| (vii) other considerations for the safe transportation
of the load.
(B) When a permit applicant desires a route other than
the most practical, more than one permit will be required for the
trip unless an exception is granted by the department.
(3) Movement to and from point of origin or place of
business. A permitted vehicle will be allowed to:
(A) move empty oversize and overweight hauling equipment
to and from the job site; and
(B) move oversize and overweight hauling equipment
with a load from the permitted vehicle's point of origin to pick up
a permitted load, and to the permitted vehicle's point of origin or
the permittee's place of business after dropping off a permitted load,
as long as:
(i) the load does not exceed legal size and weight
limits under Transportation Code, Chapters 621 and 622; and
(ii) the transport complies with the permit, including
the time period stated on the permit.
(f) Payment of permit fees, refunds.
(1) Payment methods. All permit applications must be
accompanied by the proper fee, which shall be payable as provided
by §209.23 of this title (relating to Methods of Payment).
(2) Refunds. A permit fee will not be refunded after
the permit number has been issued unless such refund is necessary
to correct an error made by the permit officer.
(g) Amendments. A permit may be amended for the following
reasons:
(1) vehicle breakdown;
(2) changing the intermediate points in an approved
permit route;
(3) extending the expiration date due to conditions
which would cause the move to be delayed;
(4) changing route origin or route destination prior
to the start date as listed on the permit;
(5) changing vehicle size limits prior to the permit
start date as listed on the permit, provided that changing the vehicle
size limit does not necessitate a change in the approved route; and
(6) correcting any mistake that is made due to permit
officer error.
(h) Requirements for overwidth loads.
(1) Unless stated otherwise on the permit, an overwidth
load must travel in the outside traffic lane on multi-lane highways,
when the width of the load exceeds 12 feet.
(2) Overwidth loads are subject to the escort requirements
of subsection (k) of this section.
(3) A permitted vehicle exceeding 16 feet in width
will not be routed on the main lanes of a controlled access highway,
unless an exception is granted by TxDOT, based on a route and traffic
study. The load may be permitted on the frontage roads when available,
if the movement will not pose a safety hazard to other highway users.
(4) An applicant requesting a permit to move a load
exceeding 20 feet wide will be furnished with a proposed route. The
applicant must physically inspect the proposed route to determine
if the vehicle and load can safely negotiate it, unless an exception
is granted based on a route and traffic study conducted by TxDOT.
A permit application and the appropriate fee are required for every
route inspection.
(A) The applicant must notify the department in writing
whether the vehicle and load can or cannot safely negotiate the proposed
route.
(B) If any section of the proposed route is unacceptable,
the applicant shall provide the department with an alternate route
around the unacceptable section.
(C) Once a route is decided upon and a permit issued,
the permit may not be amended unless an exception is granted by the
department.
(i) Requirements for overlength loads.
(1) Overlength loads are subject to the escort requirements
stated in subsection (k) of this section.
(2) A single vehicle, such as a motor crane, that has
a permanently mounted boom is not considered as having either front
or rear overhang as a result of the boom because the boom is an integral
part of the vehicle.
(3) When a single vehicle with a permanently attached
boom exceeds the maximum legal length of 45 feet, a permit will not
be issued if the boom projects more than 25 feet beyond the front
bumper of the vehicle, or when the boom projects more than 30 feet
beyond the rear bumper of the vehicle, unless an exception is granted
by TxDOT, based on a route and traffic study.
(4) Maximum permit length for a single vehicle is 75
feet.
(5) A load extending more than 20 feet beyond the front
or rearmost portion of the load carrying surface of the permitted
vehicle must have a rear escort flag vehicle, unless an exception
is granted by TxDOT, based on a route and traffic study.
(6) A permit will not be issued for an oversize vehicle
and load with:
(A) more than 25 feet front overhang; or
(B) more than 30 feet rear overhang, unless an exception
is granted by TxDOT, based on a route and traffic study.
(7) An applicant requesting a permit to move an oversize
vehicle and load exceeding 125 feet overall length will be furnished
with a proposed route. The applicant must physically inspect the proposed
route to determine if the oversize vehicle and load can safely negotiate
it, unless an exception is granted based on a route and traffic study
conducted by TxDOT. A permit application and the appropriate fee are
required for every route inspection.
(A) The applicant must notify the department in writing
whether the oversize vehicle and load can or cannot safely negotiate
the proposed route.
(B) If any section of the proposed route is unacceptable,
the applicant shall provide the department with an alternate route
around the unacceptable section.
(C) Once a route is decided upon and a permit issued,
the permit may not be amended unless an exception is granted by the
department.
(8) A permitted vehicle that is not overwidth or overheight,
and does not exceed 150 feet overall length, may be moved in a convoy
consisting of not more than four overlength permitted vehicles. A
permitted vehicle that is not overwidth or overheight that exceeds
150 feet, but does not exceed 180 feet overall length, may be moved
in a convoy consisting of not more than two overlength permitted vehicles.
Convoys are subject to the requirements of subsection (k) of this
section. Each permitted vehicle in the convoy must:
(A) be spaced at least 1,000 feet, but not more than
2,000 feet, from any other permitted vehicle in the convoy; and
(B) have a rotating amber beacon or an amber pulsating
light, not less than eight inches in diameter, mounted at the rear
top of the load being transported.
(j) Requirements for overheight loads.
(1) Overheight loads are subject to the escort requirements
stated in subsection (k) of this section.
(2) An applicant requesting a permit to move an oversize
vehicle and load with an overall height of 19 feet or greater will
be furnished with a proposed route. The applicant must physically
inspect the proposed route to determine if the oversize vehicle and
load can safely negotiate it, unless an exception is granted based
on a route and traffic study conducted by TxDOT. A permit application
and the appropriate fee are required for every route inspection.
(A) The applicant must notify the department in writing
whether the oversize vehicle and load can or cannot safely negotiate
the proposed route.
(B) If any section of the proposed route is unacceptable,
the applicant shall provide the department with an alternate route
around the unacceptable section.
(C) Once a route is decided upon and a permit issued,
the permit may not be amended unless an exception is granted by the
department.
(k) Escort flag vehicle requirements. Escort flag vehicle
requirements are provided to facilitate the safe movement of permitted
vehicles and to protect the traveling public during the movement of
permitted vehicles. A permittee must provide for escort flag vehicles
and law enforcement assistance when required by TxDOT. The requirements
in this subsection do not apply to the movement of manufactured housing,
portable building units, or portable building compatible cargo, unless
stated otherwise in this chapter.
(1) General.
(A) Applicability. The operator of an escort flag vehicle
shall, consistent with applicable law, warn the traveling public when:
(i) a permitted vehicle must travel over the center
line of a narrow bridge or roadway;
(ii) a permitted vehicle makes any turning movement
that will require the permitted vehicle to travel in the opposing
traffic lanes;
(iii) a permitted vehicle reduces speed to cross under
a low overhead obstruction or over a bridge;
(iv) a permitted vehicle creates an abnormal and unusual
traffic flow pattern; or
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