603 KAR 5:070. Motor vehicle dimension
limits.
RELATES TO: KRS 186.050, 186.655,
189.222, 23 C.F.R. Part 658, 49 U.S.C. 31111
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 189.222(1), (9),
23 C.F.R. Part 658
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS
189.222 authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish reasonable size
limits for motor vehicles using the State Primary Road System, which includes
the roads maintained by the Department of Highways. 23 C.F.R. 658.19 requires
that vehicles with increased dimensions transporting household goods and truck
tractors towing only one (1) semitrailer not exceeding twenty-eight (28) feet
(8.53 meters) in length be provided statewide access unless a route is
specifically excluded for safety reasons. This administrative regulation
establishes the motor vehicle and combination vehicle dimensions for all
classes of highways in Kentucky. 23 C.F.R. Part 658 sets forth the highways
available for use by vehicles with increased dimensions. This administrative
regulation includes these highways as well as others which have been
constructed to accommodate the motor vehicles with increased dimensions. In
addition, 23 C.F.R. 658.19 requires each state to allow the increased dimension
vehicles to operate within one (1) driving mile (1.61 kilometers) of the
designated highways. On state-maintained highways in Kentucky, the increased
dimension vehicles are allowed to operate within five (5) driving miles (8.05
kilometers) of a designated highway unless the designated highway is an
interstate or a parkway in which instance the increased dimension vehicles are
allowed to operate within fifteen (15) miles (24.14 kilometers) of the
interstate or parkway exit. The bus dimension limits are established in 603 KAR
5:071.
Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Length
exclusion safety device" means an appurtenance:
(a) That is located at the front or rear
of a motor vehicle semitrailer or trailer;
(b) Whose function is related to the safe
and efficient operation of the semitrailer or trailer; and
(c) That is not designated, designed or
used for carrying cargo.
(2) "National Truck Network"
means the network of highways:
(a) On which vehicles authorized by the
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 31111 are allowed to operate pursuant to KRS 189.222
and 23 C.F.R. 658; and
(b) Included in an official order issued
by:
1. The secretary;
2. Maintained on the Transportation
Cabinet Web site at www.kytc.state.ky.us/planning/index.htm;
and
3. Available in hard copy upon request at
the Division of Vehicle Enforcement.
(3) "Width exclusion safety
device" means an appurtenance:
(a) That is located at the side of a
motor vehicle semitrailer or trailer;
(b) Whose function is normally related to
the safe and efficient operation of the semitrailer or trailer; and
(c) That is not designated, designed or
used for carrying cargo.
Section 2. Width Exclusion Safety
Devices. (1) The following items shall be designated as a width exclusion
safety device:
(a) Rearview mirrors;
(b) Turn signal lamps;
(c) Hand holds for cab entry or egress;
(d) Splash and spray suppressant devices;
and
(e) Load induced tire bulge.
(2) The following items shall be
designated as width exclusion safety devices if they do not extend beyond three
(3) inches (0.0762 meter) on either side of the vehicle:
(a) Corner cap;
(b) Rear or side door hinges and their
protective hardware;
(c) Rain gutters;
(d) Side marker lamps;
(e) Lift pads for a piggyback trailer;
(f) Hazardous materials placards;
(g) Tarp and tarp hardware;
(h) Tie-down assembly on a platform
trailer;
(i) Wall variation from true flat; and
(j) Weevil pins or sockets on a low bed
trailer.
Section 3. Except as provided in Section
4 of this administrative regulation, the maximum dimensions for a motor vehicle
or combination motor vehicle, except a bus, using a public highway in Kentucky
shall be as follows:
(1) Height: including body and load, not
to exceed thirteen (13) feet and six (6) inches (4.115 meters).
(2) Width: including body and load, not
to exceed eight (8) feet (2.44 meters), excluding a width exclusion safety
device.
(3) Length. Except as provided in
subsection (4) of this section:
(a) The length of a single unit motor
vehicle, including a part of the body or load, and excluding a length exclusion
safety device, shall not exceed forty-five (45) feet (13.716 meters).
(b) A motor vehicle and trailer or
semitrailer combination, including a part of the body or load, and excluding a
length exclusion safety device, shall not exceed sixty-five (65) feet (19.812
meters).
(4) Length exceptions:
(a) If a truck tractor or semitrailer
unit is exclusively engaged in the transportation of motor vehicles or boats, a
three (3) foot (0.915 meters) front and four (4) foot (1.22 meters) rear overhang
shall not be included in the measurement of the sixty-five (65) feet (19.812
meters) limit established in subsection (3)(b) of this section;
(b) A single unit motor vehicle
transporting utility poles or pipes in which the vehicle and load do not exceed
forty-five (45) feet (13.716 meters) shall be allowed to operate on the public
highways of Kentucky.
(5) Weight.
(a) The gross weight limit is established
in 603 KAR 5:066.
(b) The axle weight limit and the bridge
weight formula are established in 603 KAR 5:066.
Section 4. (1) A motor vehicle or a
combination motor vehicle, except a bus, with dimensions greater than those
specified in Section 3 of this administrative regulation that does not exceed
the dimensions established in subsection (2) of this section may be operated
without an overweight or overdimensional permit on the following highways:
(a) The National Truck Network;
(b) The fifteen (15) mile (24.14
kilometers) access authorized in KRS 189.222(1)(f);
(c) The five (5) mile (8.05 kilometers)
access authorized in Section 5(2) of this administrative regulation; and
(d) The one (1) mile (1.61 kilometers)
access authorized in Section 5(3) of this administrative regulation.
(2) A motor vehicle, combination motor
vehicle, or towed unit, including any part of the body and load, and excluding
a length or width exclusion safety device, shall not exceed, without an
overdimensional permit, the following width and length dimensions if operating
on the National Truck Network:
(a) Width - 102 inches (2.59 meters).
(b) Length of a towed unit.
1. Fifty-three (53) feet (16.154 meters)
when operated in a single semitrailer combination.
2. Twenty-eight (28) feet (8.53 meters)
if operated in a tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination or a tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer
combination not to exceed two (2) towed units per combination.
3. There shall not be an overall length
limitation on a motor vehicle or combination motor vehicle if the requirements
established in this subsection are met.
4. In a tractor semitrailer-semitrailer
combination vehicle in which the two (2) trailing units are connected with a
rigid frame extension attached to the rear frame of the first semitrailer which
allows for a fifth wheel connection point for the second semitrailer, the
length of the extension shall be excluded from the measurement of semitrailer
length.
5. If there is not a second semitrailer
mounted to the fifth wheel of the rear frame of a semitrailer, the length of
the extension shall be included in the length measurement for the semitrailer.
(3) The gross vehicle weight limit for a
motor vehicle with the dimensions established in subsection (2) of this section
while operating on a highway segment established in Section 5 of this administrative
regulation shall be 80,000 pounds (36,287.36 kilograms) except the axle weight
limits and bridge weight limits established in 603 KAR 5:066 shall not be
exceeded.
(4) The dimensions and weights specified
in this section shall not be subject to an enforcement tolerance.
Section 5. (1) Operation of motor
vehicles with increased dimensions that do not exceed the limitations
established in Section 4(2) of this administrative regulation shall be allowed
on all highways included in the National Truck Network.
(2) Except as provided by Section 8 of
this administrative regulation, a motor vehicle with an increased dimension as
established in Section 4 of this administrative regulation shall be allowed
five (5) driving miles (8.05 kilometers) on a state-maintained highway from a
highway segment established as part of the National Truck Network and fifteen
(15) miles (24.14 kilometers) from an interstate or parkway exit to attain
reasonable access to a terminal or facility for food, fuel, repairs, or rest.
(3) Except as provided by Section 7 of
this administrative regulation, a motor vehicle with an increased dimension as
established in Section 4 of this administrative regulation shall be allowed one
(1) driving mile (1.61 kilometers) on a nonstate maintained, publicly-owned,
public use highway from a highway segment established as part of the National
Truck Network to attain reasonable access to a terminal or facility for food,
fuel, repair, or rest.
Section 6. (1) Household Goods
Transporters. A motor vehicle with an increased dimension as established in
Section 4 of this administrative regulation that is used to transport household
goods by a motor carrier certificated by either the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration or the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to transport household
goods shall have access to any public roadway in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
(2) Single unit semitrailers. A motor
vehicle with an increased dimension as established in Section 4 of this
administrative regulation that consists of a truck tractor and single
semitrailer which does not exceed twenty-eight (28) feet excluding a length
exclusion safety device shall have access to any public roadway in the
Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Section 7. Nonstate Maintained Exceptions
to One (1) Mile (1.61 Kilometers) Automatic Access. The city of Anchorage in
Jefferson County has adopted ordinances which exempt for safety reasons certain
locally maintained roadways from the automatic one (1) mile (1.61 kilometers)
access provision of Section 5(3) of this administrative regulation: The streets
all within the corporate city limits of Anchorage listed in the city ordinance
which shall not be used by a motor vehicle with an increased dimension as
established in Section 4 of this administrative regulation shall be:
(1) Evergreen Road;
(2) Bellewood Road;
(3) Lucas Lane; and
(4) Old Harris Creek Road.
Section 8. State-maintained Exceptions to
Automatic Five (5) Mile (8.05 Kilometers) and fifteen (15) mile (24.14
kilometers) Access. The Department of Highways has found the following road
segment for safety reasons to be exempt from the five (5) mile (8.05
kilometers) and fifteen (15) mile (24.14 kilometers) automatic access on a
state-maintained highway as established in Section 5(2) of this administrative
regulation. These road segments shall not be used by a vehicle with an
increased dimension as established in Section 4 of this administrative
regulation:
(1) Kentucky 146 - from the west boundary
of the city of Anchorage at milepoint 4.258 to the east boundary of the city of
Anchorage at milepoint 5.878;
(2) Kentucky 418 - from milepoint 2.892
at the intersection with the Blue Sky Parkway just southeast of the I-75
interchange in Fayette County to milepoint 6.089 at the Fayette/Clark County
line;
(3) Kentucky 1973 - from milepoint 0.000
at the intersection with US 25 to milepoint 1.866 at its intersection with
Kentucky 418, all in Fayette County; and
(4) US 119 in Letcher County from its
junction with Kentucky 932 (MP 10.065) northeast of Oven Fork to Kentucky 15 (MP
17.308) in Whitesburg.
Section 9. Adoption Without Change. (1)
23 C.F.R. 658.5, Truck size and weight, route designation, length, width and
weight limitations, August, 2001, is adopted without change.
(2) This material may be inspected,
copied, or obtained, subject to copyright law, at the Transportation Cabinet,
Division of Vehicle Enforcement, 1st Floor, 200 Mero Street, Frankfort,
Kentucky 40622, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The telephone number
is (502) 564-3276. (1 Ky.R. 817; eff. 5-14-75; Am. 2 Ky.R. 193; eff. 12-10-75;
8 Ky.R. 12; eff. 8-5-81; 782; eff. 3-1-82; 10 Ky.R. 828; eff. 1-4-84; 12 Ky.R.
231; eff. 9-10-85; 14 Ky.R. 2202; eff. 8-5-88; 15 Ky.R. 549; 963; eff. 10-4-88;
2119; eff. 5-2-89; 16 Ky.R. 863; 1376; eff. 2-3-90; 17 Ky.R. 1834; eff. 2-7-91;
18 Ky.R. 460; 1008; 1335; eff. 10-1-91; 2372; eff. 3-7-92; 19 Ky.R. 231; 891;
eff. 10-8-92; 2309; 2644; eff. 5-26-93; 22 Ky.R. 620; 1077; eff. 11-1-95; 24
Ky.R. 1390; 1671; eff. 1-22-98; 28 Ky.R. 929; 1387; eff. 12-19-2001; 30 Ky.R.
1362; 2153; eff. 4-12-04.)
