1. (a) General. The information in this section applies to single trip permits issued under Transportation Code, Chapter 623, Subchapter D. The department will issue permits under this section in accordance with the requirements of §28.11 of this title (relating to General Oversize/Overweight Permit Requirements and Procedures).

2. (b) Overweight loads.

   1. (1) The maximum weight limits for an overweight permit are specified in §28.11(d) of this title.
   2. (2) The applicant shall pay, in addition to the single-trip permit fee of $30, the applicable highway maintenance fee described in §28.11(c)(3)(B) of this title.

   3. (3) A permit issued for an overdimension load exceeding 200,000 pounds gross weight will have a total permit fee that includes the single-trip permit fee, the highway maintenance fee, and the applicable vehicle supervision fee (VSF) described in §28.11(c)(3)(C) of this title.

      1. (A) When a permit is issued under this subsection, and the permittee has additional identical loads that are to be moved over the same route within 30 days of the movement date of the original permit, a reduced vehicle supervision fee of $35 will be charged in lieu of the full vehicle supervision fee.
      2. (B) An applicant for a permit issued under paragraph (8) of this subsection must pay the vehicle supervision fee at the time of permit application in order to offset department costs for analyses performed in advance of issuing the permit. A request for cancellation must be in writing and received by the department prior to collection of the structural information associated with the permit application. If the application is canceled, the department will return the vehicle supervision fee.
   4. (4) An applicant applying for a permit to move a load that is required for the fulfillment of a fixed price public works contract that was entered into prior to the effective date of this section, and administered by federal, state, or local governmental entities, will not be required to pay the vehicle supervision fee, provided the applicant presents proof of the contract to the MCD prior to permit issuance.
   5. (5) An applicant may elect to provide written certification from a registered professional engineer stating that the bridges and culverts on the proposed travel route are capable of sustaining the movement of an overdimension load exceeding 200,000 pounds gross weight; however, such certification must be approved by the department.
   6. (6) When the department has determined that a permit can be issued for an overdimension load exceeding 200,000 pounds gross weight, all remaining fees are due at the time the permit is issued.
   7. (7) The department will not charge an analysis fee for single and multiple box culverts.

   8. (8) An applicant requesting a permit to move an overdimension load that exceeds 254,300 pounds gross weight, or the weight limits described in §28.11(d) of this title, must submit the following items to the MCD to determine if the permit can be issued:

      1. (A) a detailed loading diagram which indicates the number of axles, the number of tires on each axle, the tire size on each axle, the distance between each axle, the tare and gross weight on each axle, the transverse spacing of each set of dual wheels, the distance between each set of dual wheels, the load's center of gravity, the distance from the center of gravity to the center of the front bolster, the distance from the center of gravity to the center of the rear bolster, the distance from the center of the front bolster to the center of the fifth wheel of the truck, the distance from the center of the rear bolster to the center of the closest axle, and any other measurements as may be needed to verify that the weight of the overdimension load is adequately distributed among the various axle groups in the amounts indicated by the loading diagram;
      2. (B) a map indicating the exact beginning and ending points relative to a state highway;
      3. (C) a copy of the signed contract indicating that the applicant has been retained to transport the shipment; and
      4. (D) the vehicle supervision fee as specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection.
   9. (9) The MCD will select a tentative route based on the physical size of the overdimension load excluding the weight. The tentative route must be investigated by the applicant, and the MCD must be advised, in writing, that the route is capable of accommodating the overdimension load.
   10. (10) Upon receipt of the applicant's written notification, the department will conduct a detailed structural analysis of the bridges on the proposed route based on the applicant's proposed loading diagram, or the applicant may elect to provide written certification from a registered professional engineer stating that the bridges on the proposed travel route are capable of sustaining the movement of the overdimension load. The certification must be approved by the department before the permit will be issued.

   11. (11) A permit may be issued for the movement of oversize and overweight self-propelled off road equipment under the following guidelines.

       1. (A) The weight per inch of tire width must not exceed 650 pounds.
       2. (B) The rim diameter of each wheel must be a minimum of 25 inches.
       3. (C) The maximum weight per axle must not exceed 45,000 pounds.
       4. (D) The minimum spacing between axles, measured from center of axle to center of axle, must not be less than 12 feet.
       5. (E) The equipment must be moved empty.
       6. (F) The equipment must be licensed with a machinery license plate or a one trip registration.
       7. (G) The route will not include any controlled access highway, unless an exception is granted based on a route and traffic study conducted by the MCD.

3. (c) Drill pipe and drill collars hauled in a pipe box.

   1. (1) A vehicle or combination of vehicles may be issued a permit under Transportation Code, §623.071, to haul drill pipe and drill collars in a pipe box.
   2. (2) The maximum width must not exceed nine feet.
   3. (3) The axle weight limits must not exceed the maximum weight limits as specified in §28.11(d)(3) of this title.
   4. (4) The height and length must not exceed the legal limits specified in Transportation Code, Chapter 621, Subchapter B.
   5. (5) The permit will be issued for a single-trip only, and the fee will be $30. For loads over 80,000 pounds, a highway maintenance fee will be charged as specified in §28.11(c)(3)(B) of this title.
   6. (6) The permit is valid only for travel on any farm-to-market and ranch-to-market road, and such road will be specified on the permit; however, the permitted vehicle will not be allowed to cross any load restricted bridge when exceeding the posted capacity of the bridge.
   7. (7) Movement will be restricted to daylight hours only.

4. (d) Houses and storage tanks.

   1. (1) Unless an exception is granted by the MCD, approval for the issuance of a permit for a house or storage tank exceeding 20 feet in width will reside with each district engineer, or the district engineer's designee, along the proposed route.

   2. (2) The issuance of a permit for a house or storage tank exceeding 20 feet in width will be based on:

      1. (A) the amount of inconvenience and hazard to the traveling public, based on traffic volume;
      2. (B) highway geometrics and time of movement; and
      3. (C) the overall width, measured to the nearest inch, of the house, including the eaves or porches.
   3. (3) A storage tank must be empty.
   4. (4) The proposed route must include the beginning and ending points on a state highway.
   5. (5) A permit will not be issued for a newly constructed house or storage tank that exceeds 34 feet overall width unless an exception is granted by the MCD based on a route and traffic study.
   6. (6) A permit will not be issued for the relocation of an existing house or storage tank that exceeds 40 feet overall width, unless an exception is granted by the MCD based on a route and traffic study.

   7. (7) A permit may be issued for the movement of an overweight house provided:

      1. (A) the applicant completes and submits to the MCD a copy of a diagram for moving overweight houses, as shown in Appendix A of this section;
      2. (B) each support beam, parallel to the centerline of the highway, is equipped with an identical number of two axle groups which may be placed directly in line and across from the other corresponding two axle group or may be placed in a staggered offset arrangement to provide for proper weight distribution;
      3. (C) that, when a support beam is equipped with two or more two axle groups, each two axle group is connected to a common mechanical or hydraulic system to ensure that each two axle group shares equally in the weight distribution at all times during the movement; and when the spacing between the two axle groups, measured from the center of the last axle of the front group to the center of the first axle of the following group, is eight feet or more, the front two axle group is equipped for self-steering in a manner that will guide or direct the axle group in turning movements without tire scrubbing or pavement scuffing; and
      4. (D) the department conducts a detailed analysis of each structure on the proposed route and determines the load can be moved without damaging the roads and bridges.
   8. (8) The MCD may waive the requirement that a loading diagram be submitted for the movement of an overweight house if the total weight of all axle groups located in the same transverse plane across the house does not exceed the maximum weight limits specified in §28.11(d)(2) of this title.
5. (e) Diagram for moving overweight houses. The following Appendix A indicates the type of diagram that is to be completed by the permit applicant for moving an overweight house. All measurements must be stated to the nearest inch.
   Attached Graphic
   

Source Note:The provisions of this §28.12 adopted to be effective February 21, 1999, 24 TexReg 1221; amended to be effective July 18, 1999, 24 TexReg 5218.