LOG HAULING REGULATIONS - H.B. 4154:

FLOOR ANALYSISHouse Bill 4154 (as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor: Representative Tom Casperson

House Committee: Transportation

Senate Committee: Transportation


CONTENT


The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to require certain loading and tie-down procedures for, and extend the allowable length of, log-hauling crib vehicles, if allowed by Federal law.


Currently, any single vehicle over 40 feet long may not be operated on a Michigan highway. Under the bill, a crib vehicle on which logs were loaded lengthwise of the vehicle could be up to 42.5 feet in length. The bill specifies that this provision would apply only if Section 127(d) of Title 23 of the United States Code were amended to allow crib vehicles to carry logs loaded in this manner. (Section 127(d) governs the operation of a “longer combination vehicle”, which is any combination of a truck tractor and two or more trailers or semitrailers that operates on the Interstate System at a gross vehicle weight greater than 80,000 pounds.)

   

Under the Code, the maximum allowable length for truck and semitrailer or trailer combinations is 65 feet. If a truck and semitrailer or trailer combination is used to transport saw logs, pulpwood, and tree length poles, the maximum allowable length is 70 feet. The bill would set a maximum length of 75 feet and a maximum gross vehicle weight of 164,000 pounds for a crib vehicle and semitrailer or trailer designed and used to transport saw logs. The bill also specifies how the logs would have to be loaded and secured, if the vehicle were a crib vehicle and the logs were loaded lengthwise.


The loading and tie-down requirements would not apply unless Section 127(d) of Title 23 of the United States Code, were amended to allow crib vehicles carrying logs to be loaded in this manner.


MCL 257.719 & 257.720 - Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval


FISCAL IMPACT


The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State or local government. Under current provisions of Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the State is required annually to certify compliance with Federal truck length regulations. The State is subject to Federal sanctions for noncompliance, including the withholding of Federal highway funds. The provisions allowing an increase in the permitted length of certain trucks and truck-trailer combinations designed to transport logs would apply only if Section 127(d) of Title 23 of the United States Code, 23 USC 127, were amended to allow crib vehicles carrying logs to exceed the permitted length. Therefore, the State would not be subject to Federal sanctions, including the possible withholding of Federal highway funds, for noncompliance with truck length regulations.


Date Completed: 6-25-03 - Fiscal Analyst: Craig ThielFloor\hb4154 - Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.