MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Transportation

By: Representative Roberson

House Bill 1485

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-5-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE DATE OF THE REPEALER ON THE PROVISIONS OF LAW THAT PROVIDE FOR THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF HARVEST PERMIT VEHICLES AND REQUIRE CERTAIN HARVEST PERMIT HOLDERS TO GET PRIOR APPROVAL FOR THEIR ROUTES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 63-5-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     [Effective until July 1, 2023, this section will read as follows:]

     63-5-33.  (1)  Subject to the limitations imposed on wheel and axle loads by Section 63-5-27, and to the further limitations hereinafter specified, the total combined weight (vehicles plus load) on any group of axles of a vehicle or a combination of vehicles shall not exceed the value given in the following table (Table III) corresponding to the distance in feet between the extreme axles of the group, measured longitudinally to the nearest foot, on those highways or parts of highways designated by the Mississippi Transportation Commission as being capable of carrying the maximum load limits and, in addition thereto, such other highways or parts of highways found by the commission to be suitable to carry the maximum load limits from an engineering standpoint, and so designated as such by order of the commission entered upon its minutes and published once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a daily newspaper published in this state and having a general circulation therein.  The maximum total combined weight carried on any group of two (2) or more consecutive axles shall be determined by the formula contained in the Federal Weight Law enacted January 4, 1975, as follows:  W=500 (LN/N-1+12N+36) where W=maximum weight in pounds carried on any group of two (2) or more axles computed to the nearest five hundred (500) pounds, L=distance in feet between the extremes of any group of two (2) or more consecutive axles, and N=number of axles in any group under consideration.

                           TABLE III

 DISTANCE

 IN FEET

 BETWEEN THE

 EXTREMES OF

 ANY GROUP

 OF 2 OR MORE

 CONSECUTIVE        MAXIMUM LOAD IN POUNDS CARRIED ON ANY

 AXLES               GROUP OF 2 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE AXLES

        2 axles   3 axles   4 axles   5 axles   6 axles   7 axles

  4     34,000

  5     34,000

  6     34,000             Axle groups in

  7     34,000

  8 and

   less 34,000    34,000    these spacings

  More

  than

  8     38,000    42,000

  9     39,000    42,500

 10     40,000    43,500    impractical

 11               44,000

 12               45,000    50,000

 13               45,500    50,500

 14               46,500    51,500

 15               47,000    52,000

 16               48,000    52,500    58,000

 17               48,500    53,500    58,500

 18               49,500    54,000    59,000

 19               50,000    54,500    60,000

 20               51,000    55,500    60,500    66,000

 21               51,500    56,000    61,000    66,500

 22               52,500    56,500    61,500    67,000

 23               53,000    57,500    62,500    68,000

 24               54,000    58,000    63,000    68,500    74,000

 25               54,500    58,500    63,500    69,000    74,500

 26               55,500    59,500    64,000    69,500    75,000

 27               56,000    60,000    65,000    70,000    75,500

 28               57,000    60,500    65,500    71,000    76,500

 29               57,500    61,500    66,000    71,500    77,000

 30               58,500    62,000    66,500    72,000    77,500

 31               59,000    62,500    67,500    72,500    78,000

 32               60,000    63,500    68,000    73,000    78,500

 33                        64,000    68,500    74,000    79,000

 34                        64,500    69,000    74,500    80,000

 35                        65,500    70,000    75,000    80,000

 36                        66,000    70,500    75,500    80,000

 37                        66,500    71,000    76,000    80,000

 38                        67,500    71,500    77,000    80,000

 39                        68,000    72,500    77,500    80,000

 40                        68,500    73,000    78,000    80,000

 41                        69,500    73,500    78,500    80,000

 42                        70,000    74,000    79,000    80,000

 43                        70,500    75,000    80,000    80,000

 44                        71,500    75,500    80,000    80,000

 45                        72,000    76,000    80,000    80,000

 46                        72,500    76,500    80,000    80,000

 47                        73,500    77,500    80,000    80,000

 48                        74,000    78,000    80,000    80,000

 49                        74,500    78,500    80,000    80,000

 50                        75,500    79,000    80,000    80,000

 51                        76,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

 52                        76,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 53                        77,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 54                        78,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

 55                        78,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 56                        79,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 57                        80,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

     (2)  Moreover, in addition to the per axle weight limitations specified by Section 63-5-27, two (2) consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds each, providing that the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirty-six (36) feet or more, except that, until September 1, 1989, the axle distance for tank trailers, dump trailers and ocean transport container haulers may be thirty (30) feet or more.  Such overall gross weight may not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds, except as provided by this section.

     (3)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-5-27 and/or Section 63-5-29 to the contrary, vehicles hauling products in the manner set forth in this subsection, whether or not such vehicles are operating with a harvest permit, shall be allowed a gross weight of not to exceed forty thousand (40,000) pounds on any tandem.  Vehicles operating without a harvest permit shall be allowed a tolerance not to exceed five percent (5%) above their authorized gross vehicle weight, tandem or axle weight; except that the maximum gross vehicle weight of any such vehicle shall not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds plus a tolerance thereon of not more than two percent (2%).  Vehicles operating without a harvest permit loading at a point of origin having scales available for weighing the vehicle shall not be eligible for any tolerance over the gross weight limit of eighty thousand (80,000) pounds.  Vehicles operating with a harvest permit shall be allowed a tolerance not to exceed ten percent (10%) above their authorized tandem or axle weight, but the maximum gross vehicle weight of any such vehicle shall not exceed eighty-four thousand (84,000) pounds.  However, neither the increased weights in this subsection nor any tolerance shall be allowed on federal interstate highways or on other highways where a tolerance is specifically prohibited by the Transportation Commission, the county board of supervisors or the municipal governing authorities as provided for in Section 63-5-27.  The tolerance allowed by this subsection shall only apply to the operation of vehicles from the point of loading to the point of unloading for processing, and to the operation of vehicles hauling sand, gravel, woodchips, wood shavings, sawdust, fill dirt, and agricultural products, and products for recycling or materials for the construction or repair of highways.  The range of such operation shall not exceed a radius of one hundred (100) miles except where the products are being transported for processing within this state.

     (4)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-5-27 and/or Section 63-5-29 to the contrary, vehicles hauling prepackaged products, unloaded at a state port or to be loaded at a state port, which are containerized in such a manner as to make subdivision thereof impractical shall be allowed a gross weight of not to exceed forty thousand (40,000) pounds on any tandem, and a tolerance not to exceed ten percent (10%) above their authorized gross weight, tandem or axle weight; except that the maximum weight of any vehicle shall not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds plus a tolerance thereon of not more than two percent (2%); however, neither the increased weights in this subsection nor any tolerance shall be allowed on federal interstate highways or on other highways where a tolerance is specifically prohibited by the Transportation Commission, the county board of supervisors or the municipal governing authorities as provided for in Section 63-5-27.

     (5)  (a)  Vehicles for which a harvest permit has been issued pursuant to Section 27-19-81(4) shall be allowed a gross vehicle weight not to exceed eighty-four thousand (84,000) pounds.  However, the board of supervisors of any county and the governing authorities of any municipality may designate the roads, streets and highways under their respective jurisdiction on and along which vehicles for which a harvest permit has been issued may travel.  This subsection shall not apply to the federal interstate system.

          (b)  Any owner or operator who has been issued a harvest permit and who wishes to operate a vehicle on the roads, streets or highways under the jurisdiction of a county or municipality at a gross vehicle weight greater than the weight allowed by law or greater than the maximum weight established for such roads, streets or highways by the board of supervisors or municipal governing authorities, shall notify, in writing, the board of supervisors or the governing authorities, as the case may be, before operating such vehicle on the roads, streets or highways of such county or municipality.  In his notice, the permit holder shall identify the routes over which he intends to operate vehicles for which the permit has been issued and the dates or time period during which he will be operating such vehicles.  The board of supervisors or the governing authorities, as the case may be, shall have two (2) working days to respond in writing to the permit holder to notify the permit holder of the routes on and along which the permit holder may operate vehicles for which a harvest permit has been issued.  Failure of the board of supervisors or the governing authorities timely to notify the permit holder and to designate the routes on and along which the permit holder may operate shall be considered as authorizing the permit holder to operate on any of the roads, streets or highways of the county or municipality in accordance with the authority granted to the permit holder by the harvest permit.

          (c)  Any time a timber deed is filed with the chancery clerk, the grantee, at that time, may make a written request of the board of supervisors of the county or the governing authorities of the municipality, as the case may be, for the purpose of providing to the grantee, within three (3) working days of the filing of the request, a designated and approved route over the roads, streets or highways under the jurisdiction of the county or city, as the case may be, that the grantee may travel for the purpose of transporting harvested timber.  Upon providing such route designation, the county or city, as the case may be, shall also provide to the grantee a map designating the approved route.  An approved route designation provided to a grantee under the provisions of this paragraph shall be valid for a period of six (6) months from its date of issue.  The permit authorized to be issued under paragraph (b) of this subsection shall not be required for any person who obtains a permit issued under this paragraph.

          (d)  This subsection (5) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, * * * 20222025.

     (6)  Nothing in this section or subsections (1) through (4) of Section 63-5-27 shall be construed to deny the operation of any vehicle or combination of vehicles that could be lawfully operated upon the interstate highway system of this state on January 4, 1975.

     (7)  (a)  Notwithstanding any provisions of Section 63-5-27 to the contrary, a vehicle that is operated by an engine fueled primarily by compressed or liquefied natural gas may exceed the gross vehicle weight limits by an amount, not to exceed a maximum of two thousand (2,000) pounds, that is equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system carried by the vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system.

          (b)  The weight exception provided in this subsection shall apply to all interstate highways per the exemption expressly permitted by 23 USC Section 127.

     [Effective from and after July 1, 2023, this section will read as follows:]

     63-5-33.  (1)  Subject to the limitations imposed on wheel and axle loads by Section 63-5-27, and to the further limitations hereinafter specified, the total combined weight (vehicles plus load) on any group of axles of a vehicle or a combination of vehicles shall not exceed the value given in the following table (Table III) corresponding to the distance in feet between the extreme axles of the group, measured longitudinally to the nearest foot, on those highways or parts of highways designated by the Mississippi Transportation Commission as being capable of carrying the maximum load limits and, in addition thereto, such other highways or parts of highways found by the commission to be suitable to carry the maximum load limits from an engineering standpoint, and so designated as such by order of the commission entered upon its minutes and published once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a daily newspaper published in this state and having a general circulation therein.  The maximum total combined weight carried on any group of two (2) or more consecutive axles shall be determined by the formula contained in the Federal Weight Law enacted January 4, 1975, as follows:  W=500 (LN/N-1+12N+36) where W=maximum weight in pounds carried on any group of two (2) or more axles computed to the nearest five hundred (500) pounds, L=distance in feet between the extremes of any group of two (2) or more consecutive axles, and N=number of axles in any group under consideration.

                           TABLE III

 DISTANCE

 IN FEET

 BETWEEN THE

 EXTREMES OF

 ANY GROUP

 OF 2 OR MORE

 CONSECUTIVE        MAXIMUM LOAD IN POUNDS CARRIED ON ANY

 AXLES               GROUP OF 2 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE AXLES

        2 axles   3 axles   4 axles   5 axles   6 axles   7 axles

  4     34,000

  5     34,000

  6     34,000             Axle groups in

  7     34,000

  8 and

   less 34,000    34,000    these spacings

  More

  than

  8     38,000    42,000

  9     39,000    42,500

 10     40,000    43,500    impractical

 11               44,000

 12               45,000    50,000

 13               45,500    50,500

 14               46,500    51,500

 15               47,000    52,000

 16               48,000    52,500    58,000

 17               48,500    53,500    58,500

 18               49,500    54,000    59,000

 19               50,000    54,500    60,000

 20               51,000    55,500    60,500    66,000

 21               51,500    56,000    61,000    66,500

 22               52,500    56,500    61,500    67,000

 23               53,000    57,500    62,500    68,000

 24               54,000    58,000    63,000    68,500    74,000

 25               54,500    58,500    63,500    69,000    74,500

 26               55,500    59,500    64,000    69,500    75,000

 27               56,000    60,000    65,000    70,000    75,500

 28               57,000    60,500    65,500    71,000    76,500

 29               57,500    61,500    66,000    71,500    77,000

 30               58,500    62,000    66,500    72,000    77,500

 31               59,000    62,500    67,500    72,500    78,000

 32               60,000    63,500    68,000    73,000    78,500

 33                        64,000    68,500    74,000    79,000

 34                       64,500    69,000    74,500    80,000

 35                        65,500    70,000    75,000    80,000

 36                        66,000    70,500    75,500    80,000

 37                        66,500    71,000    76,000    80,000

 38                         67,500    71,500    77,000    80,000

 39                        68,000    72,500    77,500    80,000

 40                        68,500    73,000    78,000    80,000

 41                        69,500    73,500    78,500    80,000

 42                        70,000    74,000    79,000    80,000

 43                        70,500    75,000    80,000    80,000

 44                        71,500    75,500    80,000    80,000

 45                        72,000    76,000    80,000    80,000

 46                        72,500    76,500    80,000    80,000

 47                        73,500    77,500    80,000    80,000

 48                        74,000    78,000    80,000    80,000

 49                        74,500    78,500    80,000    80,000

 50                       75,500    79,000    80,000    80,000

 51                        76,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

 52                        76,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 53                        77,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 54                         78,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

 55                        78,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 56                        79,500    80,000    80,000    80,000

 57                        80,000    80,000    80,000    80,000

     (2)  Moreover, in addition to the per axle weight limitations specified by Section 63-5-27, two (2) consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of thirty-four thousand (34,000) pounds each, providing that the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirty-six (36) feet or more, except that, until September 1, 1989, the axle distance for tank trailers, dump trailers and ocean transport container haulers may be thirty (30) feet or more.  Such overall gross weight may not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds, except as provided by this section.

     (3)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-5-27 and/or Section 63-5-29 to the contrary, vehicles hauling products in the manner set forth in this subsection, whether or not such vehicles are operating with a harvest permit, shall be allowed a gross weight of not to exceed forty thousand (40,000) pounds on any tandem.  Vehicles operating without a harvest permit shall be allowed a tolerance not to exceed five percent (5%) above their authorized gross vehicle weight, tandem or axle weight; except that the maximum gross vehicle weight of any such vehicle shall not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds plus a tolerance thereon of not more than two percent (2%).  Vehicles operating without a harvest permit loading at a point of origin having scales available for weighing the vehicle shall not be eligible for any tolerance over the gross weight limit of eighty thousand (80,000) pounds.  Vehicles operating with a harvest permit shall be allowed a tolerance not to exceed ten percent (10%) above their authorized gross vehicle weight, tandem or axle weight, but the maximum gross vehicle weight of any such vehicle shall not exceed eighty-eight thousand (88,000) pounds.  However, neither the increased weights in this subsection nor any tolerance shall be allowed on federal interstate highways or on other highways where a tolerance is specifically prohibited by the Transportation Commission, the county board of supervisors or the municipal governing authorities as provided for in Section 63-5-27.  The tolerance allowed by this subsection shall only apply to the operation of vehicles from the point of loading to the point of unloading for processing, and to the operation of vehicles hauling sand, gravel, woodchips, wood shavings, sawdust, fill dirt, and agricultural products, and products for recycling or materials for the construction or repair of highways.  The range of such operation shall not exceed a radius of one hundred (100) miles except where the products are being transported for processing within this state.

     (4)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-5-27 and/or Section 63-5-29 to the contrary, vehicles hauling prepackaged products, unloaded at a state port or to be loaded at a state port, which are containerized in such a manner as to make subdivision thereof impractical shall be allowed a gross weight of not to exceed forty thousand (40,000) pounds on any tandem, and a tolerance not to exceed ten percent (10%) above their authorized gross weight, tandem or axle weight; except that the maximum weight of any vehicle shall not exceed eighty thousand (80,000) pounds plus a tolerance thereon of not more than two percent (2%); however, neither the increased weights in this subsection nor any tolerance shall be allowed on federal interstate highways or on other highways where a tolerance is specifically prohibited by the Transportation Commission, the county board of supervisors or the municipal governing authorities as provided for in Section 63-5-27.

     (5)  (a)  Vehicles for which a harvest permit has been issued pursuant to Section 27-19-81(4) shall be allowed a gross vehicle weight tolerance of ten percent (10%), not to exceed eighty-eight thousand (88,000) pounds.  However, the board of supervisors of any county and the governing authorities of any municipality may designate the roads, streets and highways under their respective jurisdiction on and along which vehicles for which a harvest permit has been issued may travel.  This subsection shall not apply to the federal interstate system.

          (b)  Any owner or operator who has been issued a harvest permit and who wishes to operate a vehicle on the roads, streets or highways under the jurisdiction of a county or municipality at a gross vehicle weight greater than the weight allowed by law or greater than the maximum weight established for such roads, streets or highways by the board of supervisors or municipal governing authorities, shall notify, in writing, the board of supervisors or the governing authorities, as the case may be, before operating such vehicle on the roads, streets or highways of such county or municipality.  In his notice, the permit holder shall identify the routes over which he intends to operate vehicles for which the permit has been issued and the dates or time period during which he will be operating such vehicles.  The board of supervisors or the governing authorities, as the case may be, shall have two (2) working days to respond in writing to the permit holder to notify the permit holder of the routes on and along which the permit holder may operate vehicles for which a harvest permit has been issued.  Failure of the board of supervisors or the governing authorities timely to notify the permit holder and to designate the routes on and along which the permit holder may operate shall be considered as authorizing the permit holder to operate on any of the roads, streets or highways of the county or municipality in accordance with the authority granted to the permit holder by the harvest permit.

          (c)  Any time a timber deed is filed with the chancery clerk, the grantee, at that time, may make a written request of the board of supervisors of the county or the governing authorities of the municipality, as the case may be, for the purpose of providing to the grantee, within three (3) working days of the filing of the request, a designated and approved route over the roads, streets or highways under the jurisdiction of the county or city, as the case may be, that the grantee may travel for the purpose of transporting harvested timber.  Upon providing such route designation, the county or city, as the case may be, shall also provide to the grantee a map designating the approved route.  An approved route designation provided to a grantee under the provisions of this paragraph shall be valid for a period of six (6) months from its date of issue.  The permit authorized to be issued under paragraph (b) of this subsection shall not be required for any person who obtains a permit issued under this paragraph.

          (d)  This subsection (5) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, * * * 20222025.

     (6)  Nothing in this section or subsections (1) through (4) of Section 63-5-27 shall be construed to deny the operation of any vehicle or combination of vehicles that could be lawfully operated upon the interstate highway system of this state on January 4, 1975.

     (7)  (a)  Notwithstanding any provisions of Section 63-5-27 to the contrary, a vehicle that is operated by an engine fueled primarily by compressed or liquefied natural gas may exceed the gross vehicle weight limits by an amount, not to exceed a maximum of two thousand (2,000) pounds, that is equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system carried by the vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system.

          (b)  The weight exception provided in this subsection shall apply to all interstate highways per the exemption expressly permitted by 23 USC Section 127.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.