SARAH SCHNEIDER

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH INTERN

ZACK DEAN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

TRANSPORTATION & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

TRANSPORTATION & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 11, 2021

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1291, relating to vehicles and loads; gross weight restrictions; exceptions

Purpose

            Increases, from 400 pounds to 550 pounds, the maximum weight by which a heavy-duty vehicle is allowed to exceed gross weight limitations.

Background

Vehicles are allowed to be operated on all highways subject to gross weight limitations as follows: 1) 20,000 pounds, including enforcement tolerances, on any one axle; 2) 34,000 pounds, including enforcement tolerances, on a tandem axle; and 3) 80,000 pounds on a vehicle's combination of five axles or more. Current statute allows the gross weight of a heavy-duty vehicle that is equipped with idle reduction technology and the gross weight imposed on the highway by the wheels of any one axle or axle group of the vehicle to exceed weight limitations by not more than 400 pounds or the weight of the idle reduction technology, whichever is less. Statute also allows a vehicle operated by a natural gas engine to exceed gross weight limitations by not more than 2,000 pounds (A.R.S. § 28-1100).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Increases, from 400 pounds to 550 pounds, the maximum amount by which a heavy-duty vehicle equipped with idle reduction technology can exceed gross weight limitations set forth in statute.

2. Allows a vehicle operated by a battery electric or hydrogen engine to exceed gross weight limitations by not more than 2,000 pounds.

3. Makes technical and conforming changes.

4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.