§ 20‑115.1. Limitationson tandem trailers and semitrailers on certain North Carolina highways.
(a) Motor vehiclecombinations consisting of a truck tractor and two trailing units may beoperated in North Carolina only on highways of the interstate system (exceptthose exempted by the United States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49USC 2311(i)) and on those sections of the federal‑aid primary systemdesignated by the United States Secretary of Transportation. No trailer orsemitrailer operated in this combination shall exceed 28 feet in length;Provided, however, a 1982 or older year model trailer or semitrailer of up to28 1/2 feet in length may operate in a combination permitted by this sectionfor trailers or semitrailers which are 28 feet in length.
(b) Motor vehiclecombinations consisting of a semitrailer of not more than 53 feet in length anda truck tractor may be operated on all primary highway routes of North Carolinaprovided the motor vehicle combination meets the requirements of this subsection.The Department may, at any time, prohibit motor vehicle combinations onportions of any route on the State highway system. If the Department prohibitsa motor vehicle combination on any route, it shall submit a written report tothe Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee within six months ofthe prohibition clearly documenting through traffic engineering studies thatthe operation of a motor vehicle combination on that route cannot be safelyaccommodated and that the route does not have sufficient capacity to handle thevehicle combination. To operate on a primary highway route, a motor vehiclecombination described in this subsection must meet all of the followingrequirements:
(1) The motor vehiclecombination must comply with the weight requirements in G.S. 20‑118.
(2) A semitrailer inexcess of 48 feet in length must meet one or more of the following conditions:
(a) The distance betweenthe kingpin of the trailer and the rearmost axle, or a point midway between thetwo rear axles, if the two rear axles are a tandem axle, does not exceed 41feet.
(b) The semitrailer isused exclusively or primarily to transport vehicles in connection withmotorsports competition events, and the distance between the kingpin of thetrailer and the rearmost axle, or a point midway between the two rear axles, ifthe two rear axles are a tandem axle, does not exceed 46 feet.
(3) A semitrailer inexcess of 48 feet must be equipped with a rear underride guard of substantialconstruction consisting of a continuous lateral beam extending to within fourinches of the lateral extremities of the semitrailer and located not more than30 inches from the surface as measured with the vehicle empty and on a levelsurface.
(c) Motor vehicles witha width not exceeding 102 inches may be operated on the interstate highways(except those exempted by the United States Secretary of Transportationpursuant to 49 USC 2316(e)) and other qualifying federal‑aid highwaysdesignated by the United States Secretary of Transportation, with traffic lanesdesigned to be a width of 12 feet or more and any other qualifying federal‑aidprimary system highway designated by the United States Secretary ofTransportation if the Secretary has determined that the designation isconsistent with highway safety.
(d) Notwithstanding theprovisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section which limit the length oftrailers which may be used in motor vehicle combinations in this State onhighways of the interstate system (except those exempted by the United StatesSecretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 USC 2311(i)) and on those sectionsof the federal‑aid primary system designated by the United StatesSecretary of Transportation, there is no limitation of the length of the trucktractor which may be used in motor vehicle combinations on these highways andtherefore, in compliance with Section 411(b) of the Surface Transportation Actof 1982, there is no overall length limitation for motor vehicle combinationsregulated by this section.
(e) The length andwidth limitations in this section are subject to exceptions and exclusions forsafety devices and specialized equipment as provided for in 49 USC 2311(d)(h)and Section 416 of the Surface Transportation Act of 1982 as amended (49 USC2316).
(f) Motor vehiclecombinations operating pursuant to this section shall have reasonable accessbetween (i) highways on the interstate system (except those exempted by theUnited States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 USC 2311(i) and 49 USC2316(e)) and other qualifying federal‑aid highways as designated by theUnited States Secretary of Transportation and (ii) terminals, facilities forfood, fuel, repairs, and rest and points of loading and unloading by householdgoods carriers and by any truck tractor‑semitrailer combination in whichthe semitrailer has a length not to exceed 28 1/2 feet and a width not toexceed 102 inches as provided in subsection (c) of this section and whichgenerally operates as part of a vehicle combination described in subsection (a)of this section. The North Carolina Department of Transportation may, onstreets and highways on the State highway system, and any municipality may, onstreets and highways on the municipal street system, impose reasonablerestrictions based on safety considerations on any truck tractor‑semitrailercombination in which the semitrailer has a length not to exceed 28 1/2 feet andwhich generally operates as part of a vehicle combination described insubsection (a) of this section. "Reasonable access" to facilities forfood, fuel, repairs and rest shall be deemed to be those facilities which arelocated within three road miles of the interstate or designated highway. TheDepartment of Transportation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulationsproviding for "reasonable access." The Department may approvereasonable access routes for one particular type of STAA (SurfaceTransportation Assistance Act) dimensioned vehicle when significant,substantial differences in their operating characteristics exist.
(g) Under certainconditions, and after consultation with the Joint Legislative Commission onGovernmental Operations, the North Carolina Department of Transportation maydesignate State highway system roads in addition to those highways designatedby the United States Secretary of Transportation for use by the vehiclecombinations authorized in this section. Such designations by the Departmentshall only be made under the following conditions:
(1) A determination ofthe public convenience and need for such designation;
(2) A trafficengineering study which clearly shows the road proposed to be designated cansafely accommodate and has sufficient capacity to handle these vehiclecombinations; and
(3) A public hearing isheld or the opportunity for a public hearing is provided in each county throughwhich the designated highway passes, after two weeks notice posted at thecourthouse and published in a newspaper of general circulation in each countythrough which the designated State highway system road passes, andconsideration is given to the comments received prior to the designation.
(4) The Department maydesignate routes for one particular type of STAA (Surface TransportationAssistance Act) dimensioned vehicle when significant, substantial differencesin their operating characteristics exist.
The Department may not designateany portion of the State highway system that has been deleted or exempted bythe United States Secretary of Transportation based on safety considerations.For the purpose of this section, any highway designated by the Department shallbe deemed to be the same as a federal‑aid primary highway designated bythe United States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 USC 2311 and 49USC 2316, and the vehicle combinations authorized in this section shall bepermitted to operate on such highway.
(h) Any owner of asemitrailer less than 50 feet in length in violation of subsections (a) or (b)is responsible for an infraction and is subject to a penalty of one hundreddollars ($100.00). Any owner of a semitrailer 50 feet or greater in length inviolation of subsection (b) is responsible for an infraction and subject to apenalty of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(i) Any driver of avehicle with a semitrailer less than 50 feet in length violating subsections(a) or (b) of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable onlyby a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00). Any driver of a vehicle with asemitrailer 50 feet or more in length violating subsection (b) of this sectionis guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable only by a fine of two hundreddollars ($200.00).
(j) Notwithstandingany other provision of this section, a manufacturer of trailer frames, with apermit issued pursuant to G.S. 20‑119, is authorized to transport thetrailer frame to another location within three miles of the first place ofmanufacture to the location of completion on any public street or highway ifthe width of the trailer frame does not exceed 14 feet and oversize markingsand safety flags are used during transport. Trailer frames transported pursuantto this subsection shall not exceed 7,000 pounds, and the vehicle towing thetrailer frame shall have a towing capacity greater than 10,000 pounds andnecessary towing equipment. The transport of trailer frames under thissubsection shall only be done during daylight hours. (1983, c. 898, s. 1; 1985,c. 423, ss. 1‑7; 1989, c. 790, ss. 1, 3, 3.1; 1993, c. 533, s. 10; c.539, s. 354; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1998‑149, s. 6; 2007‑77,ss. 2, 3; 2008‑160, s. 1; 2008‑221, ss. 3, 4.)
§ 20‑115.1. Limitationson tandem trailers and semitrailers on certain North Carolina highways.
(a) Motor vehiclecombinations consisting of a truck tractor and two trailing units may beoperated in North Carolina only on highways of the interstate system (exceptthose exempted by the United States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49USC 2311(i)) and on those sections of the federal‑aid primary systemdesignated by the United States Secretary of Transportation. No trailer orsemitrailer operated in this combination shall exceed 28 feet in length;Provided, however, a 1982 or older year model trailer or semitrailer of up to28 1/2 feet in length may operate in a combination permitted by this sectionfor trailers or semitrailers which are 28 feet in length.
(b) Motor vehiclecombinations consisting of a semitrailer of not more than 53 feet in length anda truck tractor may be operated on all primary highway routes of North Carolinaprovided the motor vehicle combination meets the requirements of this subsection.The Department may, at any time, prohibit motor vehicle combinations onportions of any route on the State highway system. If the Department prohibitsa motor vehicle combination on any route, it shall submit a written report tothe Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee within six months ofthe prohibition clearly documenting through traffic engineering studies thatthe operation of a motor vehicle combination on that route cannot be safelyaccommodated and that the route does not have sufficient capacity to handle thevehicle combination. To operate on a primary highway route, a motor vehiclecombination described in this subsection must meet all of the followingrequirements:
(1) The motor vehiclecombination must comply with the weight requirements in G.S. 20‑118.
(2) A semitrailer inexcess of 48 feet in length must meet one or more of the following conditions:
(a) The distance betweenthe kingpin of the trailer and the rearmost axle, or a point midway between thetwo rear axles, if the two rear axles are a tandem axle, does not exceed 41feet.
(b) The semitrailer isused exclusively or primarily to transport vehicles in connection withmotorsports competition events, and the distance between the kingpin of thetrailer and the rearmost axle, or a point midway between the two rear axles, ifthe two rear axles are a tandem axle, does not exceed 46 feet.
(3) A semitrailer inexcess of 48 feet must be equipped with a rear underride guard of substantialconstruction consisting of a continuous lateral beam extending to within fourinches of the lateral extremities of the semitrailer and located not more than30 inches from the surface as measured with the vehicle empty and on a levelsurface.
(c) Motor vehicles witha width not exceeding 102 inches may be operated on the interstate highways(except those exempted by the United States Secretary of Transportationpursuant to 49 USC 2316(e)) and other qualifying federal‑aid highwaysdesignated by the United States Secretary of Transportation, with traffic lanesdesigned to be a width of 12 feet or more and any other qualifying federal‑aidprimary system highway designated by the United States Secretary ofTransportation if the Secretary has determined that the designation isconsistent with highway safety.
(d) Notwithstanding theprovisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section which limit the length oftrailers which may be used in motor vehicle combinations in this State onhighways of the interstate system (except those exempted by the United StatesSecretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 USC 2311(i)) and on those sectionsof the federal‑aid primary system designated by the United StatesSecretary of Transportation, there is no limitation of the length of the trucktractor which may be used in motor vehicle combinations on these highways andtherefore, in compliance with Section 411(b) of the Surface Transportation Actof 1982, there is no overall length limitation for motor vehicle combinationsregulated by this section.
(e) The length andwidth limitations in this section are subject to exceptions and exclusions forsafety devices and specialized equipment as provided for in 49 USC 2311(d)(h)and Section 416 of the Surface Transportation Act of 1982 as amended (49 USC2316).
(f) Motor vehiclecombinations operating pursuant to this section shall have reasonable accessbetween (i) highways on the interstate system (except those exempted by theUnited States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 USC 2311(i) and 49 USC2316(e)) and other qualifying federal‑aid highways as designated by theUnited States Secretary of Transportation and (ii) terminals, facilities forfood, fuel, repairs, and rest and points of loading and unloading by householdgoods carriers and by any truck tractor‑semitrailer combination in whichthe semitrailer has a length not to exceed 28 1/2 feet and a width not toexceed 102 inches as provided in subsection (c) of this section and whichgenerally operates as part of a vehicle combination described in subsection (a)of this section. The North Carolina Department of Transportation may, onstreets and highways on the State highway system, and any municipality may, onstreets and highways on the municipal street system, impose reasonablerestrictions based on safety considerations on any truck tractor‑semitrailercombination in which the semitrailer has a length not to exceed 28 1/2 feet andwhich generally operates as part of a vehicle combination described insubsection (a) of this section. "Reasonable access" to facilities forfood, fuel, repairs and rest shall be deemed to be those facilities which arelocated within three road miles of the interstate or designated highway. TheDepartment of Transportation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulationsproviding for "reasonable access." The Department may approvereasonable access routes for one particular type of STAA (SurfaceTransportation Assistance Act) dimensioned vehicle when significant,substantial differences in their operating characteristics exist.
(g) Under certainconditions, and after consultation with the Joint Legislative Commission onGovernmental Operations, the North Carolina Department of Transportation maydesignate State highway system roads in addition to those highways designatedby the United States Secretary of Transportation for use by the vehiclecombinations authorized in this section. Such designations by the Departmentshall only be made under the following conditions:
(1) A determination ofthe public convenience and need for such designation;
(2) A trafficengineering study which clearly shows the road proposed to be designated cansafely accommodate and has sufficient capacity to handle these vehiclecombinations; and
(3) A public hearing isheld or the opportunity for a public hearing is provided in each county throughwhich the designated highway passes, after two weeks notice posted at thecourthouse and published in a newspaper of general circulation in each countythrough which the designated State highway system road passes, andconsideration is given to the comments received prior to the designation.
(4) The Department maydesignate routes for one particular type of STAA (Surface TransportationAssistance Act) dimensioned vehicle when significant, substantial differencesin their operating characteristics exist.
The Department may not designateany portion of the State highway system that has been deleted or exempted bythe United States Secretary of Transportation based on safety considerations.For the purpose of this section, any highway designated by the Department shallbe deemed to be the same as a federal‑aid primary highway designated bythe United States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 USC 2311 and 49USC 2316, and the vehicle combinations authorized in this section shall bepermitted to operate on such highway.
(h) Any owner of asemitrailer less than 50 feet in length in violation of subsections (a) or (b)is responsible for an infraction and is subject to a penalty of one hundreddollars ($100.00). Any owner of a semitrailer 50 feet or greater in length inviolation of subsection (b) is responsible for an infraction and subject to apenalty of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(i) Any driver of avehicle with a semitrailer less than 50 feet in length violating subsections(a) or (b) of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable onlyby a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00). Any driver of a vehicle with asemitrailer 50 feet or more in length violating subsection (b) of this sectionis guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable only by a fine of two hundreddollars ($200.00).
(j) Notwithstandingany other provision of this section, a manufacturer of trailer frames, with apermit issued pursuant to G.S. 20‑119, is authorized to transport thetrailer frame to another location within three miles of the first place ofmanufacture to the location of completion on any public street or highway ifthe width of the trailer frame does not exceed 14 feet and oversize markingsand safety flags are used during transport. Trailer frames transported pursuantto this subsection shall not exceed 7,000 pounds, and the vehicle towing thetrailer frame shall have a towing capacity greater than 10,000 pounds andnecessary towing equipment. The transport of trailer frames under thissubsection shall only be done during daylight hours. (1983, c. 898, s. 1; 1985,c. 423, ss. 1‑7; 1989, c. 790, ss. 1, 3, 3.1; 1993, c. 533, s. 10; c.539, s. 354; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1998‑149, s. 6; 2007‑77,ss. 2, 3; 2008‑160, s. 1; 2008‑221, ss. 3, 4.)
§ 20‑115.1. Limitationson tandem trailers and semitrailers on certain North Carolina highways.
(a) Motor vehiclecombinations consisting of a truck tractor and two trailing units may beoperated in North Carolina only on highways of the interstate system (exceptthose exempted by the United States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49USC 2311(i)) and on those sections of the federal‑aid primary systemdesignated by the United States Secretary of Transportation. No trailer orsemitrailer operated in this combination shall exceed 28 feet in length;Provided, however, a 1982 or older year model trailer or semitrailer of up to28 1/2 feet in length may operate in a combination permitted by this sectionfor trailers or semitrailers which are 28 feet in length.
(b) Motor vehiclecombinations consisting of a semitrailer of not more than 53 feet in length anda truck tractor may be operated on all primary highway routes of North Carolinaprovided the motor vehicle combination meets the requirements of this subsection.The Department may, at any time, prohibit motor vehicle combinations onportions of any route on the State highway system. If the Department prohibitsa motor vehicle combination on any route, it shall submit a written report tothe Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee within six months ofthe prohibition clearly documenting through traffic engineering studies thatthe operation of a motor vehicle combination on that route cannot be safelyaccommodated and that the route does not have sufficient capacity to handle thevehicle combination. To operate on a primary highway route, a motor vehiclecombination described in this subsection must meet all of the followingrequirements:
(1) The motor vehiclecombination must comply with the weight requirements in G.S. 20‑118.
(2) A semitrailer inexcess of 48 feet in length must meet one or more of the following conditions:
(a) The distance betweenthe kingpin of the trailer and the rearmost axle, or a point midway between thetwo rear axles, if the two rear axles are a tandem axle, does not exceed 41feet.
(b) The semitrailer isused exclusively or primarily to transport vehicles in connection withmotorsports competition events, and the distance between the kingpin of thetrailer and the rearmost axle, or a point midway between the two rear axles, ifthe two rear axles are a tandem axle, does not exceed 46 feet.
(3) A semitrailer inexcess of 48 feet must be equipped with a rear underride guard of substantialconstruction consisting of a continuous lateral beam extending to within fourinches of the lateral extremities of the semitrailer and located not more than30 inches from the surface as measured with the vehicle empty and on a levelsurface.
(c) Motor vehicles witha width not exceeding 102 inches may be operated on the interstate highways(except those exempted by the United States Secretary of Transportationpursuant to 49 USC 2316(e)) and other qualifying federal‑aid highwaysdesignated by the United States Secretary of Transportation, with traffic lanesdesigned to be a width of 12 feet or more and any other qualifying federal‑aidprimary system highway designated by the United States Secretary ofTransportation if the Secretary has determined that the designation isconsistent with highway safety.
(d) Notwithstanding theprovisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section which limit the length oftrailers which may be used in motor vehicle combinations in this State onhighways of the interstate system (except those exempted by the United StatesSecretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 USC 2311(i)) and on those sectionsof the federal‑aid primary system designated by the United StatesSecretary of Transportation, there is no limitation of the length of the trucktractor which may be used in motor vehicle combinations on these highways andtherefore, in compliance with Section 411(b) of the Surface Transportation Actof 1982, there is no overall length limitation for motor vehicle combinationsregulated by this section.
(e) The length andwidth limitations in this section are subject to exceptions and exclusions forsafety devices and specialized equipment as provided for in 49 USC 2311(d)(h)and Section 416 of the Surface Transportation Act of 1982 as amended (49 USC2316).
(f) Motor vehiclecombinations operating pursuant to this section shall have reasonable accessbetween (i) highways on the interstate system (except those exempted by theUnited States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 USC 2311(i) and 49 USC2316(e)) and other qualifying federal‑aid highways as designated by theUnited States Secretary of Transportation and (ii) terminals, facilities forfood, fuel, repairs, and rest and points of loading and unloading by householdgoods carriers and by any truck tractor‑semitrailer combination in whichthe semitrailer has a length not to exceed 28 1/2 feet and a width not toexceed 102 inches as provided in subsection (c) of this section and whichgenerally operates as part of a vehicle combination described in subsection (a)of this section. The North Carolina Department of Transportation may, onstreets and highways on the State highway system, and any municipality may, onstreets and highways on the municipal street system, impose reasonablerestrictions based on safety considerations on any truck tractor‑semitrailercombination in which the semitrailer has a length not to exceed 28 1/2 feet andwhich generally operates as part of a vehicle combination described insubsection (a) of this section. "Reasonable access" to facilities forfood, fuel, repairs and rest shall be deemed to be those facilities which arelocated within three road miles of the interstate or designated highway. TheDepartment of Transportation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulationsproviding for "reasonable access." The Department may approvereasonable access routes for one particular type of STAA (SurfaceTransportation Assistance Act) dimensioned vehicle when significant,substantial differences in their operating characteristics exist.
(g) Under certainconditions, and after consultation with the Joint Legislative Commission onGovernmental Operations, the North Carolina Department of Transportation maydesignate State highway system roads in addition to those highways designatedby the United States Secretary of Transportation for use by the vehiclecombinations authorized in this section. Such designations by the Departmentshall only be made under the following conditions:
(1) A determination ofthe public convenience and need for such designation;
(2) A trafficengineering study which clearly shows the road proposed to be designated cansafely accommodate and has sufficient capacity to handle these vehiclecombinations; and
(3) A public hearing isheld or the opportunity for a public hearing is provided in each county throughwhich the designated highway passes, after two weeks notice posted at thecourthouse and published in a newspaper of general circulation in each countythrough which the designated State highway system road passes, andconsideration is given to the comments received prior to the designation.
(4) The Department maydesignate routes for one particular type of STAA (Surface TransportationAssistance Act) dimensioned vehicle when significant, substantial differencesin their operating characteristics exist.
The Department may not designateany portion of the State highway system that has been deleted or exempted bythe United States Secretary of Transportation based on safety considerations.For the purpose of this section, any highway designated by the Department shallbe deemed to be the same as a federal‑aid primary highway designated bythe United States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 USC 2311 and 49USC 2316, and the vehicle combinations authorized in this section shall bepermitted to operate on such highway.
(h) Any owner of asemitrailer less than 50 feet in length in violation of subsections (a) or (b)is responsible for an infraction and is subject to a penalty of one hundreddollars ($100.00). Any owner of a semitrailer 50 feet or greater in length inviolation of subsection (b) is responsible for an infraction and subject to apenalty of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(i) Any driver of avehicle with a semitrailer less than 50 feet in length violating subsections(a) or (b) of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable onlyby a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00). Any driver of a vehicle with asemitrailer 50 feet or more in length violating subsection (b) of this sectionis guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable only by a fine of two hundreddollars ($200.00).
(j) Notwithstandingany other provision of this section, a manufacturer of trailer frames, with apermit issued pursuant to G.S. 20‑119, is authorized to transport thetrailer frame to another location within three miles of the first place ofmanufacture to the location of completion on any public street or highway ifthe width of the trailer frame does not exceed 14 feet and oversize markingsand safety flags are used during transport. Trailer frames transported pursuantto this subsection shall not exceed 7,000 pounds, and the vehicle towing thetrailer frame shall have a towing capacity greater than 10,000 pounds andnecessary towing equipment. The transport of trailer frames under thissubsection shall only be done during daylight hours. (1983, c. 898, s. 1; 1985,c. 423, ss. 1‑7; 1989, c. 790, ss. 1, 3, 3.1; 1993, c. 533, s. 10; c.539, s. 354; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1998‑149, s. 6; 2007‑77,ss. 2, 3; 2008‑160, s. 1; 2008‑221, ss. 3, 4.)
