WAC 468-38-070
Maximums and other criteria for special
permits -- Nondivisible. (1) Are there maximum dimensions
established for moving nondivisible over-dimensional vehicles
and/or loads? Yes. In all instances the general safety of
the public is considered paramount and will ultimately govern
over-dimensional moves. There are some general rules;
however, physical barriers determine most maximums for
over-dimensional moves. Over-dimensional maximums are
addressed as follows:
(a) Overwidth: As stipulated in RCW 46.44.092, fourteen
feet on any two-lane highway; twenty feet on any multiple-lane
highway where a physical barrier serving as a median divider
(i.e., jersey barrier, cyclone fence, guardrail, etc.)
separates the oncoming and opposing traffic lanes; thirty-two
feet on any multiple-lane undivided highway. Permits may be
issued for widths in excess of the preceding limits when
traveling on highway segments that by design can accommodate
the greater width.
(b) Overheight: Any move involving height, especially
permitted moves exceeding fourteen feet, are governed by the
ability to clear overhead obstructions such as bridges,
underpasses, wires, overhead signs, and other objects. The
issuance of a permit does not insure the route to be free of
overhead obstructions. It is the responsibility of the permit
applicant to check, or prerun, the proposed route and provide
for safe maneuvers around the obstruction or detours as
necessary. Structures owned by the state should be reviewed
with department field personnel to determine safe navigation
of the move, including options for temporary removal of
obstructions. Detours off the state route onto county or city
roads require authorization from those jurisdictions. A
traffic control plan (see WAC 468-38-405 (3)(d)) may be
requested for approval by the department before a permit is
issued.
(c) Overlength: Routes will be limited to
over-dimensional moves based on ability to negotiate curves,
interchanges, entrance and exit roadways and other obstacles.
(2) Are there maximum weights established for moving
nondivisible overweight vehicles and/or loads? Yes. Weight
maximums for the movement of a nondivisible load under special
permit are established in RCW 46.44.091. In addition, tire
loading for the movement of a nondivisible load 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.
(3) Are there maximums and/or other criteria established
for the use of specific vehicle combinations when moving
over-dimensional nondivisible loads? Yes. The maximums for
specific vehicle combinations are as follows:
(a) Truck-tractor pulling a semi-trailer or full trailer:
Trailers in excess of legal length and/or width dimensions, or
the permitted length of fifty-six feet, shall not exceed the
length or width of the nondivisible load being transported.
The department may grant an exception when the added dimension
is necessary to spread the weight of the load to comply with
requirements established by the department to protect the
infrastructure. Jeeps and/or boosters may be added to the
trailer to help distribute weight as necessary. A "pusher"
power unit may also be added to the configuration upon
approval of the department. Jeeps, boosters and pusher power
units will be considered part of the trailing unit plus load
measurement.
(b) Truck-tractor pulling semi-trailer and full trailer
(or two semi-trailers in B-train configuration): The combined
trailer length, including the space between trailers, may not
exceed sixty-one feet. This combination is limited to
nondivisible loads not to exceed ten feet wide. Both trailers
may carry a nondivisible load, with the widest load carried on
the first trailer. Trailers in excess of legal width shall
not exceed the width of the nondivisible load being
transported. This combination may not carry overheight,
overlength or overweight loads.
(c) Truck and trailer: There are three scenarios
for this combination:
(i) Both truck and trailer carrying loads: The combined
overall length of the combination when carrying a nondivisible
overlength load must not exceed eighty-five feet. Any
nondivisible overlength load is restricted to only one
vehicle. The trailer may be loaded with the overhang entirely
to the rear of the trailer, or the truck may be loaded with
the overhang entirely to the front of the truck. Both truck
and trailer may carry overwidth and overheight loads. The
truck and/or trailer in this configuration may not carry an
overweight nondivisible load.
(ii) Unladen truck and trailer: The unladen truck may be
treated as a truck-tractor and the combination addressed as
described in (a) of this subsection: Provided, That the
truck-tractor is not carrying any load of any kind, and that
its use as an unladen truck is specified on the special
permit. The trailing unit is measured from the foremost point
of the draw bar or load, whichever is greater, to the rearmost
part of the trailer or load, whichever is greater. This
combination may carry a nondivisible overweight load on the
trailer. For example, an unladen dump truck may acquire a
special permit to pull a tilt trailer with a dozer or backhoe
where the trailer load causes the axles to exceed legal
weight. An unladen truck with unladen trailer must not exceed
an overall length of eighty-five feet.
(iii) Log truck with pole trailer - nondivisible poles:
A log truck with pole trailer hauling a single load of
nondivisible poles, where the log truck is supporting a
proportionate share of the load, must be permitted for
overlength based on load length, similar to a truck tractor
semi-trailer configuration. Measurement will be taken from
the front of load or bunks, whichever comes first, to the end
of the load. No portion of the pole trailer may extend beyond
the load in an overlength configuration.
(4) Can a vehicle, or vehicle combination, carry multiple
pieces when using an over-dimensional nondivisible special
permit? Yes, under the following conditions:
(a) The vehicle(s) and load are transported at legal
weights.
(b) The largest nondivisible piece(s) must be loaded to
its practicable minimum. No single piece may create a
dimension greater than the dimension it would create if loaded
properly and carried by itself.
(c) Additional pieces may be added within the envelope
dimension created by the largest piece(s) loaded to its
practicable minimum. The envelope should be viewed as an
imaginary cube with height, length and width defined by the
extremities, regardless of shape, of the over-dimensional
piece(s) and other legal dimensions as necessary. The
department will provide an illustrative example upon request.
(5) Are there any circumstances when an over-dimensional
vehicle(s) can move a legal size load? Yes, when the
following conditions have been met:
(a) The vehicle(s) are making the move in conjunction
with being in route to pick up a nondivisible load under
special permit (front haul); or
(b) The vehicle(s) are making the move in conjunction
with returning from a delivery of a nondivisible load under
special permit (back haul); and
(c) The route traveled is the same route that would have
been used if a legal load had not been moved; and
(d) The front haul or back haul is noted on the special
permit used for the nondivisible move.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.44.090. 06-07-025, §
468-38-070, filed 3/7/06, effective 4/7/06; 05-04-053, §
468-38-070, filed 1/28/05, effective 2/28/05; 00-11-019 (Order
197), § 468-38-070, filed 5/9/00, effective 6/9/00; 98-21-019
(Order 183), § 468-38-070, filed 10/13/98, effective 11/13/98;
98-09-029 (Order 172), § 468-38-070, filed 4/10/98, effective
5/11/98; 96-23-003, § 468-38-070, filed 11/7/96, effective
12/8/96; 83-16-018 (Order 39, Resolution No. 195), §
468-38-070, filed 7/25/83; 82-18-010 (Order 31, Resolution No.
156), § 468-38-070, filed 8/20/82. Formerly WAC 468-38-170. Statutory Authority: 1977 ex.s. c 151. 79-01-033 (DOT Order
10 and Comm. Order 1, Resolution No. 13), § 468-38-070, filed
12/20/78. Formerly WAC 252-24-080.]