2023 Texas Statutes › Transportation Code › Title 7 - Vehicles and Traffic › Subtitle E - Vehicle Size and Weight › Chapter 621 - General Provisions Relating to Vehicle Size and Weight › Subchapter A. General Provisions › Section 621.001. Definitions

Sec. 621.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Commercial motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, designed or used for:
(A)  the transportation of property;  or
(B)  delivery purposes.
(2)  "Commission" means the Texas Transportation Commission.
(3)  "Department" means the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
(4)  "Director" means:
(A)  the executive director of the department; or
(B)  an employee of the department who is:
(i)  a division or special office director or holds a rank higher than division or special office director; and
(ii)  designated by the executive director.
(5)  "Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is self-propelled.
(6)  "Semitrailer" means a vehicle without motive power that is designed, or used with a motor vehicle, so that some of its weight and the weight of its load rests on or is carried by the motor vehicle.
(7)  "Trailer" means a vehicle without motive power that is:
(A)  designed or used to carry property or passengers on its own structure exclusively;  and
(B)  drawn by a motor vehicle.
(8)  "Truck-tractor" means a motor vehicle designed or used primarily for drawing another vehicle:
(A)  that is not constructed to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load being drawn;  or
(B)  that is engaged with a semitrailer in the transportation of automobiles or boats and that transports the automobiles or boats on part of the truck-tractor.
(9)  "Vehicle" means a mechanical device, other than a device moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, in, on, or by which a person or property can be transported on a public highway.  The term includes a motor vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, truck-tractor, trailer, or semitrailer but does not include manufactured housing as defined by Chapter 1201, Occupations Code.
(10)  "Single axle weight" means the total weight transmitted to the road by all wheels whose centers may be included between two parallel transverse vertical planes 40 inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle.
(11)  "Tandem axle weight" means the total weight transmitted to the road by two or more consecutive axles whose centers may be included between parallel transverse vertical planes spaced more than 40 inches and not more than 96 inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle.
(12)  "Port of entry" means a place designated by executive order of the president of the United States, by order of the United States secretary of the treasury, or by act of the United States Congress at which a customs officer is authorized to accept entries of merchandise, collect duties, and enforce customs and navigation laws.  The term includes a publicly owned or privately owned international port of entry between this state and the United Mexican States.
(13)  "Board" means the board of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 941, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1227, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 14A.835, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 313 (S.B. 619), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1345 (S.B. 1420), Sec. 54, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1135 (H.B. 2741), Sec. 97, eff. September 1, 2013.