HB460 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Wes AllenSecretary

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Motor vehicles, commercial vehicles, intrastate transportation of intrastate forest products or agricultural products from harvest to first point of processing, exempt from federal regulations, trucks or truck tractors used by a farmer or to haul forest products, reduced fee for maximum weight class, limit for number of farm trucks deleted, reduce fees for trucks or truck tractors hauling forest products for maximum weight class, exclusion for truck tractors used for hire, deleted, Secs. 32-9A-2, 40-12-248 am'd.

Summary

HB460 updates Alabama's truck license taxes and registration fees by adding weight-based classes for forest products, removing limits on farm-truck fee reductions, and setting new caps for farm and forest transportation.

What This Bill Does

It amends the license tax and registration fee structure for trucks and truck tractors to be based on gross weight, using a base amount plus possible additional amounts. It eliminates the previous limit on how many farm tractors can receive a reduced fee and establishes specific fee caps for farm-use vehicles at different weight ranges. It also introduces weight-based fees for transporting forest products (where weight exceeds 42,000 pounds) with caps of $40 up to 30,000 pounds and $65 up to 42,000 pounds, and it removes the exclusion for-hire forest transport from the reduced-fee eligibility. The act clarifies gross weight calculations, enforces a 10% tolerance for farm-truck weight measurements, and adds special rules for certain motor carriers within a city, pickups, and tow trucks; it takes effect October 1, 2021.

Who It Affects

• Farmers and farm-truck owners: can qualify for reduced license taxes on farm-use trucks and truck tractors, with four farm tractors allowed under the reduced-fee provision; fees are capped by weight categories and farmers may adjust classifications under specified rules.
• Forest-product haulers and other truck owners (including some motor carriers): new weight-based fee schedules apply, with specific caps for forest-product transport and restrictions on reduced-fee eligibility for for-hire forest transport; pickups and tow trucks are governed by weight-based rules; local-carrier rules may impose a $300 annual fee in certain urban areas.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 40-12-248 to base annual license taxes and registration fees on gross weight, using a base amount plus possible additional amounts according to weight class.
• Deletes the prior limit on the number of farm tractors eligible for a reduced fee; allows four farm tractors to qualify for reduced rates, with additional tractors taxed per the standard base and additional schedules, and caps apply for farm-use vehicles.
• Creates forest-products weight classifications for vehicles over 42,000 pounds, with reduced caps of $40 (≤30,000 pounds) and $65 (30,001–42,000 pounds); excludes reduced-fee treatment for for-hire forest transport.
• For vehicles over 42,000 pounds, the license tax and registration fee follow the base plus additional amount schedules; enforcement includes a 10% tolerance for farm-truck weight measurements, and there are special rules for certificated motor carriers within 15 miles of a municipality ($300 annual fee) and for pickups and tow trucks (weight-based treatment).
• Effective date: October 1, 2021.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles