1.
Long Term (Monthly) Permits
A.
General Conditions
(1) Long term permits are issued on a monthly
basis for a period not to exceed 12 months.
(2) The fee schedule for long term permits
can be found in the 29-250 CMR chapter 156.
(3) Long term permits may be obtained using
the methods described in Section
10.
(4) The permit may be issued for a single
unit vehicle, or on either the power unit or trailer of a combination of
vehicles.
(5) The towing vehicle
used must be registered, apportioned, or prorated for the State of
Maine.
B.
Dimension
Restrictions
(1) Height must be legal.
No structural part of the vehicle shall exceed a height of 13 feet 6 inches.
The load may extend 6 inches beyond the maximum vehicle structural height,
making the legal height with load 14 feet on all highways except for the Maine
Turnpike (There is no additional 6 inch load provision for any part of
the Maine Turnpike).
(2)
Width must not exceed 11 feet 6 inches.
(3) Length must not exceed 45 feet for a
single unit vehicle, or 75 feet for a combination of vehicles, with the
exception of a vehicle combination hauling tree length logs which have a
maximum length limit of 80 feet under the following conditions:
(a) the logs are transported by a truck
tractor/semitrailer combination, and
(b) the rear overhang may not exceed 40% of
the length of the logs, and
(c) the
width, height, and weight of the vehicle combination and load must be
legal.
C.
Weight Restrictions
(1) All long
term permit limits are subject to 600 pounds per inch of tire width.
(2)
Class A Special Mobile
Equipment
(a) The width, height, and
length must be legal.
(b) The
vehicle must be registered for the actual gross weight in accordance with Title
29-A §513.
(c) Total Gross
Weight Limit
|
Configuration
|
Maximum Total Gross Weight
|
|
2-Axles
|
39,100 lbs.
|
|
3-Axles
|
62,100 lbs.
|
|
4-Axles
|
79,350 lbs.
|
|
5 or more Axles
|
92,000 lbs.
|
(d)
Individual axle unit limits
|
Single Steering Axle
|
18,900 lbs.
|
|
Single Axle
|
25,410 lbs.
|
|
Tandem Axles
|
48,300 lbs.
|
|
Tri-Axle
|
56,700 lbs.
|
(3)
Load Carrying Vehicles
(a) Must be a combination vehicle consisting
of a tri-axle semitrailer, and a tandem-drive, or tridem-drive truck
tractor.
(b) The maximum total
gross weight limit is 120,000 lbs.
(c) Individual axle unit limits
|
Steering Axle
|
12,000 lbs. max. (6,000 lbs. min.)
|
|
Tandem Axles
|
50,000 lbs. max.
|
|
Tridem Axles
|
60,000 lbs. max.
|
(d)
The power unit must be registered or apportioned for the maximum weight as
provided for by law.
|
Single Steering Axle
|
18,900 lbs.
|
|
Single Axle
|
25,410 lbs.
|
|
Tandem Axles
|
48,300 lbs.
|
|
Tri-Axle
|
56,700 lbs.
|
(4)
Special Conditions
(a) A long term permit does not constitute
permission to travel on city or town roads.
(b) All bridge postings must be observed.
Note - some bridges are posted at 90,000
lbs.
(5)
5-Axle Cranes
A. A 5-axle crane,
weighing between 110,001 to 130,000 pounds, and crossing bridges with a 5
M.P.H. travel restriction requires:
(1) a
pilot vehicle traveling at the rear of the permitted crane; or
(2) the crane or follow-vehicle must be
equipped with an impact attenuator; or
(3) a sign with the text "VEHICLE STOPS WHEN
FLASHING" shall be mounted to the rear of the permitted crane. The sign, with
minimum dimensions of 2 feet in height by 5 feet in width, shall have a minimum
of 8 flashing yellow LED lights around the border. The sign sheeting shall be
yellow prismatic or greater. The sign text shall be 6 inch letters. The sign
shall be wired into the vehicle's brake system and flash when the brake pedal
is depressed.
2.
Overweight Permits
A. A permit is required when the gross
vehicle weight of a single vehicle or a combination of vehicles exceeds the
following legal weight limit established for the vehicle type and axle
configuration:
|
Configuration
|
Legal Weight Limit
|
|
2-Axle Vehicle
|
34,000 lbs.
|
|
3-Axle Vehicle
|
54,000 lbs.
|
|
4-Axle Vehicle
|
69,000 lbs.
|
|
5 or More Axle Vehicle
|
69,000 lbs.3
|
|
3-Axle Combination of Vehicles
|
54,000 lbs.
|
|
4-Axle Combination of Vehicles
|
69,000 lbs.
|
|
5-Axle Combination of Vehicles
|
80,000 lbs.
|
|
6-Axle Combination of Vehicles
|
100,000 lbs.
4
|
(1) The
permitted vehicle must be registered for a gross vehicle weight equal to the
maximum operational gross weight limit for its configuration as described in
Title 29-A Chapter 21. Notwithstanding, Class A Special Mobile Equipment must
be registered for its actual weight.
(2) Permits are not granted for posted
roads.
B. Permits are not issued generally for loads
that exceed the legal allowable axle weight when the gross weight does not
exceed the legal limits. Class A Special Mobile Equipment may exceed axle
weight limits even if the gross weight is within legal limits. When operational
needs dictate, overweight permits may be issued if a vehicle exceeds axle
weight limits, but is within gross weight limits. The Issuing Authority will
issue these permits only after obtaining advice from the Maine Department of
Transportation. "Operational need" means that a larger vehicle could not be
practically or safely operated due to tight geometrics, rough terrain, or other
operational characteristics that necessitate the use of a smaller vehicle. The
financial impact of obtaining an adequate vehicle will not be considered an
operational need.
C. A permit will
be denied if the Issuing Authority determines that the vehicle to be used is
not adequate to complete the move safely. In cases where a larger vehicle could
be used to make the move within legal limits, the applicant may be required to
use a larger vehicle.
D. The
maximum weights for which a permit may be granted, without a special and
detailed review by the Maine Department of Transportation, are as follows:
|
Configuration
|
WEIGHT LIMIT
|
|
2-Axle Vehicle
|
39,100 lbs.
|
|
3-Axle Vehicle
|
62,100 lbs.
|
|
4-Axle Truck
|
73,000 lbs.
|
|
4-Axle or more Special Mobile
Equipment
|
110,000 lbs.
|
|
4-Axle Truck Tractor-Semitrailer
|
120,000 lbs.
|
|
5-Axle Truck Tractor-Semitrailer
|
130,000 lbs.
|
|
6-Axle Truck Tractor-Semitrailer
|
140,000 lbs.
|
|
7-Axle Truck Tractor-Semitrailer
|
159,000 lbs. to 167,000 lbs. **
|
|
8-Axle Truck Tractor-Semitrailer
|
177,000 lbs.
|
|
** Axle Group Limits
|
|
1st Axle
|
12,000 lbs. (20,000 lbs. for 167,000
lbs.)
|
|
2nd,
3rd, and 4th
Axles
|
26,000 lbs. (Combined Weight Max. 72,000
lbs.)
|
|
5th,
6th, and 7th
Axles
|
27,000 lbs. (Combined Weight Max. 75,000
lbs.)
|
(1) There is
an additional 3% tolerance on any axle or group of axles.
(2) Weights in excess of the above are
considered extreme loads and may require detailed engineering reviews. An
applicant should allow a minimum of two to five business days for the Maine
Department of Transportation and/or the Maine Turnpike Authority to complete a
required review. The applicant may be required to supply additional information
not on the application (such as an axle weight and spacing
diagram).
E. Vehicles
permitted for overweight-only that are capable of moving with the flow of
traffic may move at any time of day.
F. Pilot vehicles or police escorts may be
required when the Issuing Authority deems it necessary on extreme
weights.
3.
Over
Width Permits
A. A permit is required
when the overall width of the vehicle or load, including all structural parts,
exceeds eight feet six inches.
B.
Permits will not be granted for over width when the load can be reduced to the
legal limit. For example, if two tanks are being moved side by side and exceed
the legal width, one tank must be removed.
C. Vehicles 14 feet or more in width
operating on highways with four or more traffic lanes must maintain a minimum
following distance of five seconds with respect to those vehicles in front of
them which are large enough to block the driver's view of the road
ahead.
D. Pilot vehicles are
required for a vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeding certain widths (See
Section
16 - Pilot Vehicles).
E.
Police escorts are required for permits issued for widths of
16 feet or
more.
F. Additional pilot or police
escorts may be required on extreme widths when the Issuing Authority deems it
necessary.
4.
Over
Length Permits
A. A permit is required
when the overall length, including all structural parts and the load exceeds
the limits established in Title 29-A §2390. Generally, the maximum length,
which does not require an over length permit is 45 feet for a single unit
vehicle and 65 feet for a combination of vehicles. There are exceptions in
§2390 for longer combinations vehicles (LCV's) to allow an overall length
in excess of 65 feet under some conditions.
B. Over length permits are not required for:
(1) fire department vehicles,
(2) utility companies or their contractors
transporting distribution utility poles from a staging area to the final point
of installation, or transmission utility poles of any length in emergency
situations, or
(3) disabled
vehicles being towed to a repair facility.
For purposes of paragraph (B)(2), an emergency situation is
an unforeseen need to replace poles to include but not limited to, a car crash,
a tree falling onto lines, or a weather event, that a utility company could not
have reasonably expected. A distribution utility pole is generally a secondary
pole not exceeding 55' in length, often used for transmitting power directly to
home or businesses along roads or property. A transmission utility pole is
often up to 125' in length generally utilized for transmitting power between
substations or power sources and is longer in length and
width.
C.
Tree Length Logs
(1) Pursuant to
Title 29-A §2390(D), a combination vehicle consisting of a truck tractor
and a semitrailer may carry tree length logs without a permit provided the
overall length of the truck tractor, semitrailer, and load does not exceed 74
feet. Logs may extend rearward beyond the body of the vehicle by up to 8
½ feet, provided not more that 25% of the length of the logs extends
beyond the body of the vehicles.
(2) A combination consisting of a truck
tractor and a semitrailer transporting tree length logs may be operated with an
overlimit permit provided that the total length of the vehicle and load does
not exceed 80 feet, and not more than 40 percent of the length of the logs
extends beyond the body of the vehicle.
(3) The following conditions apply to all
vehicles carrying tree length logs when the load extends beyond the body:
(a) Any overhang beyond 4 feet of the body
must be flagged by a clean 12 inch by 12 inch fluorescent cloth, and during
nighttime display a red light.
(b)
When lights are required, a red reflector or reflectorized paint must be
displayed on the end on the log projecting farthest to the rear. The reflector
or reflectorized paint must be able to reflect, at night on an unlighted
highway, the undimmed lights of a vehicle approaching from the rear for at
least 200 feet.
D. Permitted over length vehicles may not
follow nearer than 200 feet to another vehicle except when passing.
E. Pilot vehicles are required for a vehicle
or combination of vehicles exceeding certain lengths. (See Section 16 - Pilot
Vehicles).
F. Police escorts are
required for permits issued for lengths of 125 feet or more.
G. Additional pilot vehicles or police
escorts may be required when the Issuing Authority deems it necessary on
extreme lengths.
5.
Over Height Permits
A. A permit
is required when any structural part of the vehicle exceeds 13 feet 6 inches;
however, the load may extend 6 inches beyond this, making the legal height with
load 14 feet. The height limit on the Maine Turnpike is 13 feet 6
inches.
B. A permit will not be
granted for over height when the load can be reduced to the legal limit (for
example, a load of lumber).
C. The
permit applicant is responsible for contacting the appropriate public utility
companies for any movement or alteration of overhead wires.
D. Bridge and overpass clearances are posted
when clearances are less than 14 feet 6 inches in height. Note: many
bridges on the Maine Turnpike are at 13 feet 6 inches.
E. A pole car is required when overall height
exceeds 15 feet.
F. A pilot
vehicle(s) or police escort(s) may be required when the Issuing Authority deems
it necessary on extreme heights.
3 Except as provided by Title
29-A M.R.S.A. §2364.
4 100,000 lbs. is legal on 6 or
more axles consisting of a minimum of a 3-axle truck tractor in combination
with a tri-axle semitrailer on General Law Highways. The Maine Interstate
System is restricted to 80,000 lbs. except that a combination vehicle
consisting of a 3-axle truck tractor and a tri-axle semitrailer may operate up
to 100,000 lbs. for as long as a federal law exempting Maine from the 80,000
lbs. interstate limit is in effect.
