An Act Regarding Axle Weight on Tri-axle Farm Trucks
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1960
Committee Amendment CA_A_S409 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 754, L.D. 1960, Bill, "An Act 
Regarding Axle Weight on Tri-axle Farm Trucks" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 3 (page 1, lines 9 to 11 in L.D.) and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 3. 29-A MRS A §2357, sub-§2, ~ 
is enacted to read: 
E. On the tri-axle unit of a 4-axle single-unit vehicle registered as a farm truck under 
section 505 and hauling potatoes, 64,000 pounds. This paragraph is repealed October 
1,2013. 
Sec. 4. 
Report. 
The Chief of the State Police and the Commissioner of 
Transportation shall report no later than January IS, 2013 to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters an evaluation of the 
impact on roads and bridges of axle weight tolerances for tri-axle units of 4-axle single-
unit vehicles used to haul forest products and potatoes. The report must include accident 
report data and citations for violations of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 
2357, subsection 2, paragraphs D and E and must also include recommendations for 
continuance, discontinuance or modification of tri-axle weight tolerances for 4-axle 
single-unit vehicles used to haul forest products and potatoes. 
The joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters may submit 
legislation related to the subject matter ofthe report under this section to the First Regular 
Session of the I 26th Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
The amendment clarifies that the expansion of axle tolerance limits to 64,000 pounds 
pertains to the tri-axle unit of a 4-axle single-unit vehicle registered as a farm truck under 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 505 and hauling potatoes. 
The 
amendment repeals this provision October 1,2013. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT·A "to S.P. 754, L.D. 1960 
The amendment also directs the Chief of the State Police and the Commissioner of 
Transportation to evaluate the impact of axle weight tolerances for tri-axle units of 4-axle 
vehicles used to haul forest products and potatoes on road and bridge conditions and to 
report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
transportation matters no later than January 15,2013. The amendment gives the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters 
authority to submit legislation related to the subject matter of the report to the First 
Regular Session of the 126th Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 01/29/08 frae. 
LD 1960 
LR 2888(02) 
An Act Regarding Axle Weight on Tri-axle Farm Trucks 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "II" 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - Highway Fund 
Minor revenue decrease - General Fund and Highway Fund 
Minor savings - General Fund 
=orrectional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Eliminates civil violations. A reduction in fines will decrease General Fund and Highway Fund revenue by minor 
amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This legislation increases the maximum axle load on the tJ·i-axle unit of a 4-axle vehicle registered as a farm truck 
hauling potatoes from 54,000 pounds to 64,000 pounds until October 1,2013. The Depal1ment of Transp0l1ation 
indicates that this increase could result in a significant fiscal impact due to highway and road deterioration. Axle 
loads are the primary determinant of pavement deterioration, and the Department indicates that a 10% increase in axle 
weight results in a 46% increase in pavement damage. 
The Department is not able to reasonably estimate at this 
time how many trucks might use this added weight, whether additional trucks would be added or configured by 
farmers for potatoes, which roads they may use, or how many miles they may drive. 
LR2888(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1