Washington Administrative Code › Title 468 - Transportation, Department of (See Title 88) › Chapter 468-38 - Vehicle size and weight-Highway restrictions-Equipment › Section 468-38-270 - Specialized equipment

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Why are
			 certain vehicles designated as specialized equipment?
Certain vehicles
			 are designed and built for very unique functions other than transporting
			 persons. The federal highway administration classifies and references some of
			 these vehicles as specialized equipment in
			 Title
			 23 C.F.R. Part 658.13 (e) and
			 sets minimum and/or maximum parameters for the vehicle to operate. The
			 department adopted these specialized classifications and accepted or further
			 defined the legal parameters for operation on state highways. In addition to
			 federal rule, the department has also recognized certain specially designed
			 vehicles that, by necessity, exceed one or more of the vehicle size and weight
			 parameters in
			 chapter
			 46.44 RCW. The department
			 has also classified these over-legal vehicles as specialized equipment in order
			 to authorize their movement on state highways, using a special motor vehicle
			 permit, and provide a consistent administrative and enforcement treatment. All
			 vehicles exceeding legal requirements are subject to the requirements of this
			 section and the requirements of
			 chapter
			 46.44 RCW.
(2)
What vehicle types are classified
			 by Title
			 23 Code of Federal Regulations
			 (C.F.R.) 658.13(e) as specialized equipment, including size limits, and
			 authorized to operate on the state highways without a special permit?
Listed in alphabetical order:
Automobile transporter:
To be considered an
				automobile transporter, the power unit and the trailing unit must be modified
				to carry assembled automobiles. If the combination consists of a truck and
				stinger-steered trailing unit, the overall dimension for length must not exceed
				eighty feet, plus a front overhang of four feet and rear overhang of six feet.
				If the combination consists of a tractor and semi-trailer (traditional high
				mount), overall dimension for length will not exceed sixty-five feet, plus
				three-foot front overhang and four-foot rear overhang.
* The conventional and stinger steered automobile transporter
				is authorized to haul general freight on a backhaul. Backhaul for this section
				means a return trip back over all or part of the same route.
Boat transporter:
See automobile
				transporter.
Driveaway saddlemount vehicles:
A combination
				consisting of a maximum of four trucks or truck tractors used in driveaway
				service where three of the vehicles are towed by the fourth in triple
				saddlemount position. The overall dimension for the length of the saddlemount
				combination will not exceed ninety-seven feet. Such combinations may include
				all axles of one vehicle loaded upon another, known as a full-mount.
Munitions carriers with dromedary equipment:
A
				truck tractor equipped with a dromedary unit operating in combination with a
				semi-trailer transporting Class 1 explosives and/or any munitions related
				security material, as specified by the U.S. Department of Defense in compliance
				with 49 C.F.R.
				177.835, overall dimension for length not to
				exceed seventy-five feet.
(3)
What other vehicle types does the
			 department recognize as specialized equipment for the purpose of oversize and
			 overweight permitting?
The following specialized equipment, including
			 size and weight parameters, can operate with special permit. Listed in
			 alphabetical order:
Concrete pumper trucks:
As a single unit fixed
				load vehicle, may exceed the legal weight limits in RCW 46.44.-041 and
				46.44.042 with a special motor vehicle permit, but must comply with the
				requirements in
				RCW
				 46.44.091. Tire loading for the movement is
				limited to the lesser of six hundred pounds per inch width of tire or the tire
				manufacturer's rating with proper inflation, as determined by the nomenclature
				imprinted on the tire. Pumper hose extensions and a volume of water to flush
				the system, when the pumping process is complete.
Construction equipment:
Equipment used primarily
				for off-road heavy construction activity may be permitted for use on designated
				highway segments identified in RCW  46.16.010(5)(h)(i)(B) and (C)  and must
				comply with the weight limits in
				RCW
				 46.44.091. Equipment may operate without
				permit on highway segments designated as part of the construction zone.
Cranes:
As a single unit fixed load vehicle, may
				exceed the legal weight limits in
				RCW
				 46.44.041 and
				46.44.042 with a special motor
				vehicle permit but must comply with the requirements in
				RCW
				 46.44.091. Tire loading for the movement is
				limited to the lesser of six hundred pounds per inch width of tire or the tire
				manufacturer's rating with proper inflation, as determined by the nomenclature
				imprinted on the tire. Cranes may be permitted with standard working components
				that are included within the rated capacity of the crane. A boom trailer or
				boom dolly will be permitted only when the boom is attached to the crane upper
				works, for the purpose of transferring load to meet weight requirements. A
				crane may be permitted with counterweights, outrigger assemblies, load block,
				hook and cable tension ball assembly also loaded on the boom trailer or boom
				dolly, as long as those components are included in the rated capacity of the
				crane and do not cause the vehicle to exceed permitted weight limits.
Well drilling trucks:
As a single unit fixed load
				vehicle, may exceed the legal weight limits in
				RCW
				 46.44.041 and
				46.44.042 with a special motor
				vehicle permit but must comply with the requirements in
				RCW
				 46.44.091. Tire loading for the movement is
				limited to the lesser of six hundred pounds per inch width of tire or the tire
				manufacturer's rating with proper inflation, as determined by the nomenclature
				imprinted on the tire. The vehicle may carry drill extensions as part of the
				fixed load.
(4)
Can
			 specialized equipment tow a licensed vehicle used for commute purposes?
A specialized self-propelled single unit vehicle registered as a fixed load,
			 operating under a fixed load permit, and/or cranes operating under an
			 oversize/overweight permit (exclusive of boom dollies or trailers), may be
			 permitted to tow a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating not to exceed
			 eight thousand pounds. The overall length of the combination must not exceed
			 seventy-five feet. The towed vehicle must be used for the sole purpose of
			 commuting to and from the job site where the specialized equipment is in
			 service.
(5)
Does a
			 specialized vehicle operating under an overweight or fixed load permit receive
			 any exemption from weight postings or weight restrictions placed on highway
			 infrastructure?
No. Specialized mobile equipment must not cross
			 load-restricted infrastructure when the equipment, either as a result of gross
			 weight, axle weight or tire loadings, exceeds the stated capacity of the
			 posting or restriction. However, exemptions to specific requirements, in WAC
			 468-38-075, may apply to specific
			 fixed loads as identified in WAC
			 468-38-075.
Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   46.44.090,
				  46.44.0915, and
				  46.44.101. 11-17-130, §
				  468-38-270, filed 8/24/11, effective 9/24/11. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   46.44.090 and 2005 c 189. 05-12-001, §
				  468-38-270, filed 5/18/05, effective 6/18/05. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   46.44.090. 82-18-010 (Order 31, Resolution
				  No. 156), § 468-38-270, filed 8/20/82. Formerly WAC 468-38-380. Statutory
				  Authority: 1977 ex.s. c 151. 79-01-033 (DOT Order 10 and Comm. Order 1,
				  Resolution No. 13), § 468-38-270, filed 12/20/78. Formerly WAC
				  252-24-336.