75 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Chapter 49 - Size, Weight And Load

• Chapter Notes

Subchapter A.  General Provisions

• Section 4901 - Scope And Application Of Chapter
  (a) General rule.--No vehicle, combination or load which has a size or weight exceeding the limitations provided in this chapter and no vehicle, combination...
• Section 4902 - Restrictions On Use Of Highways And Bridges
  (a) Restrictions based on condition of highway or bridge.-- (1) The Commonwealth and local authorities with respect to highways and bridges under their jurisdictions...
• Section 4903 - Securing Loads In Vehicles
  (a) General rule.--No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any...
• Section 4904 - Limits On Number Of Towed Vehicles
  (a) General rule.--No motor vehicle shall be operated upon a highway towing more than one other vehicle except as otherwise provided in this section....
• Section 4905 - Safety Requirements For Towed Vehicles
  (a) Connecting devices and distances.--When one vehicle is towing another, the connection shall be of sufficient strength to pull all weight towed. The distance...
• Section 4906 - Fire Apparatus
  This chapter does not apply to fire apparatus being operated on the highway unless specifically provided otherwise. (Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60
• Section 4907 - Penalty For Violation Of Chapter
  (a) General rule.--Any person violating any provision of this chapter for which a penalty is not otherwise provided commits a summary offense and shall,...
• Section 4908 - Operation Of Certain Combinations On Interstate And Certain Other Highways
  (a) General rule.--Combinations authorized by section 4904(e) (relating to limits on number of towed vehicles) to have two trailers, or by section 4923(b)(6) or...
• Section 4908.1 - Operation Of Motor Homes On Interstate And Certain Other Highways
  (a) General rule.--Motor homes exceeding 40 feet in length but not exceeding 45 feet in length may be driven only on the types of...
• Section 4909 - Transporting Foodstuffs In Vehicles Used To Transport Waste
  (a) Offense defined.-- (1) A person commits a violation of this section if he transports or knowingly provides a vehicle for the transportation of...

Subchapter B.  Width, Height and Length

• Section 4921 - Width Of Vehicles
  (a) General rule.--The total outside width of a vehicle, including any load, shall not exceed eight feet except as otherwise provided in this section....
• Section 4922 - Height Of Vehicles
  (a) General rule.--No vehicle, including any load, shall exceed a height of 13 feet 6 inches. This provision shall not be construed to require...
• Section 4923 - Length Of Vehicles
  (a) Motor vehicles.-- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no motor vehicle, including any load and bumpers, shall exceed an overall length of...
• Section 4924 - Limitations On Length Of Projecting Loads
  (a) General rule.--Subject to the provisions of this subchapter limiting the length of vehicles and loads, the load upon any vehicle or the load...
• Section 4925 - Width Of Projecting Loads On Passenger Vehicles
  (a) General rule.--No passenger-type vehicle shall be operated on any highway with a load extending beyond the left side of the vehicle nor extending...

Subchapter C.  Maximum Weights of Vehicles

• Section 4941 - Maximum Gross Weight Of Vehicles
  (a) General rule.--No vehicle shall, when operated upon a highway, have a gross weight exceeding 80,000 pounds, and no combination driven upon a highway...
• Section 4942 - Registered Gross Weight
  (a) Single vehicle limits.--No vehicle registered as a truck, a combination or a trailer shall be operated with a gross weight in excess of...
• Section 4943 - Maximum Axle Weight Of Vehicles
  (a) General rule.--No vehicle or combination driven upon a highway shall have a weight upon any axle in excess of the lesser of the...
• Section 4944 - Maximum Wheel Load
  No motor vehicle or combination shall, when operated upon a highway, have a weight upon any one wheel in excess of 800 pounds for...
• Section 4945 - Penalties For Exceeding Maximum Weights
  (a) Gross weight violations.-- (1) Any person driving a vehicle or combination upon a highway exceeding the maximum gross weight allowed by section 4941...
• Section 4946 - Impoundment Of Vehicles For Nonpayment Of Overweight Fines (Repealed)
  § 4946. Impoundment of vehicles for nonpayment of overweight fines (Repealed). 1985 Repeal. Section 4946 was repealed June 19, 1985, P.L.49, No.20, effective in...
• Section 4947 - Disposition Of Impounded Vehicles And Loads (Repealed)
  § 4947. Disposition of impounded vehicles and loads (Repealed). 1985 Repeal. Section 4947 was repealed June 19, 1985, P.L.49, No.20, effective in 60 days.
• Section 4948 - Maximum Weight And Seating Capacity Of Buses
  (a) Gross, axle and wheel weights.--No bus shall be operated upon any highway with a gross weight in excess of 73,280 pounds, or with...
• Section 4949 - Application To Tow Trucks
  The weight restrictions set forth in this subchapter do not apply to a combination consisting of any tow truck towing a disabled motor vehicle...

Subchapter D.  Special Permits for Excessive Size and Weight

• Section 4961 - Authority To Issue Permits
  (a) General rule.--The department and local authorities with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions may, upon application in writing showing good cause, issue...
• Section 4962 - Conditions Of Permits And Security For Damages
  (a) General rule.--Permits may be conditioned by limiting the number of trips or by establishing seasonal or other time limitations or geographic limitations including...
• Section 4963 - Exemptions For Vehicles Used In State Highway Construction Or Maintenance
  When operating within the established construction or maintenance project limits as specified in the highway construction plans or contract documents, no permit shall be...
• Section 4964 - Oral Authorization Following Emergency Or Accident
  In the event of an emergency or accident affecting the public safety or convenience, the department and local authorities may orally authorize the operation...
• Section 4965 - Single Permits For Multiple Highway Crossings
  A single permit may be issued for a number of movements across the highway at specified locations within a fixed period of time of...
• Section 4966 - Permit For Movement Of Quarry Equipment
  An annual permit may be issued for the movement of a piece of quarry equipment or machinery exceeding the maximum size or weight specified...
• Section 4967 - Permit For Movement Of Implements Of Husbandry (Repealed)
  § 4967. Permit for movement of implements of husbandry (Repealed). 1979 Repeal. Section 4967 was repealed July 20, 1979, P.L.168, No.55, effective immediately.
• Section 4968 - Permit For Movement During Course Of Manufacture
  (a) Annual permit.--(Deleted by amendment). (a.1) General rule.--An annual permit may be issued authorizing movement on specified highways of: (1) boats, trailers, mobile homes,...
• Section 4969 - Permit For Movement Of Vehicles With Oversize Wheels And Tires (Repealed)
  § 4969. Permit for movement of vehicles with oversize wheels and tires (Repealed). 1993 Repeal. Section 4969 was repealed May 20, 1993, P.L.30, No.10,...
• Section 4970 - Permit For Movement Of Construction Equipment
  (a) Utility construction equipment.--A permit may be issued for the duration of a single construction project, but not exceeding one year, authorizing a public...
• Section 4971 - Permit For Operation Of Chemical And Fertilizer Vehicles (Deleted By Amendment)
  § 4971. Permit for operation of chemical and fertilizer vehicles (Deleted by amendment). 1992 Amendment. Section 4971 was deleted by amendment December 18, 1992,...
• Section 4972 - Permits For Migrant Farm Vehicles (Repealed)
  § 4972. Permits for migrant farm vehicles (Repealed). 1993 Repeal. Section 4972 was repealed May 20, 1993, P.L.30, No.10, effective in 60 days.
• Section 4973 - Permits For Movement Of A Mobile Home, A Manufactured Home Or A Modular Housing Unit And Modular Housing Undercarriage
  (a) General rule.--A permit may be issued under this section for movement of a mobile home or a modular housing unit that exceeds 14...
• Section 4974 - Permit For Movement Of Containerized Cargo
  (a) General rule.--An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on highways of containerized cargo which exceeds the maximum vehicle gross or maximum...
• Section 4975 - Permit For Movement Of Special Mobile Equipment
  An annual permit may be issued authorizing the hauling or towing of a piece of special mobile equipment which does not exceed nine feet...
• Section 4976 - Permit For Movement Of Domestic Animal Feed And Whole Or Unprocessed Grain
  An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on highways of domestic animal feed and whole or unprocessed grain, in bulk, which exceeds...
• Section 4976.1 - Permit For Movement Of Live Domestic Animals
  (a) Authorization.--An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on highways of live domestic animals which exceeds the maximum gross weight specified in...
• Section 4976.2 - Permit For Movement Of Eggs
  (a) Authorization.--Except as set forth in subsection (b), all of the following apply: (1) An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on...
• Section 4977 - Permit For Movement Of Wooden Structures
  An annual permit may be issued for the movement on highways of certain wooden structures which exceed the maximum length, width and height specified...
• Section 4978 - Permit For Movement Of Building Structural Components
  A permit may be issued for the duration of a single building construction project, but not exceeding one year, authorizing the movement upon specified...
• Section 4979 - Permit For Movement Of Particleboard Or Fiberboard Used In The Manufacture Of Ready-to-assemble Furniture
  An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on specified highways of particleboard or fiberboard for use in the manufacture of ready-to-assemble household...
• Section 4979.1 - Permit For Movement Of Bulk Refined Oil
  An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on specified highways of refined oil in bulk between a refinery and a distribution facility...
• Section 4979.2 - Permit For Movement Of Waste Coal, Beneficial Combustion Ash Or Limestone
  (a) Waste coal and beneficial combustion ash.--An annual permit may be issued for the movement on specified highways of waste coal from a refuse...
• Section 4979.3 - Permit For Movement Of Float Glass Or Flat Glass For Use In Construction And Other End Uses
  (a) General rule.--An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on specified highways of float glass or flat glass for use in construction...
• Section 4979.4 - Permit For Movement Of Self-propelled Cranes
  An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on specified highways of self-propelled cranes which exceed the maximum width, height or length specified...
• Section 4979.5 - Permit For Movement Of Nonhazardous Liquid Glue
  An annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on specified highways of nonhazardous liquid glue in bulk between a chemical plant and a...
• Section 4979.6 - Permit For Movement Of Waste Tires
  An annual permit may be issued for the movement on specified highways of waste tires and tire derived-fuel, chipped tires, from a refuse pile...

Subchapter E.  Measuring and Adjusting Vehicle Size and  Weight

• Section 4981 - Weighing And Measurement Of Vehicles
  (a) Authority of police officers and qualified department employees.--A police officer or qualified department employee is authorized to require the driver of a vehicle...
• Section 4982 - Reducing Or Readjusting Loads Of Vehicles
  (a) Violation of weight limitations.--If the gross weight or the weight upon any wheel, tire, axle or group of axles of a vehicle or...
• Section 4983 - Penalty For Failure To Obey Police Officer (Repealed)
  § 4983. Penalty for failure to obey police officer (Repealed). 1985 Repeal. Section 4983 was repealed June 19, 1985, P.L.49, No.20, effective in 60

Last modified: October 8, 2016