2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC › Chapter 21: WEIGHT, DIMENSION AND PROTECTION OF WAYS › Subchapter 1: WEIGHT › 29-A §2364. Six-axle single unit truck

§2364. Six-axle single unit truck
A 6-axle single unit truck may be operated, or caused to be operated, if:   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
1.  General road limit.
The general road limit for this vehicle is:
A. When the vehicle operates as a 3-axle single unit vehicle, 54,000 pounds gross vehicle weight;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §67 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
B. When the vehicle operates as a 4-axle or 5-axle single unit vehicle, 69,000 pounds gross vehicle weight; and   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §67 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
C. When the vehicle operates as a 6-axle single unit vehicle, 77,200 pounds gross vehicle weight;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §67 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §67 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2.  Axle distance.
Axle distances as measured from axle center to axle center, numbering the axles beginning with the steering axle and moving rearward on the vehicle, are as follows:
Axle to axle
At least
But not more than
Steering to axle 2
13 ft. 7 in.
14 ft. 1 in.
Axle 2 to axle 3
4 ft. 3 in.
4 ft. 9 in.
Axle 3 to axle 4
4 ft.
5 ft. 3 in.
Axle 4 to axle 5
4 ft. 3 in.
4 ft. 9 in.
Axle 5 to axle 6
5 ft.
5 ft. 6 in.
Steering to axle 6
Not applicable
32 ft. 10 in.
The distance between the front bumper and the rear bumper of the vehicle may not exceed 41 feet;
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
3.  Liftable axles.
Axles 2, 5 and 6 of the vehicle may be liftable axles. Axles 2 and 6 must be self-steering axles of a type that has been approved by the Department of Transportation;
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
4.  Four-tired axles.
All axles must be 4-tired axles except the steering axle and axle 2;
[RR 1993, c. 2, §24 (COR).]
5.  Certified weight capacity.
All brakes, axles and suspensions must be certified with respect to weight capacity by a final stage manufacturer. The final stage manufacturer must also certify that the vehicle's axle spacings and interlock devices met the requirements of this paragraph at the time of manufacture. The certification must be filed with the Secretary of State on forms prescribed by the Secretary of State. A copy of the certification must be carried in the vehicle at all times;
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
6.  Operation as a 3-axle single unit vehicle.
When operating as a 3-axle single unit vehicle:
A. All provisions of this Title appropriate for a 3-axle single unit truck with rear tandem axle apply;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. When commodities permitted by section 2357 are carried, gross weight and axle weights must be those specified for 3-axle vehicles for the specific commodities carried; and   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. The basic weight used to calculate fines is a gross vehicle weight road limit of 54,000 pounds or the axle weight limits provided by this section, as appropriate. If there are 2 or more weight violations, only the largest fine applies;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
7.  Operation as a 4-axle or 5-axle single unit vehicle.
When operating as a 4-axle or 5-axle single unit vehicle:
A. Axle 5 must be fully lowered and in contact with the ground at all times;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. All provisions of this Title appropriate for a 4-axle single unit truck with rear tri-axle apply, using the tri-axle group limits for axles 2 to 5;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. When commodities permitted by section 2357 are carried, gross weight and axle weights are those specified for 4-axle or 5-axle vehicles for the specific commodities carried, as appropriate; and   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
D. The basic weight used to calculate fines is a gross vehicle weight road limit of 69,000 pounds or the axle weight limits provided by this section, as appropriate. If there are 2 or more weight violations, only the largest fine applies;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
8.  Operation as a 6-axle single unit vehicle.
When operating a 6-axle single unit vehicle:
A. The vehicle must be registered for at least 77,200 pounds;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. Only forest products may be carried;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. All liftable axles must be in contact with the ground except that axles 2 and 6 may be temporarily lifted when necessary during cornering operations. Immediately following this cornering operation, the axles must be lowered to full contact with the ground. Axles 2 and 6, if liftable, must be fitted with interlock devices that prevent the operator from lifting the axle or axles when the vehicle speed exceeds 15 miles per hour. The devices must be designed to permit the axle-lifting operation only in the low range in a 2-range transmission or in either the low or medium range in a 3-range transmission. The devices must also be designed to automatically lower axles 2 and 6 to normal contact with the ground when the transmission is shifted from the applicable ranges under this division;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
D. The maximum permitted gross vehicle weight is 85,000 pounds;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
E. The maximum weight of the steering axle may not exceed 15,600 pounds and the maximum weight of each of the other axles of the vehicle may not exceed 15,000 pounds;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
F. The following forgiveness provisions are granted on the gross vehicle weight and axle weight limits:
Gross vehicle weight
85,001 lbs. to 87,499 lbs.
Fine waived
87,500 lbs. to 89,999 lbs.
Fine reduced 50%
90,000 lbs. or more
Full fine
Axle weight
Steering axle
No forgiveness granted
Axles 2 to 6:
15,001 lbs. to 15,999 lbs.
Fine waived
16,000 lbs. to 16,499 lbs.
Fine reduced 2/3
16,500 lbs. to 16,999 lbs.
Fine reduced 50%
17,000 lbs. or more
Full fine
No other tolerances or forgivenesses apply; and   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
G. The basic weight used to calculate fines is a gross vehicle weight road limit of 77,200 pounds or the axle weight limits enumerated in paragraph E, as appropriate. If there are 2 or more weight violations, the largest fine only applies; and   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
9.  Application.
Nothing contained in this section is applicable to vehicles operating on the Interstate Highway System, as defined in the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
RR 1993, c. 2, §24 (COR). PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 452, §Q67 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF).