The gross weight imposed on the highway by the wheels of any one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds, or such other weight, if any, as may be permitted by federal law to keep the state from losing federal funds; provided, that inadequate bridges shall be posted to define load limits. The Director of Transportation may, in his or her discretion, designate other public highways for use by vehicles and loads with total outside widths not exceeding 102 inches, otherwise; vehicles and combinations of vehicles, operating on highways with traffic lanes less than 12 feet in width, shall not exceed a total outside width, including any load thereon, of 96 inches, exclusive of mirrors or other safety devices approved by the Department of Transportation. Section 32-9-1

A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. e.Dump trucks, dump trailers, concrete mixing trucks, fuel oil, gasoline trucks, and trucks designated and constructed for special type work or use shall not be made to conform to the axle spacing requirements of paragraph (4)c of this section; provided, that the vehicle shall be limited to a weight of 20,000 pounds per axle plus scale tolerances; and, provided further, that the maximum gross weight of the vehicles shall not exceed the maximum weight allowed by this section for the appropriate number of axles, irrespective of the distance between axles, plus allowable scale tolerances. Copyright 2022, Thomson Reuters. No vehicle shall exceed in length 40 feet; except, that the length of a truck-semitrailer combination, semitrailers, including load, used in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination, shall not exceed 57 feet; semitrailers and trailers, including load, used in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination, shall not exceed 28 1/2 feet each; and motor vehicles designed, used, or maintained primarily as a mobile dwelling, office, or commercial space, commonly called motor homes, shall not exceed 45 feet. | https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-32-motor-vehicles-and-traffic/al-code-sect-32-9-20.html. The weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system carried by that vehicle; and. For purposes of enforcement of this subdivision, lengths of semitrailers and trailers refer to the cargo carrying portion of the unit. No vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be permitted to operate on any portion of the Interstate Highway System of Alabama that shall have a greater weight than 20,000 pounds carried on any one axle, including all enforcement tolerances, or with a tandem axle weight in excess of 34,000 pounds, including all enforcement tolerances, or with an overall gross weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles produced by application of the following formula: where W = overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds, L = distance in feet between the extreme of any group of two or more consecutive axles, and N = number of axles in group under consideration; except, that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each, provided the overall distance between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more; provided, that the overall gross weight may not exceed 80,000 pounds, including all enforcement tolerances. b. i. https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-32-motor-vehicles-and-traffic/al-code-sect-32-9-20.html, Read this complete Alabama Code Title 32. Motor Vehicles and Traffic 32-9-20 - last updated January 01, 2019 Concrete mixing trucks which operate within 50 miles of their home base and do not exceed the maximum allowable gross weight shall not be required to conform to the requirements of paragraph (4)a of this section. All axles shall be brake equipped. Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny the operation of any vehicle or combination of vehicles that could be lawfully operated upon the highways and roads of this state on January 4, 1975. d.For purposes of enforcement of this subdivision, all weights less than or equal to the sum of the weight otherwise prescribed by this subdivision, plus an additional weight to be calculated by multiplying the weight prescribed by this subdivision by one-tenth (.10) that shall represent a scale or enforcement tolerance, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section, and shall not constitute violations thereof. $[y@{"7|Mum}Sx*(: SoOGx m6]3r

(3)Written proof or certification of the weight of the APU must be available to law enforcement officers if the vehicle is found in violation of applicable weight laws. You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed. Motor Vehicles and Traffic 32-9-20 on Westlaw, How to Proactively Encourage Attorney Well-Being (Before It's a Problem), Supreme Court Allows Biden Administration to End 'Remain in Mexico' Program. Current as of January 01, 2019 | Updated by FindLaw Staff. h.The governing body of a county, by appropriate resolution, may authorize limitations less than those prescribed herein for vehicles operated upon the county highways of the county. %PDF-1.3 % ULDa|JbSmE1%pl)YC#cl5 Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs. As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. Two and three axle vehicles being used exclusively for the purpose of transporting agricultural commodities or products to and from a farm and for agricultural purposes relating to the operation and maintenance of a farm by any farmer, custom harvester or husbandman may not be made to conform to the axle requirements of paragraph (4)a of this section or the gross weight requirements of paragraph (4)c of this section. Semitrailers exceeding 53 1/2 feet shall only be operated on highways designated pursuant to Section 127 (a)It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or move on any highway in this state any vehicle or vehicles of a size or weight except in accordance with the following: (1)Width. dM Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting size or weight limits on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways in this state in excess of those permitted under There are a few reasons this might happen: To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page. Additional information is available in this. FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. and shall only be operated when the distance between the kingpin of the semitrailer and the rearmost axle or a point midway between the two rear axles, if the two rear axles are tandem axles, does not exceed 41 feet and if the semitrailer is equipped with a rear underride guard of a substantial construction consisting of a continuous lateral beam extending to within four inches of the lateral extremities of the semitrailer and located not more than 22 inches from the surface as measured with the semitrailers empty and on a level surface. aMS/ZCS0@$%2%I#N\0W \|C b 'Wsq~7^wP5j7u?CYiN'w5E~((k)PksG6#ay-u"u!rX4Top2i:DTuIp~,B(ZC I@B4Uw&34nPi@fPVV. It is the legislative intent and purpose that this section be rigidly enforced by the Department of Transportation, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and any other authorized law enforcement officers of the state, any county, or city and incorporated towns. If the weight of the vehicle is shown by the platform scales to be within the legal limits of this section, the operator of the vehicle shall not be held to be in violation of this section. No evidence shall be admitted into evidence or considered by the trier of fact in any civil action unless the evidence proffered would tend to prove that the weight of the vehicle exceeded the amount provided in this subsection. After completing the CAPTCHA below, you will immediately regain access to the site again. No other vehicle operated on a highway shall carry any load extending more than a total of five feet beyond both the front and rear, inclusive, of the vehicle. 1 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 45 0 R /Resources 37 0 R /Contents 36 0 R /Thumb 108 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Title (INTRODUCTION) /Dest [ 1 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 103 0 R /First 3 0 R /Last 34 0 R /Count 20 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Title (TRUCK DIMENSIONS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS) /Dest [ 1 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Next 12 0 R /First 4 0 R /Last 10 0 R /Count 4 >> endobj 4 0 obj << /Title (Physical Dimensions) /Dest [ 1 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 3 0 R /Next 6 0 R >> endobj 5 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 45 0 R /Resources 49 0 R /Contents 48 0 R /Thumb 110 0 R >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Title (Acceleration and Deceleration Characteristics) /Dest [ 5 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 3 0 R /Prev 4 0 R /Next 8 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 45 0 R /Resources 56 0 R /Contents 55 0 R /Thumb 114 0 R >> endobj 8 0 obj << /Title (Swept-Path Widths) /Dest [ 7 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 3 0 R /Prev 6 0 R /Next 10 0 R >> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 45 0 R /Resources 58 0 R /Contents 57 0 R /Thumb 116 0 R >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Title (Stopping Sight Distance) /Dest [ 9 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 3 0 R /Prev 8 0 R >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 45 0 R /Resources 60 0 R /Contents 59 0 R /Thumb 118 0 R >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Title (where:\tV = initial speed \(mph\);) /Dest [ 11 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 3 0 R /Next 13 0 R >> endobj 13 0 obj << /Title (The underlying assumptions of the model are that the driver eye height i\ s 3.5 feet, and the object height is 2.0 feet. 23 U.S.C. (3)Length. Section 127 Except as provided by special permits, no vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeding the gross weights specified above shall be permitted to travel on the public highways within the State of Alabama. No vehicle or semitrailer or trailer shall exceed in height 13 1/2 feet, including load. f.If the driver of any vehicle can comply with the weight requirements of this section by shifting or equalizing the load on all wheels or axles and does so when requested by the proper authority, the driver shall not be held to be operating in violation of this section. All rights reserved. 23 U.S.C. Truck tractor units used exclusively in combinations transporting motor vehicles may directly carry a portion of the cargo, provided that the combinations are restricted to truck tractor-semitrailer combinations only and provided further that the overall length of these particular combinations shall not exceed 65 feet; except that the overall length of stinger-steered type units shall not exceed 80 feet.

(b)(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 additional 400 pounds total to the gross, axle, tandem, or bridge formula weight limits defined in this section. Relationships such as minimum hea\ dways, speeds selected by passenger cars when traveling next to trucks, \ available sight distance for passenger) /Dest [ 26 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 29 0 R /Next 32 0 R >> endobj 31 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 74 0 R /Resources 84 0 R /Contents 83 0 R /Thumb 136 0 R >> endobj 32 0 obj << /Title (REFERENCES) /Dest [ 31 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 30 0 R /Next 34 0 R >> endobj 33 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 74 0 R /Resources 86 0 R /Contents 85 0 R /Thumb 138 0 R >> endobj 34 0 obj << /Title (AUTHOR\220S INFORMATION) /Dest [ 33 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 32 0 R >> endobj 35 0 obj << /Producer (Acrobat Distiller 4.05 for Windows) /Creator (Microsoft Word 9.0) /ModDate (D:20010618095040-05'00') /Author (Donnell, Eric T.;Adolini, Michelle L.;Torbic, Darren J.;Mason, John M., \ Jr.;Elefteriadou, Lily) /Title (Truck Safety Considerations for Geometric Design and Traffic Operations) /CreationDate (D:20010531135655) /Subject (38 - Safety in Goods Movement) >> endobj 36 0 obj << /Length 2256 /Filter /FlateDecode >> stream Trucks delivering asphalt plant mix which do not exceed the maximum allowable gross weight and operate within 50 miles of their home base shall not be required to conform to the requirements of paragraph (4)a of this section. a. The weight allowed cannot exceed 400 pounds or the actual weight proven or certified, whichever is less. No passenger vehicle shall carry any load extending beyond the line of the fenders. When portable scales are used to determine the weight of a vehicle pursuant to this section, the operator of the vehicle will be permitted to move the vehicle to the nearest platform scales certified by the Department of Agriculture and Industries and operated by a bonded operator within a distance of 10 highway miles, accompanied by an enforcement officer to verify the accuracy of the portable scales used in determining the vehicle weight. Table 4 compares the braking) /Dest [ 11 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 12 0 R /Next 17 0 R /First 15 0 R /Last 15 0 R /Count 1 >> endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 45 0 R /Resources 62 0 R /Contents 61 0 R /Thumb 120 0 R >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Title (Intersection Sight Distance) /Dest [ 14 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 13 0 R >> endobj 16 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 45 0 R /Resources 65 0 R /Contents 64 0 R /Thumb 122 0 R >> endobj 17 0 obj << /Title (Passing Sight Distance) /Dest [ 16 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 13 0 R /Next 19 0 R >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 45 0 R /Resources 67 0 R /Contents 66 0 R /Thumb 124 0 R >> endobj 19 0 obj << /Title (where:\tLp = length of passing vehicle \(ft\);) /Dest [ 18 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 17 0 R /Next 20 0 R >> endobj 20 0 obj << /Title (The passing vehicle trails the passed vehicle by 1-second prior to passi\ ng, and leads the passed vehicle by 1-second after passing.) Vehicles and combinations of vehicles, operating on highways with traffic lanes 12 feet or more in width, shall not exceed a total outside width, including any load thereon, of 102 inches, exclusive of mirrors or other safety devices approved by the Department of Transportation. . (2)To be eligible for the exception provided in this subsection, the operator of the vehicle must provide written proof or certification of the weight of the auxiliary power unit (APU) and demonstrate or certify the idle reduction technology is fully functional at all times. Nothing in this paragraph d. shall restrict or affect the right of any defendant to place in evidence such evidence tending to prove the defendant was in compliance with this section. You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser. The PCE\ s were developed based on FRESIM model out) /Dest [ 26 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 23 0 R /Next 28 0 R >> endobj 28 0 obj << /Title (CONCLUSION) /Dest [ 26 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 27 0 R /Next 29 0 R >> endobj 29 0 obj << /Title (This paper describes both the current and, where applicable, recommended\ geometric design and operational considerations for trucks. b. These equivalency factors are given specifi\ c consideration in the analysis of freeway) /Dest [ 24 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 23 0 R >> endobj 26 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 74 0 R /Resources 81 0 R /Contents 80 0 R /Thumb 134 0 R >> endobj 27 0 obj << /Title (In addition to the PCEs presented above, Elefteriadou and Webster \(12\)\ performed a simulation study of truck PCEs on basic freeway segments. No vehicle hauling forest products or culvert pipe on any highway in this state shall have a load exceeding 102 inches in width. (c)(1)Any motor vehicle, if operated by an engine fueled primarily by natural gas, may exceed any vehicle weight limit, up to a maximum gross vehicle weight of 82,000 pounds, under this section by an amount that is equal to the difference between: a. If the federal government prescribes or adopts vehicle size or weight limits greater than or less than those now prescribed by c.Subject to the limit upon the weight imposed upon the highway through any one axle as set forth herein, the total weight with load imposed upon the highway by all the axles of a vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the gross weight given for the respective distances between the first and last axle of the vehicle or combination of vehicles, measured longitudinally to the nearest foot as set forth in the following table: Distance in feet between first and last axles of vehicle or combination of vehicles. For the purpose of this section, an axle load shall be defined as the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels whose centers are included between two parallel transverse vertical planes 40 inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle. \ The results of the study are referenced in the HCM 2000 \(10\). Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Alabama Code Title 32. It shall be a violation if the vehicles named under this subdivision travel upon bridges designated and posted by the Transportation Director as incapable of carrying the load. Where heavy vehicles are\ the design vehicle, an eye height between 7.5 feet and 8.5 feet is appr\ opriate. /Dest [ 18 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 19 0 R /Next 21 0 R >> endobj 21 0 obj << /Title (Design Speed \(mph\)) /Dest [ 18 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 20 0 R /Next 23 0 R >> endobj 22 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 74 0 R /Resources 72 0 R /Contents 71 0 R /Thumb 128 0 R >> endobj 23 0 obj << /Title (Algebraic Difference in Grades \(%\)) /Dest [ 22 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 21 0 R /Next 27 0 R /First 25 0 R /Last 25 0 R /Count 1 >> endobj 24 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 74 0 R /Resources 76 0 R /Contents 75 0 R /Thumb 130 0 R >> endobj 25 0 obj << /Title (Passenger car equivalents \(PCEs\) are used in the Highway Capacity Manu\ al \(10\) to evaluate the impact of trucks, buses, and recreational vehi\ cles on traffic operations. The Department of Transportation may post or limit any road or bridge to weights less than those prescribed by this section. #"pSXy~R4T1>rkEd,c5PyJ`$LdC9yM}gzZ jg* c~4c'DGly for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, the increased or decreased limits shall become effective on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways in this state. Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select. g.When portable scales are used in the enforcement of this section, the axles of any vehicle described or commonly referred to as tandem or triaxle rigs or units (that is, vehicles having two or more axles in addition to a steering axle), the group of tandem or triaxles shall be weighed simultaneously, and the total weight so derived shall be divided by the number of axles weighed in the group to arrive at the per axle weight, except that if any one axle in the group exceeds 20,000 pounds in weight, it shall not exceed the weight of any other axle in the group by more than 50 percent. (2)This subsection applies on federal interstate highways to the weight limit increases for vehicles using an EPA certified natural gas engine or an EPA approved conversion unit installed on the vehicle which allows the vehicle to operate primarily on compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas. The weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system. (4)It is the intent of this subsection to apply at the state highway level the weight limit increase for vehicles using a functioning auxiliary power or idle reduction technology as provided in the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005. j. No truck tractor-semitrailer combination used exclusively for transporting motor vehicles shall carry any load extending more than four feet beyond the front or six feet beyond the rear of the combination. Truck swep\ t-path widths, acceleration and deceleration characteristics, curb-retur\ n radii at intersections, and horizont) /Dest [ 26 0 R /FitB ] /Parent 2 0 R /Prev 28 0 R /Next 30 0 R >> endobj 30 0 obj << /Title (The impacts of the presence of heavy vehicles on passenger car operation\ s should continue to be investigated. You've disabled cookies in your web browser. HWv8}Wc$c&6V/i+KQNs'pZE,(vuD?~XUER(7&aHyYG3 ExI%6jU;d (2)Height.