An Act To Provide Equity for Commercial Vehicles on Roads and Bridges in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1498
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: JACKSON, McLEAN, FARRIN
Amends: 29-A MRSA §504, 29-A MRSA §2352, 29-A MRSA §2353, 29-A MRSA §2354, 29-A MRSA §2354-C, 29-A MRSA §2354-F, 29-A MRSA §2355-A, 29-A MRSA §2357, 29-A MRSA §2360

Legislative Document
No. 1498
S.P. 460
In Senate, April 4, 2019
An Act To Provide Equity for Commercial Vehicles on Roads and 
Bridges in Maine
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by President JACKSON of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative McLEAN of Gorham and
Senator: FARRIN of Somerset.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §504, sub-§1, ¶DD, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 580, §2 and 
affected by §14, is amended to read:
DD.  For gross weight from 94,001 to 100,000 137,700 pounds, the fee is $1,234.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §2352, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 580, §4 and 
affected by §14, is further amended to read:
1.  Maximum.  A gross vehicle weight of 100,000 137,700 pounds;
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §2353, sub-§1, ¶E, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 580, §6, is 
amended to read:
E.  For a combination of 3-axle truck tractor and tri-axle semitrailer, 100,000 108,900 
pounds.
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §2354, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 267, §1 and 
affected by §16, is further amended to read:
2.  108,900 pounds.  One hundred eight thousand nine hundred pounds, as long as 
the vehicle meets these requirements:
A.    The distance between the extreme axles, excluding the steering axle, is not less 
than 36 feet as measured to the nearest foot.  The maximum gross vehicle weight 
permitted is reduced by 2,000 pounds for each foot the distance is less than 36 feet 
between the extreme axles, excluding the steering axle, measured to the nearest foot;
B.    The minimum distance between the steering axle and the first axle of the 
tandem-axle group is at least 10 feet as measured to the nearest foot; and
C.    The maximum individual weight on the: distribution maximum limits are as 
follows: for the steering axle, 12,375 pounds; for the drive axles, 40,500 pounds; and 
for the semitrailer axles, 58,500 pounds, but in no case may the total of these values 
exceed 108,900 pounds.
(1)  Tandem axle does not exceed 41,000 pounds; and
(2)  Tri-axle does not exceed 50,000 pounds.
Nothing contained in this subsection applies to vehicles using the Interstate Highway 
System as defined in the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956.
Except as provided in section 2360, subsections 4 and 5, for vehicles operating under this 
subsection, gross vehicle weight violations are fined in accordance with the following 
schedule:
Percent over 100,000 108,900
Fine for
pounds 
each percent
1-10%
$100 + $20 
for each
For all vehicles manufactured, modified or retrofitted with liftable or variable load 
suspension axles after October 30, 1991, liftable or variable load suspension axles are 
permitted only under the following conditions:  only one liftable or variable load axle 
may be present on the truck tractor and only one liftable or variable load axle may be 
present on the semitrailer; liftable or variable load axles must be located on the vehicle so 
that they are legally part of the tandem axle group or tri-axle group as appropriate; and 
the axle weight rating of liftable or variable load axles must conform to the expected 
loading of the suspension and must be 20,000 pounds or more.
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §2354-C, as amended by PL 2015, c. 119, §§1 and 2 and 
corrected by RR 2015, c. 1, §34, is repealed.
Sec. 6.  29-A MRSA §2354-F is enacted to read:
§2354-F.  Eight-axle limits
1.  Definition.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "B-
train double" means a truck tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination vehicle in which 
the 2 trailing units are connected with a B-train assembly.  The B-train assembly is a rigid 
frame extension attached to the rear frame of a first semitrailer that allows for a 5th wheel 
connection point for a 2nd semitrailer.  This combination has one less articulation point 
than the conventional A-dolly-connected truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination.
2.  Operation permitted.  Notwithstanding any provision of this subchapter other 
than section 2354-D, a combination vehicle consisting of a 3-axle truck tractor with a 
semitrailer-semitrailer combination configured as a B-train double with 8 axles total may 
be operated with a gross vehicle weight of 137,700 pounds.  The weight of the 2nd 
semitrailer may not exceed the weight of the first semitrailer.
The overall length limit for a B-train double is 82.02 feet.
3.  Fines.  Except as provided in section 2360, subsections 4 and 5, for vehicles 
operating under this subsection, gross vehicle weight violations are fined in accordance 
with the following schedule:
percent over 1%
11-20%
 $280 + $125 
for each
percent over 10%
21-30%
$1,530 + $135 
for each
percent over 20%
31-40%
$2,880 + $150 
for each
percent over 30%
41% or more
$4,380 + 
$175 for each
percent over 40%
Sec. 7.  29-A MRSA §2355-A, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 469, §1 and 
affected by §2, is amended to read:
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 
108,900 pounds may be operated on any portion of the interstate system consistent with 
this subchapter as it applies to the Maine Turnpike.
Sec. 8.  29-A MRSA §2357, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2003, c. 166, §12, is 
further amended to read:
4.  Six-axle combination.  Notwithstanding subsection 2, a 6-axle combination 
vehicle consisting of a 3-axle truck tractor operating in combination with a tri-axle 
semitrailer may not exceed 100,000 108,900 pounds.  The distance between the extreme 
axles of a vehicle under this subsection, excluding the steering axle, must be at least 32 
feet and the vehicle must be registered for at least 90,000 pounds.  The maximum gross 
vehicle weight permitted is reduced by 2,000 pounds for each foot the distance is less 
than 32 feet between the extreme axles, excluding the steering axle, measured to the 
nearest foot.
Sec. 9.  29-A MRSA §2357, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2005, c. 426, §1 and 
affected by PL 2007, c. 453, §2, is further amended to read:
7.  Penalty calculation; fine base and fine schedule.  When a weight tolerance 
established in this section is exceeded, the difference between the actual weight and the 
fine base for the tolerance must be used as the basis for determining the percentage of 
overload in the appropriate fine schedule and the tolerance must be disregarded. For a 6-
Percent over 137,700
Fine for
pounds
each percent
1-10%
$100 + $20
for each
percent over 1%
11-20%
$280 + $125 
for each
percent over 10%
21-30%
$1,530 + $135 
for each
percent over 20%
31-40%
$2,880 + $150 
for each
percent over 30%
41% or more
$4,380 + 
$175 for each
percent over 40%
axle combination vehicle described in subsection 4 that is registered for 100,000 108,900 
pounds, the fine base for the gross vehicle weight is 100,000 108,900 pounds and the fine 
schedule in section 2354 applies. For a 6-axle combination vehicle described in 
subsection 4 that is registered for less than 100,000 108,900 pounds, the fine base for 
gross vehicle weight is 90,000 pounds and the fine schedule in section 2360 applies. For 
all other vehicles operating under the gross vehicle weight tolerances in subsection 2, 
except as provided in subsection 9, and for all vehicles operating under the axle unit 
weight tolerances in subsection 2, the fine base is the appropriate limit in section 2353 
and the fine schedule in section 2360 applies.
Sec. 10.  29-A MRSA §2357, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 426, §2 and 
affected by PL 2007, c. 453, §2, is amended to read:
9.   Penalty calculation; tandem axle fine base for 6-axle special commodity 
vehicles registered for 108,900 pounds gross weight.  For a 6-axle tractor-semitrailer 
vehicle registered for 100,000 108,900 pounds gross weight hauling special commodities 
with a tandem axle weight for which a Violation Summons and Complaint may be issued, 
the tandem axle weight fine provided by section 2360 must be based on the difference 
between the tandem axle weight and 41,000 pounds.
Sec. 11.  29-A MRSA §2360, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2001, c. 267, §6 and 
affected by §16, is further amended to read:
3.  Schedule of fines.  Except as provided in section 2354, subsection 2 and section 
2354-F, subsection 3, the fine must be based on the amount of gross vehicle weight or 
axle weight in excess of the limits prescribed in sections 2352 to 2355, 2357 or 2365, as 
appropriate.
This schedule is cumulative:
SUMMARY
Current law allows certain commercial vehicles at Canadian weight limits that are 
higher than those in this State to travel from the United States-Canada border to certain 
points in this State.
This bill repeals that law and allows certain commercial vehicles to be operated in 
this State at those higher weight limits.  A combination vehicle consisting of a 3-axle 
truck tractor with a tri-axle semitrailer may be operated with a maximum gross vehicle 
weight of 108,900 pounds.  A combination vehicle consisting of a 3-axle truck tractor 
Percent over allowed basic weight
Fine for each percent
1-10%
$10 for each percent
11-20%
$100 + $65 for each percent over 10%
21-30%
$750 + $75 for each percent over 20%
31-40%
$1,500 + $105 for each percent over 30%
41-50%
$2,550 + $140 for each percent over 40%
more than 50%
$3,950 + $180 for each percent over 50%
with a semitrailer-semitrailer combination configured as a B-train double with 8 axles 
total may be operated with a gross vehicle weight of 137,700 pounds.