SF 745

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 10/25/2023 10:35am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; modifying special permit for hauling forest products;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.8261.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.8261, is amended to read:

169.8261 deleted text begin GROSS WEIGHT LIMITATIONS; deleted text end FOREST PRODUCTS new text begin SPECIAL
PERMIT new text end .

Subdivision 1.

deleted text begin Exemption deleted text end new text begin Definition new text end .

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end For purposes of this section, "raw or unfinished
forest products" include wood chips, paper, pulp, oriented strand board, laminated strand
lumber, hardboard, treated lumber, untreated lumber, or barrel staves.

deleted text begin (b) In compliance with this section, a person may operate a vehicle or combination of
vehicles to haul raw or unfinished forest products by the most direct route to the nearest
paved highway on any highway with gross weights permitted under sections 169.823 to
169.829.
deleted text end

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Six-axle vehicle permit. new text end

new text begin (a) A road authority may issue an annual permit
authorizing a vehicle or combination of vehicles with a total of six or more axles to haul
raw or unfinished forest products by the most direct route to the nearest paved highway on
any highway with gross weights permitted under sections 169.823 to 169.829 and be operated
with a gross vehicle weight of up to:
new text end

new text begin (1) 90,000 pounds; and
new text end

new text begin (2) 99,000 pounds during the period set by the commissioner under section 169.826,
subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (b) A vehicle or combination of vehicles with a permit under this subdivision must not
be operated on an interstate highway, except as provided under United States Code, title
23, section 127(q), for operation on the specified segment of marked Interstate Highway
35.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 1b. new text end

new text begin Six-axle and over-width vehicle permit. new text end

new text begin (a) A road authority may issue an
annual permit authorizing a vehicle or combination of vehicles with a total of six or more
axles to haul raw or unfinished forest products by the most direct route to the nearest paved
highway on any highway with gross weights permitted under sections 169.823 to 169.829
and be operated with:
new text end

new text begin (1) a gross vehicle weight of up to:
new text end

new text begin (i) 90,000 pounds; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) 99,000 pounds during the period set by the commissioner under section 169.826,
subdivision 1; and
new text end

new text begin (2) a total outside width of the vehicle or the load that does not exceed 114 inches.
new text end

new text begin (b) In addition to the conditions in subdivision 2, a vehicle or combination of vehicles
operated with a permit under this subdivision must:
new text end

new text begin (1) display red or orange flags, 18 inches square, as markers at the front and rear and on
both sides of the load; and
new text end

new text begin (2) not be operated on any road in a metropolitan county, as defined in section 473.121,
subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin (c) A vehicle or combination of vehicles with a permit under this subdivision may only
be operated on an interstate highway:
new text end

new text begin (1) as provided under United States Code, title 23, section 127(q), for operation on the
specified segment of marked Interstate Highway 35; or
new text end

new text begin (2) if the gross vehicle weight does not exceed 80,000 pounds.
new text end

Subd. 2.

Conditions.

(a) A vehicle or combination of vehicles deleted text begin described in subdivision
1 deleted text end new text begin operated under this section new text end must:

(1) comply with seasonal load restrictions in effect between the dates set by the
commissioner under section 169.87, subdivision 2;

(2) comply with bridge load limits posted under section 169.84;

(3) be equipped and operated with six or more axles and brakes on all wheels;

deleted text begin (4) not exceed 90,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, or 99,000 pounds gross vehicle
weight during the time when seasonal increases are authorized under section 169.826;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (5) not be operated on interstate highways;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (6) obtain an annual permit from the commissioner of transportation;
deleted text end

new text begin (4) be operated under a permit issued by each road authority having jurisdiction over a
road on which the vehicle is operated, if required by the road authority;
new text end

deleted text begin (7) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end obey all road new text begin and bridge new text end postings new text begin , including those pertaining to lane or roadway
width new text end ; and

deleted text begin (8) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end not exceed 20,000 pounds gross weight on any single axle.

(b) A vehicle operated under this section may exceed the legal axle weight limits listed
in section 169.824 by not more than 12.5 percent; except that, the weight limits may be
exceeded by not more than 23.75 percent during the time when seasonal increases are
authorized under section 169.826, subdivision 1.

deleted text begin (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), clause (5), a vehicle or combination of vehicles
hauling raw or unfinished forest products may operate on the segment of marked Interstate
Highway 35 provided under United States Code, title 23, section 127(q)(2)(D).
deleted text end

Subd. 3.

Expiration date.

Upon request of the permit applicant, the expiration date for
a permit issued under this section must be the same as the expiration date of the permitted
vehicle's registration.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2023.
new text end