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Texas Transportation Code - Section 621.101. Maximum Weight Of Vehicle Or Combination

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Transportation Code > Texas Transportation Code - Section 621.101. Maximum Weight Of Vehicle Or Combination

§ 621.101. MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF VEHICLE OR COMBINATION.  (a) 
A vehicle or combination of vehicles may not be operated over or on 
a public highway or at a port-of-entry between Texas and the United 
Mexican States if the vehicle or combination has:
		(1)  a single axle weight heavier than 20,000 pounds, 
including all enforcement tolerances;
		(2)  a tandem axle weight heavier than 34,000 pounds, 
including all enforcement tolerances;
		(3)  an overall gross weight on a group of two or more 
consecutive axles heavier than the weight computed using the 
following formula and rounding the result to the nearest 500 
pounds:
	W = 500((LN/(N - 1)) + 12N + 36)                                               
	where:                                                                         
	"W" is maximum overall gross weight on the group;                              
	"L" is distance in feet between the axles of the group that 
are the farthest apart;  and
	"N" is number of axles in the group;  or                                       
		(4)  tires that carry a weight heavier than the weight 
specified and marked on the sidewall of the tire, unless the vehicle 
is being operated under the terms of a special permit.
	(b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(3), two consecutive sets 
of tandem axles may carry a gross load of not more than 34,000 
pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles 
of the consecutive sets is 36 feet or more.  The overall gross 
weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles may not be 
heavier than 80,000 pounds, including all enforcement tolerances, 
regardless of tire ratings, axle spacing (bridge), and number of 
axles.
	(c)  This section does not:                                                    
		(1)  authorize size or weight limits on the national 
system of interstate and defense highways in this state greater 
than those permitted under 23 U.S. C. Section 127, as amended;
		(2)  prohibit the operation of a vehicle or combination 
of vehicles that could be lawfully operated on a highway or road of 
this state on December 16, 1974;  or
		(3)  apply to a vehicle or combination of vehicles that 
operates exclusively:
			(A)  at a private port of entry;                                             
			(B)  on private roads associated with the port of 
entry;  and              
			(C)  across a public highway between private roads 
associated with the port of entry under a contract under Section 
623.052.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended 
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 601, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 
2001, 77th Leg., ch. 941, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 2001 and Acts 2001, 
77th Leg., ch. 1227, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Acts 2005, 79th 
Leg., ch. 313, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.

Last modified: August 10, 2007