| (v) in the opinion of TxDOT, warning is required to
ensure the safety of the traveling public or safe movement of the
permitted vehicle.
(B) Law enforcement assistance. Law enforcement assistance
may be required by TxDOT to control traffic when a permitted vehicle
is being moved within the corporate limits of a city, or at such times
when law enforcement assistance would provide for the safe movement
of the permitted vehicle and the traveling public.
(C) Obstructions. It is the responsibility of the permittee
to contact utility companies, telephone companies, television cable
companies, or other entities as they may require, when it is necessary
to raise or lower any overhead wire, traffic signal, street light,
television cable, sign, or other overhead obstruction. The permittee
is responsible for providing the appropriate advance notice as required
by each entity.
(2) Escort requirements for overwidth loads. Unless
an exception is granted based on a route and traffic study conducted
by TxDOT, an overwidth load must:
(A) have a front escort flag vehicle if the width of
the load exceeds 14 feet, but does not exceed 16 feet, when traveling
on a two lane roadway;
(B) have a rear escort flag vehicle if the width of
the load exceeds 14 feet, but does not exceed 16 feet, when traveling
on a roadway of four or more lanes; and
(C) have a front and a rear escort flag vehicle for
all roads, when the width of the load exceeds 16 feet.
(3) Escort requirements for overlength loads. Unless
an exception is granted by TxDOT, based on a route and traffic study,
overlength loads must have:
(A) a front escort flag vehicle when traveling on a
two lane roadway if the vehicle exceeds 110 feet overall length, but
does not exceed 125 feet overall length;
(B) a rear escort flag vehicle when traveling on a
multi-lane highway if the vehicle exceeds 110 feet overall length,
but does not exceed 125 feet overall length; and
(C) a front and rear escort flag vehicle at all times
if the permitted vehicle exceeds 125 feet overall length.
(4) Escort requirements for overheight loads. Unless
an exception is granted by TxDOT, based on a route and traffic study,
overheight loads must have:
(A) a front escort flag vehicle equipped with a height
pole to ensure the vehicle and load can clear all overhead obstructions
for any permitted vehicle that exceeds 17 feet in height; and
(B) a front and rear escort flag vehicle for any permitted
vehicle exceeding 18 feet in height.
(5) Escort requirements for permitted vehicles exceeding
legal limits in more than one dimension. When a load exceeds more
than one dimension that requires an escort under this subsection,
front and rear escort flag vehicles will be required unless an exception
is granted by TxDOT.
(6) Escort requirements for convoys. Convoys must have
a front escort flag vehicle and a rear escort flag vehicle on all
highways at all times.
(7) General equipment requirements. The following special
equipment requirements apply to permitted vehicles and escort flag
vehicles that are not motorcycles.
(A) An escort flag vehicle must be a single unit with
a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of not less than 1,000 pounds nor more
than 10,000 pounds.
(B) An escort flag vehicle must be equipped with two
flashing amber lights; one rotating amber beacon of not less than
eight inches in diameter; or alternating or flashing blue and amber
lights, each of which must be visible from all directions while actively
engaged in escort duties for the permitted vehicle.
(C) An escort flag vehicle must display a sign, on
either the roof of the vehicle, or the front and rear of the vehicle,
with the words "OVERSIZE LOAD" or "WIDE LOAD." The sign must be visible
from the front and rear of the vehicle while escorting the permitted
load. The sign must meet the following specifications:
(i) at least five feet, but not more than seven feet
in length, and at least 12 inches, but not more than 18 inches in
height;
(ii) the sign must have a yellow background with black
lettering;
(iii) letters must be at least eight inches, but not
more than 10 inches high with a brush stroke at least 1.41 inches
wide; and
(iv) the sign must be visible from the front or rear
of the vehicle while escorting the permitted vehicle, and the signs
must not be used at any other time.
(D) An escort flag vehicle must maintain two-way communications
with the permitted vehicle and other escort flag vehicles involved
with the movement of the permitted vehicle.
(E) Warning flags must be either red or orange fluorescent
material, at least 12 inches square, securely mounted on a staff or
securely fastened by at least one corner to the widest extremities
of an overwidth permitted vehicle, and at the rear of an overlength
permitted vehicle or a permitted vehicle with a rear overhang in excess
of four feet.
(8) Equipment requirements for motorcycles.
(A) An official law enforcement motorcycle may be used
as a primary escort flag vehicle for a permitted vehicle traveling
within the limits of an incorporated city, if the motorcycle is operated
by a highway patrol officer, sheriff, or duly authorized deputy, or
municipal police officer.
(B) An escort flag vehicle must maintain two-way communications
with the permitted vehicle and other escort flag vehicles involved
with the movement of the permitted vehicle.
(l) Restrictions.
(1) Daylight and night movement restrictions.
(A) A permitted vehicle may be moved only during daylight
hours unless:
(i) the permitted vehicle is overweight only;
(ii) the permitted vehicle is traveling on an interstate
highway and does not exceed 10 feet wide and 100 feet long, with front
and rear overhang that complies with legal standards; or
(iii) the permitted vehicle meets the criteria of clause
(ii) of this subparagraph and is overweight.
(B) An exception may be granted allowing night movement,
based on a route and traffic study conducted by TxDOT. Escort flag
vehicles may be required when an exception allowing night movement
is granted.
(2) Holiday restrictions. The maximum size limits for
a permit issued under Transportation Code, Chapter 623, Subchapter
D, for holiday movement is 14 feet wide, 16 feet high, and 110 feet
long, unless an exception is granted based on a route and traffic
study conducted by TxDOT. The department may restrict holiday movement
of specific loads based on a determination that the load could pose
a hazard for the traveling public due to local road or traffic conditions.
(3) Curfew restrictions. The operator of a permitted
vehicle must observe the curfew movement restrictions of any city
or county in which the vehicle is operated. However, only the curfew
restrictions listed on the permit apply to the permit.
(m) General provisions.
(1) Multiple commodities.
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this
paragraph, when a permitted commodity creates a single overdimension,
two or more commodities may be hauled as one permit load, provided
legal axle weight and gross weight are not exceeded, and provided
an overdimension of width, length or height is not created or made
greater by the additional commodities. For example, a permit issued
for the movement of a 12 foot wide storage tank may also include a
10 foot wide storage tank loaded behind the 12 foot wide tank provided
that legal axle weight and gross weight are not exceeded, and provided
an overdimension of width, length or height is not created.
(B) When the transport of more than one commodity in
a single load creates or makes greater an illegal dimension of length,
width, or height the department may issue an oversize permit for such
load subject to each of the following conditions.
(i) The permit applicant or the shipper of the commodities
files with the department a written certification by the Texas Economic
Development and Tourism Office, attesting that issuing the permit
will have a significant positive impact on the economy of Texas and
that the proposed load of multiple commodities therefore cannot be
reasonably dismantled. As used in this clause the term significant
positive impact means the creation of not less than 100 new full-time
jobs, the preservation of not less than 100 existing full-time jobs,
that would otherwise be eliminated if the permit is not issued, or
creates or retains not less than one percent of the employment base
in the affected economic sector identified in the certification.
(ii) Transport of the commodities does not exceed legal
axle and gross load limits.
Cont'd... |
