Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1702
Committee Amendment CA_A_H749 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2390

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to H.P. 1209, L.D. 1702, Bill, "An 
Act To Increase Efficiency in Truck Hauling" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 (page 1, 
lines 18 to 30 in L.D.) and inserting in its place the following: 
'Sec. I. 29-A MRSA §2390, sub-§I, 1JJ, as amended by PL 2005, c. 
170, §2, is further amended to read: 
J. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, 
a single semitrailer whose total structural length exceeds 
feet but does not exceed 53 feet may be operated in 
combination with a truck tractor on a highway network aHa 
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(1) 
The wheelbase of the semitrailer, measured as the 
distance from the kingpin to the center of the rearmost 
axle of the semitrailer, may not exceed 43 feet. 
( 2) 
The kingpin setback of the semi trailer, measured 
as the distance from the kingpin to the front of the 
semitrailer, may not exceed 3 1/2 feet"in length. 
(3) 
The rear overhang of the semitrailer, measured as 
the distance from the center of the rear tandem axles 
of the semitrailer to the rear of the semitrailer, may 
not exceed 35% of the wheelbase of the semitrailer. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to H.P. 1209, L.D. 1702 
(4) 
The semitrailer must be equipped with 
a 
rear 
underride guard that is of sufficient strength to 
prevent a motor vehicle from penetrating underneath the 
semitrailer, extends across the rear of the semitrailer 
to within an average distance of 
inches 
of 
the 
lateral extremities of the semitrailer, exclusive of 
safety bumper appurtenances, and is placed at a height 
not exceeding 22 inches from the surface of the ground 
as measured when the semitrailer is empty and is on a 
level surface. 
(5) 
The semitrailer must be equipped with vehicle 
lights that comply with or exceed federal standards and 
reflective material approved by the Commissioner of 
Transportation that must be located on the semi trailer 
in 
a 
manner 
prescribed 
by 
the 
commissioner. 
The 
semitrailer must display a conspicuous warning on the 
rear of the semitrailer indicating that the vehicle 
combination has a wide turning radius. 
(8) 
Except 
as 
provided in subparagraph 
(10), 
the 
overall length of the truck tractor and semitrailer 
combination of vehicles traveling beyond the national 
network 
may 
not 
exceed 
feet, 
including 
all 
structural 
parts 
of 
the 
vehicle, 
permanent 
or 
temporary, and any load carried on or in the vehicle. 
For 
the 
purposes 
of 
this 
subparagraph, 
"national 
network" means those highways in the State identified 
under 23 Code of Federal Regulations, Appendix A to 
Part 658. 
(9) 
Notwithstanding section 2380, 
the width of the 
semitrailer must be 102 inches, except that the width 
of the rear safety bumper 
and appurtenances to the 
safety bumper may not exceed 103 inches and except that 
the width of a flatbed or lowboy semitrailer, measured 
as the distance between the outer surface edges of the 
semitrailer's tires, must be at least 96 inches but no 
more than 102 inches. 
(10) 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A" to H.P. 1209, L.D. 1702 
mQs~-~~~~-fF&m-~he-~~~-~~-~raBSFer~a~ieB 
aBQ-~~~~~-~~-~h~~~~-~Fae~erT For vehicles whose 
overall 
length 
exceeds 
feet, 
including 
all 
structural 
parts 
of 
the 
vehicle, 
permanent 
or 
temporary, and any load carried on or in the vehicle, 
access is permitted to service facilities or terminals 
within one mile of the national network. 
For purposes 
of this subparagraph, 
"national network" means those 
highways 
in the State identified under 
Code 
of 
Federal Regulations, Appendix A to Part 658. 
(12) 
This vehicle combination may not transport cargo 
that has been prohibited for this vehicle combination 
by the Commissioner of Transportation. 
(13) 
This paragraph does not apply to a trailer or 
semitrailer when transporting or returning empty from 
transporting a nondivisible load or object under the 
provisions of an over1imit permit granted by section 
2382. 
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Nothing in this paragraph limits 
the 
authority of 
the 
department 
under 
Title 
23, 
section 
to 
adopt 
rules 
prohibiting or limiting access 
by semitrailers or other 
vehicles to a 
highway or portion of a 
highway or other 
segment of the transportation infrastructure in order to 
ensure public safety.' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
eliminates 
the 
53-foot 
access 
system 
designated by the Commissioner of Transportation, 
allowing 
a 
single semitrailer whose total structural length exceeds 48 feet 
but does not exceed 53 feet to be operated in combination with a 
truck tractor on the highway network if safety standards and 
conditions are met. 
The amendment also clarifies the Department 
of Transportation' s 
rule-making authority to limit or prohibit 
access by semitrailers to certain highways to ensure safety. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT