(a) Annual permit.--(Deleted by amendment).

(a.1) General rule.--An annual permit may be issued authorizing movement on specified highways of:

(1) boats, trailers, mobile homes, modular housing units and undercarriages, helicopters, hot ingots, a hot box, basic oxygen furnace lances, railway equipment and rails or other articles, vehicles or combinations which exceed the maximum height, width or length specified in Subchapter B (relating to width, height and length) while they are in the course of manufacture and under contract with or under the direct control of the manufacturer, provided that they do not exceed the maximum weight specified in Subchapter C (relating to maximum weights of vehicles) unless they also qualify under paragraph (3);

(2) self-propelled cranes while they are in the course of manufacture and under contract with or under the direct control of the manufacturer; or

(3) aircraft refueling vehicles or vehicles and combinations carrying milk, raw coal, flat-rolled steel coils, steel slabs, hot ingots, a hot box, pulpwood and wood chips, raw water or cryogenic liquid or sugar which exceed the maximum weight specified in Subchapter C while they are in the course of manufacture and under contract with or under the direct control of the manufacturer, provided that they do not exceed the maximum height, width or length specified in Subchapter B unless they also qualify under paragraph (1), subject to the provisions in subsection (a.2).

(a.2) Specifications.--

(1) Except for articles and vehicles not exceeding 102 inches in width, no permit shall be issued under this section for movement of articles or vehicles while they are in transit from the manufacturer to a purchaser or dealer or for the movement of articles or vehicles upon a freeway.

(2) Overwidth articles and vehicles:

(i) Articles and vehicles not wider than 102 inches may be moved any distance on a permit.

(ii) Articles and vehicles wider than 102 inches but not wider than 108 inches may be moved up to seven miles on a permit 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

(iii) Articles and vehicles wider than 102 inches but not in excess of 12 feet in width may be moved up to 50 miles on a permit.

(iv) Wider articles and vehicles may be moved no farther than ten miles on a permit.

(3) A combination of vehicles which is hauling flat-rolled steel coils or steel slabs may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon highways within their respective jurisdictions a distance not exceeding 50 miles if the gross weight does not exceed 100,000 pounds and the weight of any nonsteering axle does not exceed 21,000 pounds. No permit may be issued for this type of movement upon an interstate highway.

(4) A combination of vehicles which is hauling milk to or from a manufacturer may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon highways within their respective jurisdictions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except during inclement weather as defined in department regulations, if the gross weight does not exceed 95,000 pounds and the weight of any nonsteering axle does not exceed 21,000 pounds. A permit may be issued for this type of movement upon an interstate highway. An application to the department for the movement of milk, except for raw milk, shall designate the route the applicant requests to use.

(5) A combination of vehicles which is hauling a hot ingot or a hot box may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon highways within their respective jurisdictions a distance not exceeding 25 miles if the gross weight does not exceed 150,000 pounds and the weight of any nonsteering axle does not exceed 21,000 pounds. No permit may be issued for this type of movement upon an interstate highway.

(6) A combination of vehicles which is hauling basic oxygen furnace lances may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon highways within their respective jurisdictions if the overall length does not exceed 90 feet. A vehicle operating under a permit authorized under this section may be driven 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if the vehicle or combination is operated at prevailing speeds. Movement under this paragraph is not authorized during any of the following:

(i) A holiday period specified in department regulations or in the permit.

(ii) Inclement weather, as defined in department regulations.

(7) A self-propelled crane which is being road tested may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon highways within their respective jurisdictions a distance not exceeding 15 miles if the gross weight does not exceed 150,000 pounds and the weight on any axle does not exceed 27,000 pounds.

(8) A combination of vehicles which is hauling raw coal from a mine to a processing or preparation facility may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon highways within their respective jurisdictions a distance not exceeding 30 miles if the gross weight does not exceed 95,000 pounds and the weight of any nonsteering axle does not exceed 21,000 pounds. No permit may be issued for this type of movement upon an interstate highway.

(9) A combination of vehicles which is hauling raw water from a spring to a bottling facility may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon specified highways within their respective jurisdictions subject to the following conditions:

(i) The vehicle must be a six-axle combination - three-axle truck tractor.

(ii) Gross vehicular weight must not exceed 96,900 pounds.

(iii) Maximum weight on steering axles shall be 11,000 pounds.

(iv) Maximum weight on the truck-tractor tandem (axles two and three) shall be 38,000 pounds, with a maximum of 19,500 pounds on either axle in the group.

(v) Maximum weight on the semitrailer tridem (axles four, five and six) shall be 47,700 pounds, with a maximum of 16,400 pounds on any axle in the group.

(vi) Minimum spacing between axle one and axle two shall be 12 feet 11 inches.

(vii) The center-to-center distance between the last drive axle of the truck tractor (axle three) and the first axle of semitrailer (axle four) must be a minimum of 26 feet 7 inches.

(viii) Minimum spacing between tandem and tridem axles shall be 4 feet 1 inch.

No permit may be issued for this type of movement upon an interstate highway.

(10) A combination of vehicles which is hauling pulpwood or wood chips from a specified source to a pulp mill may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon specified highways within their respective jurisdictions subject to the following conditions:

(i) The vehicle must be a five-axle combination - three-axle truck tractor meeting the following characteristics:

(A) Gross vehicular weight must not exceed 95,000 pounds.

(B) Maximum weight on steering axles shall be 11,000 pounds.

(C) Maximum weight on the truck-trailer tandem (axles two and three) shall be 42,000 pounds, with a maximum of 21,000 pounds on either axle in the group.

(D) Maximum weight on the semitrailer tridem (axles four and five) shall be 42,000 pounds, with a maximum of 21,000 pounds on any axle in the group.

(E) Minimum spacing between axle one and axle two shall be 12 feet 6 inches.

(F) The center-to-center distance between the last drive axle of the truck tractor (axle three) and the first axle of the semitrailer (axle four) must be a minimum of 28 feet 0 inch.

(G) Minimum spacing between tandem and tridem axles shall be 4 feet 0 inch.

(ii) The vehicle must be a six-axle combination - three-axle truck tractor meeting the following characteristics:

(A) Gross vehicular weight must not exceed 107,000 pounds.

(B) Maximum weight on steering axles shall be 12,000 pounds.

(C) Maximum weight on the truck-tractor tandem (axles two and three) shall be 42,000 pounds, with a maximum of 21,000 pounds on either axle in the group.

(D) Maximum weight on the semitrailer tridem (axles four, five and six) shall be 53,000 pounds, with a maximum of 17,670 pounds on any axle in the group.

(E) Minimum spacing between axle one and axle two shall be 12 feet 6 inches.

(F) The center-to-center distance between the last drive axle of the truck tractor (axle three) and the first axle of the semitrailer (axle four) must be a minimum of 45 feet 0 inch.

(G) Minimum spacing between tandem and tridem axles shall be 4 feet 0 inch.

No permit may be issued for this type of movement upon an interstate highway.

(11) An aircraft refueling vehicle manufactured for the United States Department of Defense which is being road tested and carrying a load required under contract with the Department of Defense as part of the road test procedure may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon highways within their respective jurisdictions a distance not exceeding 35 miles if, for a three-axle vehicle, the gross weight does not exceed 70,000 pounds and the weight on any axle does not exceed 26,000 pounds. No permit may be issued for this type of movement upon an interstate highway.

(12) A permit may be denied or revoked in order to preserve the safety of highway users or to protect the structural integrity of highways or bridges or as otherwise authorized by department regulations.

(13) A combination of vehicles that hauls cryogenic liquid from a manufacturing or processing facility to another manufacturing or processing facility may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon highways within their respective jurisdiction if the gross weight does not exceed 102,000 pounds. No permit may be issued for this type of movement upon an interstate highway.

(14) A combination vehicle hauling sugar may be permitted by the department and local authorities to move upon specified highways within their respective jurisdictions a distance not exceeding five miles if the gross weight does not exceed 95,000 pounds and the weight of any nonsteering axle does not exceed 21,000 pounds. No permit may be issued for this type of movement upon an interstate highway.

(b) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

"Bulk milk." The term shall mean milk, as defined in section 1 of the act of July 2, 1935 (P.L.589, No.210), referred to as the Milk Sanitation Law, which is not transported in packages.

"Condensed milk" and "evaporated milk." The term shall mean manufactured dairy products as defined in section 1 of the act of July 2, 1935 (P.L.589, No.210), referred to as the Milk Sanitation Law, which is not transported in packages.

"Hot box." Consists of an enclosure consisting of welded steel plate chained to a semitrailer with a removable lid lined with refraction for purposes of insulation and retention of heat.

"Milk." The term shall mean any of the following:

(1) Bulk milk.

(2) Evaporated milk.

(3) Raw milk.

(4) Condensed milk.

"Raw milk." Has the meaning given to it in the act of July 2, 1935 (P.L.589, No.210), referred to as the Milk Sanitation Law.

"Sugar." The term shall refer to granulated raw, semi-refined or refined sugar derived from the processing of sugar cane or sugar beets, requiring further processing and not intended for direct consumption or retail sale.

(Mar. 7, 1982, P.L.152, No.49, eff. imd.; Nov. 29, 1985, P.L.316, No.81, eff. 60 days; Dec. 28, 1994, P.L.1450, No.172, eff. 60 days; July 6, 1995, P.L.315, No.48, eff. 60 days; Feb. 23, 1996, P.L.21, No.8, eff. 60 days; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60 days; June 25, 1999, P.L.164, No.23, eff. 60 days; June 22, 2001, P.L.559, No.37, eff. 60 days; Nov. 29, 2006, P.L.1449, No.159, eff. 60 days; Nov. 26, 2008, P.L.1658, No.133, eff. 60 days; Oct. 19, 2010, P.L.557, No.81, eff. 60 days; Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1473, No.187, eff. 60 days; Nov. 25, 2013, P.L.974, No.89, eff. imd.; May 25, 2016, P.L.248, No.34, eff. 60 days; Nov. 4, 2016, P.L.1277, No.165, eff. 60 days)

2016 Amendments. Act 34 amended subsec. (a.2)(4) and Act 165 amended subsec. (a.1)(3), added subsec. (a.2)(14) and the def. of "sugar" in subsec. (b).

2013 Amendment. Act 89 amended subsecs. (a.1)(3), (a.2)(4) and (b). See the preamble and section 44 of Act 89 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to legislative findings and declarations and movement of raw milk.

2012 Amendment. Act 187 amended subsec. (a.1)(3) and added subsec. (a.2)(13).

2010 Amendment. Act 81 deleted subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (a.1) and (a.2). The preamble of Act 81 provided that Act 81 may be referred to as the Sgt. Michael C. Weigand Law.

Cross References. Section 4968 is referred to in sections 1943, 4904, 4962 of this title.