1. (1) Special mobile equipment or SME is defined in Section 41-1a-102 and refers to vehicles:

   1. (a) not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property;
   2. (b) not designed to operate in traffic; and
   3. (c) only incidentally operated or moved over the highways.

2. (2) Special mobile equipment exempt from registration includes:

   1. (a) farm tractors; and
   2. (b) off-road motorized construction or maintenance equipment, including backhoes, bulldozers, compactors, graders, loaders, road rollers, tractors, trenchers, and ditch-digging apparatus.

3. (3) Heavy equipment designed for off-highway uses, such as scrapers, loaders, off-highway cranes, and rock trucks, but not tracked vehicles, may be issued single-trip permits to operate under their own power, on approved routes other than interstate highways, as follows:

   1. (a) the distance traveled may not generally exceed 20 miles;
   2. (b) only daylight trips are authorized, and oversize restrictions apply;
   3. (c) weights shall comply with the non-divisible bridge table formula;
   4. (d) single axles equipped with single tires may not be authorized to exceed 40,000 pounds;
   5. (e) a minimum of one pilot escort vehicle is required; and
   6. (f) special mobile equipment shall be routed by the division before making a trip.

4. (4)(a) Persons who operate or cause to operate an SME exempt from registration must submit a completed special mobile equipment affidavit to the division.

   1. (b) To be deemed complete, an affidavit must be on the form provided by the division and the required fields filled in. Affidavits will be available at ports of entry. Affidavits must be turned in at the port of entry.
   2. (c) Special mobile equipment exempt from registration must carry a copy of the approved affidavit in the vehicle at all times.
   3. (d) Vehicles that are not special mobile equipment must register with the Utah State Tax Commission before operating the vehicle on a public highway.
   4. (e) Upon receipt of a denial of special mobile equipment, if the owner or operator wishes to appeal the decision of the division, a petition may be filed with the department within 30 days.
   5. (f) A response to an appeal from the department will be made in writing within 30 days.

KEY: permits, safety regulations, size and weight, trucks

Date of Last Change: March 16, 2026

Notice of Continuation: April 30, 2024

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 72-1-201; 72-7-406; 72-9-303; 41-1a-102; 41-1a-231; 41-1a-1206; 72-7-402; 72-7-404; 72-7-407; 72-9-301; 72-9-502