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 5. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to
read:
§ 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
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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 3 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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