The STAA approved the creation of a “national network” for trucks, where federal width and length restrictions would apply. It includes the interstate system and other designated highways that were part of the primary federal assistance system then in effect on June 1, 1991. The NN now covers more than 321,890 kilometers (km) (200,000 miles) of highways across the country. Non-interstate NN highways are listed in 23 CFR Part 658, Schedule A. These rules apply to individual passenger cars (towed or not), commercial vehicles, including tractors for semi-trailers, trailers and buses. Rear-view mirrors and some safety features (such as flags, etc.) may exceed a “reasonable” distance further. Always get official advice on any head start you may have by contacting your state/province DOT office before any move. Local city or county roads may differ from the maximum length, width, height and weight restrictions set out in federal guidelines. Federal width restrictions do not apply to special mobile devices consisting of autonomous vehicles that are not primarily intended or used for the transportation of people or goods and that are moved only randomly along highways.
Special mobile equipment, when moving by its own means, includes: military or agricultural equipment; breeding implements; road construction or maintenance machinery; and emergency equipment, including police and firefighting equipment. Federal regulations do not require states to grant excess width permits before allowing the use of specialized mobile devices. However, if states allow other vehicles greater than 102 inches wide (i.e. If non-special mobile devices) want to operate on the NN, states must grant special permits for excess width. States must allow certain devices to go beyond the 2.6 m (102 inch) width limit of light commercial vehicles on the NN and reasonable access roads. These include mirrors, turn signals, grab handles to enter and exit the driver`s cab, splash and splash extinguishing devices, and load-related tire curvature. Also excluded are non-proprietary devices that do not extend more than 3 inches beyond each side of the vehicle. For more information on maximum load limits, please refer to the regulation. Find out what an itinerary measure is. The maximum length allowed on roads, motorways and motorways. Maximum permissible load sizes. Multi-state and regional permits.
A camel is a box, bridge or plate mounted behind the cab and in front of the fifth wheel coupling on the engine frame of a tractor to transport goods (Figures 13 and 14). Semi-trailer tractors so equipped on 1 December 1982 shall, during their useful life, be subject to the same national length requirements as any other combination of tractors and semi-trailers. The burden of proof of this legal effect on 1 December 1982 lies with the operator of the installation. Maximum laws are created to protect motorists and public property. Know the maximum values. These roads usually have signs indicating the maximum width allowed without obtaining a special travel authorization. You should always inquire about the maximum widths allowed by the governing body of the respective road before driving on it to avoid a fine or worse. In some situations, depending on the width of the vehicle or the size of the shipment, a route survey is required prior to the issuance of a driver`s licence. In the state of Hawaii, commercial vehicles are allowed on all highways of the following maximum width (unless otherwise indicated on the road by sign): Standard: 9 feet or 108 inches. Metric: 2.74 meters or 274 centimeters.
States must provide heavy-duty vehicles that do not exceed federal maximum widths and minimum length restrictions applicable to NN (excluding combinations subject to ISTEA longitude stop) reasonable access between the NN and terminals and facilities for food, fuel, repair, and rest periods. Terminals are defined as any place where cargo begins, ends or is handled in the transportation process. Access must be permitted up to 1.61 km (1 mile) from the NN in the most reasonable and secure manner possible. For access to the terminal and service facilities more than 1.61 km (1 mile) from the NN, the route can be requested from the State. Access shall be granted if the vehicle can safely cover the distance determined by a test drive. If a State does not respond to a request within 90 days, access is granted automatically. If access to a vehicle type is granted, this applies to all vehicles of the same type, regardless of the carrier. Maximum permissible width of vehicles on motorways. Photo credits FHWA.
Trucks or straight trucks are non-mobile self-propelled commercial vehicles (Figure 15). They are subject to federal weight requirements for the interstate system and federal width requirements for the NN, but not federal length requirements. The regulation of vehicle length remains the responsibility of the States. The federal government first passed commercial vehicle size regulations with the passage of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. This law provided for a maximum width of 96 inches (2.44 meters) on the interstate highway network. Subsequently, the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1976 increased the permissible width for buses to 102 inches (2.6 meters). The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982 extended the same 102-inch width requirement to commercial vehicles. At the same time, the STAA expanded the road network, on which the determination of the federal width of the Interstate to the National Network (NN) of highways applied.
(See NN discussion on page 12.) A standard based on the dimensions of existing roads was needed to protect all persons operating a motor vehicle on highways, roads and highways. It should be noted that even public property is exposed to a risk of damage. If motorists accidentally encounter one of the many existing obstacles such as guardrails, signs, traffic light poles, etc., the motorist is ultimately liable, if this is not reported, the state is obliged to repair the damage, which is then passed on to taxpayers in the United States and Canada. Thus, maximum widths have been created to protect both human lives and public property. This brochure explains the federal government`s length and width requirements for certain commercial vehicles and where these vehicles can be used. He paraphrases the rules. In the event of a dispute, the regulations in force apply. The maximum legal length, width, height, and weight allowed to travel, tow or transport on local roads, highways or highways in the United States and Canada are as follows. The maximum width limit for commercial vehicles on the NN and reasonable access roads was initially set at 102 inches, except in Hawaii, where it is 2.74 m (108 inches). (See discussion on reasonable access on page 12.) In order to standardize the width of the vehicle internationally, the latitude limit of 102 inches was interpreted to mean the same thing as its approximate metric equivalent of 2.6 metres (102.36 inches) (Figure 1). The safety and protection of motorists and public property are the main reasons why regulations have been established for the length, width, height and maximum weight of vehicles.
Recreational vehicles are not federally regulated commercial vehicles (Figure 16). Printable version [PDF 1.1MB] To view this PDF, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Phone: 202-366-9210 Fax: 202-366-3302 Website: ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/. The regulations in this brochure can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 23 CFR Part 658. They reflect the legal requirements of United States Code (U.S.C.), U.S.C. 49 31111, 31112, 31113, and 31114. Each State may decide for itself whether the above-mentioned drive cars other than those equipped with camels shall be treated as tractors for semi-trailers or as railway vehicles within the limits of the length imposed by the State. The FHWA published in a final rule on June 13, 1994, a list of weight restrictions for the interstate system and length restrictions for the NN (Tables 2A – English units and 2B – metric units).