New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-29
Uniform Law
For Trucks Is
Badly Needed
Conflict of Existing Legis-
lation Hampers Opera
ton of Heavily Loaded
Commercial Vehicles

Commercial Vehicle
A committee Of representatives Of the
American Association of Highway
Officials, National Automobile Chamber
of Commerce, American Automo bile AS
ISOLATION and Highways Industries As
ISOLATION has drafted a proposed uni
form vehicle law to govern the opera
ton of motor trucks on the highways.
This law proposes that the width over
all shall be limited to 96 inches;
height, ~ feet 6 inches; length, 80
feet for single vehicles and IS feet
for combination of vehicles. The
weight shall be limited to $4,000 pounds
gross weight, distributed not more than
22,400 pounds on one axle, nor more
than 800 pounds for each inch of tire
width measured between the fanges
of tho rim. Under this law officials
may. Issue permits for operation of re-
strictcd vehicles over highways under
their control.
The need Of uniform law govern
ing the operation of motor trucks is
clearly demonstrated by the conflict
of laws as they now exist in the sepa-
rate states. Fot; instance, New York
puts q limit Of $4,000 pounds gross
weight; New Jersey. one of 10000
pounds, and Pennsylvania fixes $4,000
pounds. A truck starting from a New
Jersey point may not, therefore, cross
the line into either New York or Penn
sylvania if conforming to the limit al
lowed in its home state. This is put
ting a curb on interstate haulage with
a vengeance.
The following states have not thus
far fixed any limits on motor trucks:
Alabama. Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louis
lana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hamp shire, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming.
This does not mean, however, that there
are not county and city regulations on
the subject. This only adds to the
confusion.
AS far as there are state laws they
specify as follows:
California-outside width Of tread, 112
and load, 102 inches.
for vehicle equipped with four wheels.
10000 pounds for one equipped with six
inches apart On other than metal tires
weight must be distributed not lnurr tuan
500 pounds per inch of tire width; on
metal COO pounds.
state Department Of Englneerire may
reduce these limits in case Of bridges,
vladucts, etc.
Connecticut--Over-a width limited to
ia inches.
Twenty-Five thousand pounds gross
weight distributed not moro than TOO
pounds per inch Of tire width for non
metal tires; metal tires 500 pounds.
State Highway Commission may restrict
Of commercial motor vehicles OF over
four tons capacity on trunk lines state
aid highways.
Delaware-width Of vehicle limited to
96 inches, height to 148 inches.
Twenty-s thousand pounds gross
weight distrlbuted not moro than 7oo
pounds per inch Of tire width; Gross loa ad
pounds
Illinos-width OF vehicle and Its load
limited to sc inches Combination OF We
hicle and trailers shall not exceed 81 feet
sixteen thousand 5;, gross weight
than 800 pounds per inch width OF tire.
Indiana-Twenty thousand pounds ca
pacity.
Twenty eight Thousand pounds gross
weigh for vehicle and load. 5000 pounds
than 500 pounds per inch width OF tire
on hard surfaced highways and 400 pounds
for earth gravel or similar surfaces.
cnfn 2 irt mounds
weight distributed not more than 500
pounds per inch width of tire for nom
metal tires 500 pounds for metal tires.
Acknowledgment thousand pounds dis
inch width Of tire:
Twenty thousand pounds gross weight
distributed not moro than $50 pounds per
n lnrr msu'n nsnac,tv ~ nora than 10 900
pounds not rcgisterable.
Massac husetts-outsds widstth, 80 inches
overall length OF combination OF vo-
hicles. 65 feet.
S no moro gSunahs .n So
pounds per inch width Of tire
Michigan-Gause Of motor trucks an. and
width, ss inches; over all height. 10 feet
o inches n Aggregate ga sea length OF c0mOna-
Seven hundred pounds maximum load for
tie inches wide up to 5000 pounds for
men Ule ON Wn"el VI - iH|HtS lelcA,
These maxmums ar greater for wheels OF
larger diameter, thus for 44inch wheels be-
ing one and siX-tenths larger: ,..n
New Jersey-Length. "a feet inches;
width, 80 inches; height. 2 feet inches
Thirty thousand pounds ss eoo weight dis-
inch width OF tire.
New Mexico-Rim or tire must DO 3
inches or more wide II intended carrying
capacity exceeds 1000 pounds
e NSw 12 e 1es9 nch wsh (ost.ias
cities.) Twenty-Five thousand pounds
gross weight distributed not moro than
500 pounds per inch width Of tire (Out-
side OF cities)
oho-Tires of fpbber or other similar
on all tires; tires of iron or steel 500
pounds per inch up to and including ia
inches of total width; 500 pounds per Inch
over II inches
Oregon-Ten thousand pounds carrying
capacity 600 pounds per inch width OF
tire.
Pennsylvania-Over-al all width, 90 inches;
overall length. S38 inches. Twenty sia
thousand pounds gross weight distributed
not more than 1880 pounds on one axle
nor more than 500 pounds per inch OF tire
width.
Rhode Island-without special permi,
gross. weight OF trailer limited to 1000
pounds.
south caroltuA---Eisht thousand pounds
Texas-wldth OF body. ~ -anch.s. Eva