An Act To Ensure the Alignment of Truck Weight Limitations on the Interstate with Those Allowed under Federal Law
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1617
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: SCHNEIDER, RA YE, COLLINS, COURTNEY, KATZ, LANGLEY, PATRICK, PLOWMAN, SHERMAN, THIBODEAU, THOMAS, AYOTTE, BURNS, CAIN, CUSHING, DAVIS, DUCHESNE, FREDETTE, LUCHINI, MAKER, MARTIN, MAZUREK, PEOPLES, RICHARDSON, STEVENS, THERIAULT, TIMBERLAKE, TURNER, WALLACE, WILLETTE
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2355-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1617 
S.P.527 
In Senate, December 20, 2011 
An Act To Ensure the Alignment of Truck Weight Limitations on 
the Interstate with Those Allowed under Federal Law 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 16, 2011. Referred to the Committee 
on Transportation pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed. 
l' 
~~~ &. Co./\C.\oY\ J'""c: 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator SCHNEIDER of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by President RA YE of Washington, Senator COLLINS of York and 
Senators: COURTNEY of York, DIAMOND ofCurnberland, KATZ of Kennebec, LANGLEY 
of Hancock, PATRICK of Oxford, PLOWMAN of Penobscot, SHERMAN of Aroostook, 
THIBODEAU of Waldo, THOMAS of Somerset, Representatives: AYOTTE of Caswell, 
BURNS of Whiting, CAIN of Orono, CRA Y of Palmyra, CUSHING of Hampden, DAVIS of 
Sangerville, DUCHESNE of Hudson, FREDETTE of Newport, HARMON ofPalerrno, 
LUCHINI of Ellsworth, MAKER of Calais, MARTIN of Eagle Lake, MAZUREK of 
Rockland, PEOPLES of Westbrook, RICHARDSON of Carmel, STEVENS of Bangor, 
THERIAULT of Madawaska, TIMBERLAKE of Tumer, TURNER of Burlington, WALLACE 
of Dexter, WILLETTE of Mapleton. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, federal law has been enacted to allow vehicles up to 100,000 pounds 
gross vehicle weight on all of the interstate system in the State for a period of 20 years; 
and 
Whereas, in order to ensure that Maine is in conformity with the federal law, this 
legislation provides rule-making authority to the Commissioner of Transportation; and 
Whereas, allowing heavier vehicles to travel on the interstate system in the State 
rather than on local roads promotes safety, reduces pollution and allows for more 
cost-effective commercial transportation; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §2355-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 469, §1 and affected by 
§2, is amended to read: 
§2355-A.  Six-axle truck weight exemption 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter to the contrary, for as long as 
the provisions of 23 United States Code, Section 127 (a) (11) affording an exemption 
from the federal vehicle weight limitations for vehicles operating on all portions of the 
interstate system are in effect, a 6-axle combination vehicle consisting of a 3-axle truck 
tractor with a tri-axle semitrailer having a maximum gross vehicle weight of 100,000 
pounds may be operated on any portion of the interstate system consistent with this 
subchapter as it applies to the Maine Turnpike. 
The Commissioner of Transportation may adopt routine technical rules, as defined in 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, to ensure the implementation of the provisions of 
this section. 
For the purposes of this section, "interstate system" has the same meaning as in Title 
23, section 1903, subsection 3. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows the Commissioner of Transportation to adopt rules to ensure that the 
federal exemption allowing trucks with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 100,000 
pounds on Maine's interstate system is implemented correctly.