SF 184 (LSB 1051SV (2) 88)

SENATE FILE 184

BY  COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1045)

A BILL FOR

An Act permitting the transportation of certain types of loads by motor vehicles exceeding certain weight limitations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.463, subsection 3, Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, indivisible loads operating under the permit requirements of sections 321E.7, 321E.8, 321E.9, and 321E.29A, and divisible loads operating under the permit requirements of section 321E.26, shall be allowed a maximum of twenty thousand pounds per axle.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321E.7, subsection 1, paragraph e, Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   e.  Vehicles operating under a permit issued pursuant to section 321E.8, 321E.9, or 321E.9A, or 321E.26 may have a gross weight not to exceed forty-six thousand pounds on a single tandem axle of the truck tractor and a gross weight not to exceed forty-six thousand pounds on a single tandem axle of the trailer or semitrailer if each axle of each tandem group has at least four tires.
    Sec. 3.  Section 321E.9, Code 2019, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  Containers for international shipment shall be considered an indivisible load for purposes of transportation under a permit issued pursuant to this section, regardless of the container’s contents, if all of the following conditions are met:
   a.  The combination of vehicles transporting the container under the permit does not exceed the maximum dimensions specified in sections 321.454 through 321.457.
   b.  The container is sealed for international shipment and is either in route for export to a foreign country or in route to the container’s destination from a foreign country.
   c.  Documentation, such as a bill of lading or another similar document, is carried in the vehicle, in written or electronic form, that ties the container being moved to the container listed in the documentation using the unique container number marked on the container. The documentation shall clearly state the foreign country of origin or destination, and shall be provided to a peace officer upon request.
    Sec. 4.  Section 321E.14, subsection 1, Code 2019, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  j.  One hundred seventy-five dollars for a permit issued pursuant to section 321E.26.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  321E.26  Transportation of raw forest products.
   1.  A permit-issuing authority may issue annual permits for the operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting divisible loads of raw forest products from fields to storage, processing, or other commercial facilities. The combined gross weight or gross weight on any one axle or group of axles on a vehicle or combination of vehicles issued a permit under this section may exceed the maximum weights specified in section 321.463, if all of the following apply:
   a.  The combined gross weight or gross weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles does not exceed one hundred thirty thousand pounds.
   b.  The gross weight on any one axle does not exceed the limitations specified in section 321E.7.
   2.  A vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a permit is issued under this section shall not exceed the maximum dimensions specified in sections 321.454 through 321.457.
   3.  A vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a permit is issued under this section shall not travel on any portion of the interstate highway system.
   4.  Notwithstanding section 321E.3 or any other provision of law to the contrary, a permit issued by the department pursuant to this section is valid for operation on nonprimary highways if the nonprimary highway is the shortest route between a primary highway that is not part of the interstate highway system and a field, storage facility, processing facility, or other commercial facility that is the vehicle’s origin or destination, as applicable.
   5.  For the purposes of this section, “raw forest products” means logs, pilings, posts, poles, cordwood products, wood chips, sawdust, pulpwood, intermediary lumber, fuel wood, mulch, tree bark, and Christmas trees not altered by a manufacturing process off the land, sawmill, or factory from which the products were taken.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   RAW FOREST PRODUCTS. This bill allows the department of transportation (DOT) and local authorities to issue annual permits authorizing a vehicle or combination of vehicles to transport divisible loads of raw forest products from fields to storage, processing, or other commercial facilities. The annual permit fee is $175. A vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a permit is issued under the bill may exceed the maximum gross weight limitations set forth under Code section 321.463 if the combined gross weight or gross weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles does not exceed 130,000 pounds and the gross weight on any one axle does not exceed the limitations specified in Code section 321E.7. Code section 321E.7 limits the gross weight on any one axle to 20,000 pounds and the gross weight on any one tandem axle having at least four tires to 46,000 pounds. The bill prohibits a vehicle or combination of vehicles issued such a permit from exceeding the size limitations set forth in Code sections 321.454 through 321.457. The bill also prohibits a vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a permit is issued under the bill from traveling on any portion of the interstate highway system. The bill provides that such a permit issued by the DOT is valid for operation on nonprimary highways if the nonprimary highway is the shortest route between a primary highway that is not part of the interstate highway system and a field, storage facility, processing facility, or other commercial facility that is the vehicle’s origin or destination, as applicable.
   The bill defines “raw forest products” to mean logs, pilings, posts, poles, cordwood products, wood chips, sawdust, pulpwood, intermediary lumber, fuel wood, mulch, tree bark, and Christmas trees not altered by a manufacturing process off the land, sawmill, or factory from which the products were taken.
   SHIPPING CONTAINERS. The bill provides that containers for international shipment are considered an indivisible load for purposes of transportation under a single-trip permit, regardless of the container’s contents, if the combination of vehicles transporting the container under the permit does not exceed the maximum dimensions specified in Code sections 321.454 through 321.457; the container is sealed for international shipment and is either in route for export to a foreign country or in route to the container’s destination from a foreign country; and documentation, such as a bill of lading or another similar document, is carried in the vehicle, in written or electronic form, that ties the container being moved to the container listed in the documentation using the unique container number marked on the container. The bill requires the documentation to clearly state the foreign country of origin or destination, and to be provided to a peace officer upon request.