§382. Length; special length limits

A. Length

(1) The length of a single vehicle shall not exceed forty-five feet. The length of a trailing unit on any single vehicle shall not exceed thirty feet. The length of the semitrailer portion of a tractor-semitrailer combination shall not exceed fifty-nine feet and six inches. The length of the semitrailer or trailer portion of a tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination shall not exceed thirty feet. The length of the trailer portions of a tractor-trailer-trailer combination shall not exceed thirty feet. The length of the semitrailer portions of a tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination shall not exceed thirty feet.

(2)(a) The load carried by a combination of vehicles transporting timber poles and piling shall not exceed sixty-five feet plus one foot additional tolerance in length. The load carried by a combination of vehicles transporting forest products in their natural or treated state shall not exceed sixty-five feet plus one foot additional tolerance in length. Said combinations transporting poles and piling or forest products in their natural or treated state shall operate only during daylight hours and shall display a red flag or cloth not less than one foot square at the rear of the load. A combination of vehicles transporting forest products in their natural state shall be equipped with stationary vertical retaining poles on the driver's side of the trailer portion.

(b) No combination of vehicles shall consist of more than two vehicles, except as provided in R.S. 32:384(C) and Paragraph (3) of this Subsection and except that combinations of truck-tractor and two trailers; truck-tractor and two semi-trailers; or truck-tractor, semi-trailer, and trailer are permitted.

(c) The combination of vehicles consisting of three vehicles excepted in this Section by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph shall be permitted to operate over all highways within the Interstate System and other highways designated by the secretary.

(d) No combination of vehicles operated on any parish road under the jurisdiction of the police jury shall consist of more than two vehicles, except as provided in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection.

(3)(a) A vehicle having no more than two axles may tow any combination of two vehicles, provided the combination of vehicles does not exceed sixty-five feet.

(b) A vehicle having no more than two axles and owned and/or operated by a manufacturer or dealer of boats may tow two boat trailers.

B. Special length limits

(1) Subject to the provisions of R.S. 32:380 and 381 and Subsection A of this Section, the load upon any single vehicle or upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles shall not project more than four feet beyond the foremost part of said vehicle, and the load upon any single vehicle or upon the rear vehicle of a combination of vehicles shall not project more than eight feet beyond the rear of the bed or body of said vehicle, except that the load upon the rear vehicle of a combination of vehicles transporting poles and piling shall not project more than fifteen feet beyond the rear of the bed or rear tire of said vehicle, whichever is further from the cab, and the load upon the rear vehicle of a combination of vehicles transporting forest products in their natural state shall not project more than twenty feet beyond the rear of the bed or rear tire of said vehicle, whichever is further from the cab, and said load or loads must maintain a two foot clearance above the pavement structure, and provided further said combination of vehicles transporting forest products in their natural state with a rear projecting load in excess of fifteen feet shall operate only during daylight hours and shall display a red flag or cloth not less than one foot square at the rear of its projected load. A combination of vehicles transporting forest products in their natural state shall be equipped with stationary vertical retaining poles on the driver's side of the trailer portion.

(2) Equipment that is permanently attached to and cannot be readily removed from a vehicle shall not constitute load and the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall not apply to such vehicles if the following conditions exist:

(a) The vehicle meets requisite state safety standards to be and is licensed for use on state highways; and

(b) That portion of such equipment which extends in front of the foremost part of said vehicle has a minimum vertical clearance above the surface of the highway of six feet.

(c) The provisions of this Section shall not apply to vehicles collecting garbage, rubbish, refuse, or recyclable materials which are equipped with front-end loading attachments and containers provided that the vehicles are actively engaged in the collection of garbage, rubbish, refuse, or recyclable materials.

(3) Sportsmen coaches or vehicles obviously used solely for recreational purposes and registered therefor may tow a combination of no more than two vehicles and shall not exceed seventy feet in total length.

C. The combinations of vehicles consisting of three vehicles excepted by Subparagraph (A)(2)(b) of this Section shall have reasonable access, not to exceed ten miles, between the interstate system or other highways designated by the secretary and terminals and facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest, unless otherwise prohibited. Household goods carriers shall have unrestricted access for loading and unloading purposes only, unless otherwise prohibited.

D. The secretary shall designate the qualifying highway system to which the foregoing length limitations shall apply.

E. The foregoing regulations of tractor-semi-trailer combinations shall not prohibit the operation, replacement, or reasonable business expansion of those types or lengths of vehicles which are in actual and lawful use on or before July 2, 1983.

F. All vehicles of legal length on the interstate system and other designated systems but which are not of legal length off of the interstate system and other designated systems shall have reasonable access, not to exceed ten miles, between the interstate system or other highways designated by the secretary and terminals and facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest, unless otherwise prohibited. Household goods carriers shall have unrestricted access for loading and unloading purposes only, unless otherwise prohibited.

Acts 1977, No. 113, §1, eff. June 22, 1977. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 35, §1, eff. May 31, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 87, §1, eff. June 29, 1979; Acts 1982, No. 410, §1; Acts 1982, No. 438, §1; Acts 1983, No. 416, §1; Acts 1984, No. 948, §1; Acts 1985, No. 260, §1, eff. July 6, 1985; Acts 1985, No. 960, §1; Acts 1987, No. 405, §1; Acts 1988, No. 663, §1; Acts 1990, No. 51, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1185, §1; Acts 1997, No. 764, §1; Acts 1997, No. 940, §1.