SB451 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Motor vehicles, truck weights, dump trucks not required to meet axle spacing requirements under certain conditions, Sec. 32-9-20 am'd.

Summary

SB451 would exempt asphalt-delivery trucks from axle-spacing rules if they stay within weight limits.

What This Bill Does

It amends Alabama's vehicle weight rules to add asphalt-delivery trucks to the list of vehicles not required to conform to axle-spacing requirements, under the same conditions as other exempt vehicles; the exemption still requires adherence to maximum weights per axle and per axle-group, with all axles brake-equipped and enforcement tolerances in place. The bill also preserves existing weight and enforcement rules (including per-axle limits and the weight table) and adds a concrete-mixing-truck provision for near-home-base operations, allowing up to 66,000 pounds gross with at least three brakes-equipped axles and a distance-related restriction. It prohibits operation on bridges posted as incapable and keeps the act's effective-date provision.

Who It Affects

• Asphalt-delivery truck operators and drivers in Alabama would be able to operate without conforming to axle-spacing rules if within weight limits.
• Other heavy-vehicle operators (dump trucks, concrete mixers, fuel/oil/gas trucks, etc.) that are already exempt from axle-spacing requirements under current law would continue to be exempt, with asphalt trucks added to that exemption.

Key Provisions

• Adds asphalt-delivery trucks to the exemption from axle-spacing requirements under Section 32-9-20(a)(4)(e), so long as the vehicle stays within the maximum weights for its number of axles (20,000 pounds per axle; gross weights per the weight table). All axles must be brake-equipped, and enforcement tolerances apply.
• Concrete mixing trucks operating within 50 miles of their home base are allowed not to conform to the width-based requirement; they must be limited to a maximum load of 66,000 pounds gross, have at least three axles each with brake-equipped wheels, and may not travel on bridges posted as incapable.
• The overall weight limits for axle groups and the weight-table rules continue to apply for other vehicles, with standard enforcement procedures (scales, tolerances, and platform-scale verification).
• Section 2 provides the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after approval by the Governor. Existing agricultural exemptions for two- and three-axle farm vehicles remain unaffected.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles