43 Tex. Admin. Code § 219.43 – Quarterly Hubometer Permits

(a) General information.
1. (1) Permits issued under this section are subject to the requirements of §219.41 of this title (relating to General Requirements).
2. (2) A quarterly hubometer permit:
  1. (A) is effective for three consecutive months (for example, a permit issued with a beginning date of January 15 will terminate on April 14, or a permit issued with a beginning date of July 1 will terminate on September 30);
  2. (B) allows the unit to travel on all state-maintained highways; and
  3. (C) allows the unit to travel on a state-wide basis.
3. (3) A unit permitted under this subsection must not exceed any of the following dimensions:
  1. (A) 12 feet in width;
  2. (B) 14 feet, 6 inches in height; and
  3. (C) 95 feet in length.
4. (4) With the exception of units that are overlength only, a unit operated with a permit issued under this section must be equipped with a hubometer. The permittee must maintain the hubometer in good working condition.
5. (5) A unit exceeding 175,000 pounds gross weight must:
  1. (A) have front and rear escort vehicles to prevent traffic from traveling beside the unit as it crosses a bridge;
  2. (B) cross all multi-lane bridges by centering the unit 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.
(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 unit will be determined by calculating the "W" weight for the group, using the formulas in Figure 2: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas", and comparing the calculated "W" weight with the corresponding "W" weight that is established in Figure 1: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Table."
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 unit that does not have any group of axles that exceeds the limits established in Figure 1: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Table," and Figure 2: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas" will be permitted with a single-trip mileage or quarterly hubometer permit for travel on any route that does not include a load restricted bridge.
5. (5) A unit that has any group of axles that exceeds the limits established by Figure 1: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Table," and Figure 2: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas" 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 unit will be excluded from the permit route.
(c) Initial permit application and issuance.
1. (1) Initial permit application.
  1. (A) The applicant for an initial quarterly hubometer permit must submit a completed application to the department 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) make and model of the unit;
    3. (iii) vehicle identification number of the unit;
    4. (iv) license plate number of the unit;
    5. (v) size and weight dimensions; and
    6. (vi) any other information required by law.
  2. (B) Upon receipt of the initial quarterly hubometer permit application, the department will verify unit information, calculate the permit fee, and advise the applicant of the permit fee.
2. (2) Issuance of initial quarterly hubometer permit. Upon receipt of the permit fee, the department will provide the permit to the applicant if requested, and will also provide a renewal application form to the applicant.
(d) Permit renewals and closeouts.
1. (1) The applicant must complete and submit a renewal application form to the department for each permit that is to be renewed or closed out.
2. (2) Upon receipt of the renewal application, the department will verify unit information, check mileage traveled on the last permit, calculate the new permit fee, and advise the applicant of the permit fee.
(e) Permit fees and refunds.
1. (1) Minimum fee. The minimum fee for a quarterly hubometer permit is either the calculated permit fee or $31, whichever is the greater amount.
2. (2) Fees for overlength units. A unit that is overlength only must obtain a quarterly hubometer permit with a fee of $31, but is not required to have a hubometer.
3. (3) Quarterly hubometer permit fee calculation. The permit fee for a quarterly hubometer permit is calculated by multiplying the hubometer mileage, the highway use factor, the total rate per mile, and the indirect cost share.
  1. (A) Hubometer mileage. Hubometer mileage for a quarterly hubometer permit is determined by an amount estimated by the applicant for the first quarterly hubometer permit, or from the unit's hubometer mileage reading from the previous quarterly hubometer permit.
    1. (i) An applicant requesting a permit for a unit that has traveled in excess of the mileage stated in the previous quarterly hubometer permit must pay for the excess mileage traveled, in addition to the fee for the renewed quarterly hubometer permit.
    2. (ii) An applicant requesting a permit for a unit that has traveled less than the mileage stated on the previous quarterly hubometer permit will receive a credit on the purchase price of the renewed quarterly hubometer permit for that unit or another unit.
  2. (B) Highway use factor. The highway use factor for a quarterly hubometer permit is 0.3.
  3. (C) Total rate per mile. The total rate per mile is the combined mileage rates for width, height, and weight for the unit. The rate per mile for a trailer mounted unit is based on the overall width, overall height, and all axle weights, including the truck-tractor axles.
    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.
  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.
4. (4) Permit fees for trailer mounted units.
  1. (A) The permit fee for a trailer mounted unit is based on the overall width, overall height, and all axle weights, including the truck-tractor axles.
  2. (B) A unit 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. (i) 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. (ii) An axle group will not have more than one axle disregarded.
    3. (iii) 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.
5. (5) Refunds. A refund is made to the applicant when the quarterly hubometer permit process is stopped for all units listed in the applicant's account, provided the amount of the refund exceeds $25.
(f) Amendments. A quarterly hubometer permit may be amended only to indicate:
1. (1) a new hubometer serial number; or
2. (2) a new license plate number.

Source Note:The provisions of this §219.43 adopted to be effective February 21, 1999, 24 TexReg 1221; amended to be effective November 21, 1999, 24 TexReg 10143; transferred effective January 1, 2012, as published in the Texas Register January 27, 2012, 37 TexReg 359; amended to be effective June 28, 2015, 40 TexReg 4003.