Code of Maine Rules
29 - DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
250 - BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Chapter 155 - RULES GOVERNING PERMITS FOR NON-DIVISIBLE, OVERSIZE AND OVERWEIGHT COMBINATION VEHICLES ENGAGED IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE
Section 250-155-11 - COMMON SAFETY REGULATIONS

Universal Citation: 29 ME Code Rules ยง 250-155-11

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

1. This section establishes a single set of safety requirements for envelope vehicles engaged in interstate travel within the Agreement States' area. They are basically the same as those recommended by AASHTO. The purpose of establishing these common procedures is to provide for ease in operation for the trucking industry and enforcement by the states.

2. Notwithstanding the additional safety requirements of this section, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations will apply to all vehicles permitted under this Rule.

3. Flags

A. All warning flags will be either red or orange fluorescent and at least 18 inches square. Flags will be clean enough to distinguish the color of the flag from a reasonable distance.

B. All warning flags will be secured by at least one corner or mounted on a staff.

C. There are two circumstances requiring the use of flags.
1 Overwidth loads must display at least two and up to six flags, depending upon the load configuration, mounted at the widest extremity of the load.

2 Overlength loads or loads with rear-end overhang in excess of four feet will display one flag at the end of the overhang if less than two feet wide, and two flags if the overhang is over two feet wide.

4. Signs for Oversize Loads

A. The sign shall read: "OVERSIZE LOAD".

B. Sign Requirements
1 For Load Vehicles
a Size: not less than 7 feet long and 18 inches high;

b Color: black letters on a yellow background;

c Lettering: not less than 10 inches high with approximately a 1.4 inch brush stroke;

d Location: front of vehicle and rear of load.

2 For Pilot Vehicles
a Size: not less than 5 feet long and 10 inches high;

b Color: black letters on a yellow background;

c Lettering: not less than 10 inches high with approximately a 1.4 inch brush stroke;

d Location: front or rear of pilot vehicle as appropriate.

C. Upon delivery of the oversize load, all signs on the load vehicle(s) and pilot vehicle(s) shall be removed or covered, so that they are no longer visible.

5. Lights

A. For Load Vehicles
1 No special lighting is required on load vehicles, except in Maine where flashing yellow lights shall be in operation above the highest forward point of the vehicle and visible from the front and rear.

2 Headlights must be on low beam at all times unless weight is the only overlimit condition of the permit.

B. For Pilot Vehicles
1 Flashing yellow lights shall be in operation above the highest point of the vehicle and visible from the front and rear.

2 Pilot vehicles must travel with low beam headlights on at all times.

6. Pilot Vehicles

A. Pilot vehicles are required to accompany permitted vehicles under the guidelines in this paragraph.

B. Pilot vehicles are required to be the size of a compact size car or larger.

C. The drivers of pilot vehicles must maintain visual contact and mobile communication with the permitted vehicle at all times.

D. When one pilot vehicle is required, it shall precede a load on undivided highways and follow the load on divided highways.

E. The following is a description of pilot vehicle requirements which will be generally the same on both four-or-more lane divided highways and on two-lane roads on the designated system:
1 Overwidth
a No pilot vehicle is required for an overall width less than 12 feet. One pilot vehicle is required for an overall width of 12 feet or more.

2 Overlength
a No pilot vehicle is required for an overall length of less than 80 feet. One pilot vehicle is required for an overall length of 80 feet or more.

3 Overhang
a No pilot vehicle is required if overhang is less than 15 feet with proper flags displayed. One pilot vehicle is required if the overhang is 15 feet or more.

F. There may be some special circumstances where a second pilot vehicle will be required for safety reasons, but such occurrences are anticipated to be infrequent. As an example, on a two-lane, undivided highway, two pilot vehicles will be required when the overhang is 15 feet or more to the rear and the width is 12 feet or more.

7. Spacing Between Permitted Vehicles

A. There shall be a minimum spacing of 1,000 feet between any oversize permitted vehicles traveling in the same direction.

8. Speed

A. Permitted vehicles must travel at a safe speed and obey any special speed restrictions for permitted vehicles established by the state in which they are traveling. (See Section 12 for Special Conditions.)

9. Days of Travel

A. Permitted travel is authorized during approved hours on Monday through Friday. No permitted travel on Saturday or Sunday is authorized under the Agreement. (Weekend travel in states which allow it must be coordinated individually between the carrier and that respective state.) Permitted travel is not allowed on specified holidays.

B. A list of individual state holiday periods on which permitted travel is restricted will be published annually by each state and will be sent to all state permit issuing offices well in advance of January 1 of the year in which the holidays occur. (See Section 12 for Special Conditions.)

10. Hours of Travel

A. Permitted vehicles may travel on designated routes from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. No night-time travel is authorized except for envelope vehicles which are overweight only, capable of traveling with the traffic flow, and not restricted to daylight travel. (See Section 12 for Special Conditions.)

11. Inclement Weather

A. No travel is allowed when road conditions, weather conditions, or visibility make traveling hazardous to the operator or to the driving public. Vehicles which are underway when inclement weather occurs must exit the road at the first available location and park in a safe place until the weather clears or until the road conditions improve.

12. Use of Travel Lanes

A. When two or more lanes are available in one direction, vehicles in excess of 12 feet wide shall travel in the right lane, except in an emergency or to comply with any other restriction established by the state in which they are traveling.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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