HB619 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Danny CrawfordRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Motor vehicles, oversized vehicle permits, annual commercial wrecker emergency tow permit, provided, Sec. 32-9-29 am'd.

Summary

The bill would allow the Alabama Department of Transportation to issue annual and single-trip permits so tow trucks can move oversized or overweight wrecked, disabled, or abandoned commercial vehicles beyond normal size limits under controlled conditions.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the DOT to issue written permits for vehicles or two-vehicle combinations that exceed legal weight, width, length, or height limits when the load cannot be easily dismantled. It creates two permit types (annual and single-trip) with specific size and weight limits, bonding/insurance requirements, and possible route approvals. Fees apply, funds go to the Public Road and Bridge Fund, and the director can set rules and emergency waivers while ensuring compliance with federal law and road safety; exemptions exist for farm commodities and special mining equipment under defined conditions.

Who It Affects

• Tow truck and wrecker operators (and other entities hauling oversized or wrecked commercial vehicles), who could obtain annual or single-trip permits to move loads that exceed limits under specified conditions and pay associated fees.
• State and local transportation agencies, bridge owners, and the traveling public, who are affected by regulated overlimit movements, required bonds/insurance, routing decisions, and the impact on road safety and funding.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the Department of Transportation to issue permits allowing operation of a vehicle or a two-vehicle combination that exceeds legal limits if the load cannot be readily separated.
• Establishes two permit types: annual permits valid for 12 months and single-trip permits, with detailed size/weight/length/height limits for each.
• Annual permit limits include: total weight up to 150,000 pounds; axle weight up to 22,000 pounds; total length up to 75 feet (mobile homes exception to 85 feet with certain conditions); total width up to 120 inches or load width up to 144 inches (mobile homes have higher width limits in some cases); height up to 14 feet.
• Requires a $300,000 indemnity bond or insurance for overheight operations to cover potential road damage, with liability tied to fault or negligence.
• Provides a mining exemption allowing rubber-tired equipment used in mining refractory grade bauxite to operate under a special annual permit with specific constraints and without interstate access.
• Imposes fees for annual and single-trip permits, with separate schedules for heavy equipment, modular/mobile structures, and other oversized loads; fees go to the Public Road and Bridge Fund.
• Allows the director to set rules, establish routing requirements, and grant emergency waivers or exemptions under certain conditions; permits may be denied, suspended, or revoked for just cause.
• Prohibits permits that would violate federal law or jeopardize federal funding; farm and agricultural commodities are exempt from permit requirements.

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