43 Tex. Admin. Code § 28.62 – Single Trip Mileage Permits

(a) General information.
1. (1) Permits issued under this section are subject to the requirements of §28.61 of this title (relating to General Requirements for Permits for Oversize and Overweight Unladen Lift Equipment Motor Vehicles).
2. (2) A single trip mileage permit:
  1. (A) is limited to a maximum of seven consecutive days;
  2. (B) is routed from the point of origin to the point of destination and has the route listed on the permit; and
  3. (C) allows the crane to be returned to the point of origin on the same permit, provided the return trip is made within the time period stated in the permit.
3. (3) A crane permitted under Transportation Code, Chapter 623, Subchapter J, must be registered under Transportation Code, Chapter 502, for the maximum gross weight applicable to the vehicle under Transportation Code, Section 621.101 or have the distinguishing license plates as provided by Transportation Code, §504.504 if applicable to the vehicle.
4. (4) A crane exceeding 175,000 pounds gross weight must:
  1. (A) have front and rear escort vehicles to prevent traffic from traveling beside the crane as it crosses a bridge;
  2. (B) cross all multi-lane bridges by centering the crane on a lane line;
  3. (C) cross all two-lane bridges in the center of the bridge; and
  4. (D) cross each bridge at a speed not greater than 20 miles per hour.
5. (5) A crane exceeding 12 feet in width must be centered in the outside traffic lane of any highway that has paved shoulders.
6. (6) The permitted vehicle must not cross a load restricted bridge when exceeding the posted capacity of such.
(b) Maximum permit weight limits.
1. (1) The maximum permit weight for any single axle, not connected to another axle by a weight equalizing suspension system, must not exceed 30,000 pounds or 850 pounds per inch of tire width, whichever is less.
2. (2) The maximum permit weight for any group of axles on a crane is determined by calculating the "W" weight for the group, using the formulas shown in Appendix B, "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas," and comparing the calculated "W" weight with the corresponding "W" weight that is established in Appendix A, "Maximum Permit Weight Table," both as shown in subsection (f) of this section.
3. (3) The maximum permit weight per inch of tire width for axles that are steerable must not exceed 950 pounds, and the maximum permit weight per inch of tire width for axles that are not steerable must not exceed 850 pounds.
4. (4) A crane that does not have any group of axles that exceeds the limits established in Appendix A, "Maximum Permit Weight Table," and Appendix B, "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas," both shown in subsection (f) of this section, will be permitted with a single-trip mileage permit or a quarterly hubometer permit for travel on any route that does not include a load restricted bridge.
5. (5) A crane that has any group of axles that exceeds the limits established by Appendix A, "Maximum Permit Weight Table," and Appendix B, "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas," shown in subsection (f) of this section, will be eligible, on an individual case-by-case basis, for a single-trip mileage permit only. Permit approval or denial will be based on a detailed route study and an analysis of each bridge on the proposed travel route to determine if the route and bridges are capable of sustaining the movement.
6. (6) A bridge that has been analyzed and determined to be incapable of sustaining the crane will be excluded from the permit route.
(c) Permit application and issuance.
1. (1) Application for single-trip mileage permit.
  1. (A) The applicant must submit the completed application to the MCD by telephone, facsimile, mail, or Internet. The application shall include, at a minimum, the following information:
    1. (i) name and address of applicant;
    2. (ii) origin and destination points of the crane;
    3. (iii) make and model of the crane;
    4. (iv) vehicle identification number of the crane;
    5. (v) license plate number of the crane;
    6. (vi) size and weight dimensions; and
    7. (vii) any other information required by law.
  2. (B) Upon receipt of the application, the MCD will review and verify size and weight information, check the route and mileage to be traveled, compute the permit fee, and advise the applicant of the permit fee.
2. (2) Issuance of single-trip mileage permit. Upon receipt of the permit fee, the MCD will advise the applicant of the permit number, and will provide a copy of the permit to the applicant if requested to do so.
(d) Permit fees and refunds.
1. (1) Minimum fee. The minimum fee for a single-trip permit is either the calculated permit fee or $31, whichever is the greater amount.
2. (2) Permit fee calculation. The permit fee for a single-trip mileage permit is calculated by the following formula:
  Attached Graphic
  1. (A) Highway use factor. The highway use factor for a single trip mileage permit is 0.6.
  2. (B) Total rate per mile. The total rate per mile is the combined mileage rates for width, height, and weight for the unit.
    1. (i) The mileage rate for width is $ .06 per mile for each foot (or fraction thereof) above legal width.
    2. (ii) The mileage rate for height is $ .04 per mile for each foot (or fraction thereof) above legal height.
    3. (iii) The mileage rate for a single axle or any axle within a group that exceeds 20,000 pounds, but is less than or equal to 25,000 pounds, is calculated by multiplying $ .045 times the amount by which the axle or axle group weight exceeds the legal weight for the axle or axle group and dividing the resultant figure by 1,000 pounds.
    4. (iv) The mileage rate for a single axle or any axle within a group that exceeds 25,000 pounds, but is less than or equal to 30,000 pounds, is calculated by multiplying $ .055 times the amount by which the axle or axle group weight exceeds the legal weight for the axle or axle group and dividing the resultant figure by 1,000 pounds.
  3. (C) Registration reduction. A crane registered for maximum legal weight will receive a reduction of 25% in the computation of the permit fee.
  4. (D) Indirect cost share. The indirect cost share is a prorated share of administering department activities, other than the direct cost of the activities, including the cost of providing statewide support services. The indirect cost share factor is based upon the previous year's expenditures.
3. (3) Exceptions to fee computations. A crane with two or more axle groups that does not have a spacing of at least 12 feet between the closest axles of the opposing groups must have the permit fee calculated by the following method.
  1. (A) The axle group with the lowest weight will have the axle closest to the next axle group temporarily disregarded from its group in order to create a spacing of at least 12 feet between the two groups for fee calculation purposes.
  2. (B) An axle group will not have more than one axle disregarded.
  3. (C) The permit fee for the axle group with the temporarily disregarded axle must be based on the actual weight of the entire axle group minus the legal weight for the remaining axles of the group.
4. (4) Refunds. Fees for permits issued under this section are non-refundable.
(e) Amendments. A single-trip mileage permit issued under this section may not be amended unless an exception is granted by the MCD.
(f) Appendices. The following table entitled "Maximum Permit Weight Table" is Appendix A, and the list of formulas entitled "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas," is Appendix B.
Attached Graphic

Source Note:The provisions of this §28.62 adopted to be effective February 21, 1999, 24 TexReg 1221; amended to be effective November 21, 1999, 24 TexReg 10144; amended to be effective January 4, 2007, 31 TexReg 10831.