SB 341

Under current law, no person may operate on a highway any vehicle or

combination of vehicles that exceeds certain statutory limits on size, weight, or load

unless an exception applies or the person possesses a permit issued by the

Department of Transportation or local highway authorities. Current law generally

prohibits a person from operating on a highway, without a permit, any vehicle having

a total outside width in excess of eight feet six inches. Current law also generally

prohibits a person from operating on a highway any single vehicle with an overall

length in excess of 45 feet or any combination of two vehicles with an overall length

in excess of 70 feet. Under one exception, a person may operate, without a permit,

a single vehicle with an overall length not exceeding 60 feet, and a two-vehicle

combination with an overall length not exceeding 120 feet, if the vehicle or vehicle

combination is used by a pipeline company or operator, public service corporation,

municipal utility, or cooperative association (collectively a "utility"), or by a motor

carrier operating under contract with a utility, for transportation of poles, pipe,

girders, and similar materials.

Also under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate on a

highway, without a permit, any vehicle or vehicle combination carrying a load

extending more than three feet beyond the front of the vehicle.

This bill allows a vehicle or vehicle combination used by a utility, or by a motor

carrier operating under contract with a utility, for transportation of poles, pipe,

girders, and similar materials to, without a permit: 1) have a total outside width not

exceeding nine feet; and 2) carry a load extending not more than ten feet beyond the

front bumper of the vehicle or foremost vehicle in the vehicle combination.