Administrative Rules of Montana
Department 18 - TRANSPORTATION
Chapter 18.8 - MOTOR CARRIER SERVICES DIVISION
Subchapter 18.8.5 - Overdimensional Permit Requirements
Rule 18.8.517 - SPECIAL VEHICLE COMBINATIONS
Current through Register Vol. 6, March 22, 2024
(1) A "special vehicle combination" is a truck-trailer-trailer combination of vehicles or truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer-trailer combination of vehicles as defined in statute and in 23 CFR 658, appendix C, April 1, 2015 edition. Copies of the regulations may be obtained from the U.S. Government Printing Office, 732 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC 20401-00012, or at www.gpo.gov.
(2) No special vehicle combination may be operated without a valid overlength permit.
(3) Special overlength permits shall be issued to a specific truck or truck tractor and are nontransferrable, and may not be used for any other combination other than a "special vehicle combination" as defined in this rule.
(4) In addition to the special overlength permit, the operator must obtain all other necessary permits for travel in Montana.
(5) When a terminal is beyond a two-mile radius of an interchange on the interstate system, the Department of Transportation may authorize travel between the terminal and the interchange. The operator shall apply in writing to the Department of Transportation for authorization to travel outside the two-mile radius to reach a terminal. The written application must specify requested routing and show good cause why the travel is necessary.
(6) The Department of Transportation may restrict or prohibit travel of special vehicle combinations to specific routes, hours of operation, specific days, or seasonal periods, when adverse conditions, traffic, weather or other safety considerations make such operation unsafe or inadvisable. Special vehicle combinations shall not be dispatched during adverse weather conditions, as defined in section 392.14 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. If adverse weather or road conditions are encountered or if the road surface is icy or snowpacked, the driver of the special vehicle combination shall proceed to the next available exit or turnout and drop a trailer or wait for conditions to improve. If road or weather conditions are deemed sufficiently hazardous by the Montana Department of Transportation or the Montana Highway Patrol, they may instruct the special vehicle combinations to cease operations immediately until such hazardous conditions no longer exist.
(7) The following equipment requirements apply to special vehicle combinations:
(8) Special vehicle combinations are restricted to the following operating conditions:
(9) As required by 49 CFR section 177.835(c), transportation of Division 1.1 and 1.2 explosives is prohibited.
(10) A driver of a special vehicle combination shall be experienced in driving these combinations, maintain a good driving record and be subject to the following requirements:
(11) No person may operate any special vehicle combination under 61-10-124(4), MCA, at a speed greater than the posted speed limit. Violation of this restriction shall result in confiscation of permits.
(12) Every special vehicle combination operated under an oversize permit shall be covered by insurance of not less than $1 million combined single limit bodily injury and property damage liability per occurrence unless a greater amount is required by state or federal law or regulations.
(13) No overlength permit may be issued to a company which does not have a documented, established safety compliance program, including a driver training and certification program.
(14) Any company approved to operate special vehicle combinations under an overlength permit shall provide the Department of Transportation with any information relating to accidents, operational costs, safety inspections, equipment, maintenance, and other items which may be requested.
(15) Notwithstanding other state and federal requirements for reporting motor vehicle accidents, reportable accidents involving special vehicle combinations operated under a special overlength permit must be reported to the Montana transportation department within ten days of the date of the accident.
(16) The original permit shall be carried in the truck or truck-tractor of the special vehicle combination operating under the permit, and shall be displayed to any peace officer, employee of the Department of Transportation, Montana Highway Patrol upon request.
(17) In addition to the requirements in this rule, all equipment operated, all drivers employed and all operating procedures used shall comply with the current Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, parts 390 through 397 of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
(18) An overlength permit may be confiscated by any peace officer or by the Department of Transportation for failure of the company or any of its drivers to comply with any requirement contained herein.
(19) Application for permits may be obtained from the Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services Division, Box 4639, Helena, MT 59604, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, except on legal holidays observed by the state of Montana.
(20) Complaints concerning operation of special vehicle combinations may be reported to the administrator of the Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services Division, P.O. Box 4639, Helena, MT 59604.
AUTH: 61-10-129, 61-10-155, MCA; IMP: 61-10-124, MCA