TRUCK TRACTOR AND SEMITRAILER

LENGTH RESTRICTIONS

House Bill 4956 as enacted

Public Act 35 of 2018

Sponsor:  Rep. Triston Cole

House Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee:  Transportation

Complete to 8-27-18

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4956 amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to remove wheelbase length restrictions for certain semitrailers.

Under the Code, certain vehicles and combinations of vehicles are prohibited from operating on a highway in Michigan in excess of statutory vehicle length maximums.

HB 4956 removes from the Code a requirement that, for a semitrailer longer than 50 feet, the wheelbase must be between 37.5 and 40.5 feet, plus or minus half a foot, measured from the kingpin coupling to the center of either the rear axle or the rear axle assembly. (Generally, semitrailers may not exceed 53 feet in length.)

The bill also removes a restriction limiting lowboy semitrailer wheelbase lengths to no more than 55 feet measured from the kingpin coupling to the center of the rear axle.

MCL 257.719

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill has no apparent fiscal impact on the state or local units of government.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   William E. Hamilton

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.