§ 179.8. Permit application procedure.

 Except as otherwise specified in this chapter, a permit application shall be made to the district or county office having jurisdiction over the point of origin or the point of destination in this Commonwealth. An application shall be submitted in the name of the responsible motor carrier and shall be properly completed.

   (1)  An application to a district office may be made in person or by mail, telefacsimile or another wire method approved by the Department. A wired application shall be submitted in a format acceptable to the central permit office.

     (i)   Applications made in person or by mail:

       (A)   Shall be on Form M-936A and signed by the applicant or the applicant’s agent.

       (B)   Shall be accompanied by a check or money order, unless the applicant participates in the permit monthly billing system. A certified check or money order is required from persons not registered with the Department, payable to the Department, in the appropriate amount, as set forth in Chapter 19, Subchapter C of the act (relating to permits) and §  179.9 (relating to issuance of permits). Company checks will be acceptable only from registered persons.

     (ii)   Applications made by telefacsimile or another wire method approved by the Department:

       (A)   Shall be accepted only from registered persons.

       (B)   Shall be followed by a check or money order, payable to the Department, in the prescribed amount. Payment shall be submitted within 3 work days after the permittee receives the permit, Form M-936P or supplement, Form M-945S, or within 3 weeks if the applicant participates in the permit monthly billing system.

       (C)   Shall contain the following legible information:

         (I)   Name, as set forth on the registration agreement, and mailing address of the registered person and his registration identification number.

         (II)   Type of load, and type of transporting equipment, specifying the serial number of the load or the bill of lading number if the load has no serial number, and specifying the number of axles on each vehicle.

         (III)   Point of origin and destination in and through Pennsylvania.

         (IV)   Beginning and ending dates of movement.

         (V)   Proposed route of movement in Pennsylvania.

         (VI)   Total number of miles that will be traveled on Commonwealth highways, not including the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

         (VII)   Total fees, as set forth in Chapter 19, Subchapter C of the act and §  179.9.

         (VIII)   Overall size, including width and height in inches and length in feet of the vehicle, or combination of vehicles, including any load carried thereon.

         (IX)   Gross weight, axle weights and registered gross weight.

         (X)   License number and the State of registration of transporting or drawing vehicle; or if no license is required, the complete serial number (VIN) of the manufacturer.

         (XI)   License number and State of registration of every drawn vehicle; or if no license is required, the complete serial number (VIN) of the manufacturer.

         (XII)   Name of insurance carrier, policy number, amount and effective period of coverage, unless a registration agreement for special hauling permits is in effect.

         (XIII)   Where, and the method by which, the permit should be transmitted.

         (XIV)   Other information specified on Department application Forms M-936A and M-936AS or an application form authorized under an executed multistate permit agreement.

       (D)   Telephone applications will not be accepted, except as provided under § §  179.12 and 179.14 (relating to emergency movements; and single-trip special hauling book permits for oversize movements).

       (E)   The applicant is encouraged to identify on his application a prior permit under which the vehicle was authorized to travel over the proposed routes.

   (2)  Applications to county offices shall be made in person, on Form M-936A, accompanied by a check or money order, unless the applicant participates in the permit monthly billing system. A certified check or money order is required from a person not registered with the Department. A company check will be acceptable only from a registered person.

   (3)  Information provided in applications shall be accurate. Section 4904 of 18 Pa.C.S. (relating to unsworn falsification to authorities), makes it a misdemeanor for a person to mislead a public servant in performing an official function by making a written false statement which the person does not believe to be true. Supplements will not be issued to correct errors contained in submitted applications.

   (4)  The following application requirements for oversize or overweight movements include the following criteria:

     (i)   When a combination exceeds 136,000 pounds gross weight, or the general gross weight limits specified in Table 8-1, column I or the axle weight limits specified in Table 8-2, or when a truck tractor’s steering axle exceeds 12,000 pounds, a completed supplemental application, Form M-936AS, shall be submitted in writing to the issuing district office with the completed application, Form M-936A. A supplemental application shall be submitted at least 3 work days prior to the anticipated move date.

     (ii)   When an axle weight of special mobile equipment or other vehicle which is not part of a combination exceeds 27,000 pounds, or whenever the gross weight exceeds 136,000 pounds, a completed supplemental application, Form M-936AS shall be submitted in writing to the issuing district office with the completed application, Form M-936A, unless a completed supplemental application for the vehicle and routes is on file with the district office. A supplemental application shall be submitted at least 3 work days prior to the anticipated move date.

     (iii)   At least 3 weeks prior to the anticipated move date of a super load, a completed preliminary application, Form M-936A, and—when required by this subsection—a supplemental application, Form M-936AS, shall be submitted in writing to the central permit office, together with justification for the movement. Justification shall include the following:

       (A)   Detailed routing, including city streets and township roads, if any.

       (B)   The certification of the manufacturer or designer that the object cannot feasibly be manufactured in smaller sections.

       (C)   Signed statements from other transportation companies—that is, air, water, rail—that they are unable to accommodate a move over all or any part of the course, when requested by the central permit office.

       (D)   Written approvals from cities through which the proposed movement will pass.

       (E)   The projected number of similar objects to be moved within the next year. Designers should obtain preliminary approval prior to manufacturing a super load.

     (iv)   When the applicant proposes to move an overweight vehicle or combination across a bridge which is posted with a sign containing the words ‘‘BRIDGE LIMITED TO ONE TRUCK,’’ Form M-936AS shall be submitted in writing to the issuing district office with the completed application, Form M-936A.

     (v)   When the Department determines, or when the applicant determines and the Department concurs, that traffic may be adversely affected by the proposed movement, the applicant shall submit a traffic control plan in writing to the Department. The traffic control plan shall be consistent with the requirements of Chapter 203 (relating to work zone traffic control).

   (5)  Vehicle weight restrictions are as follows:

     (i)   General and maximum gross weight limits for combinations.

       (A)   A special hauling permit will be issued for a combination having a gross weight which does not exceed either the general limit specified in Table 8-1, column I or axle weight limits specified in Table 8-2 (See Figure 8-1).

       (B)   A combination will be authorized to carry a gross weight up to the maximum limit specified in Table 8-1, column II subject to the bridge engineer’s review and approval of the routes which cross bridges and supplemental application, Form M-936AS.

       (C)   To determine the general and maximum gross weight limits for a combination of vehicles not identified in Table 8-1, add the applicable axle weight limits for the unidentified vehicle, as specified in Table 8-2, to the appropriate gross weight limits specified in Table 8-1.

     (ii)   Combination axle weight limits.

       (A)   Except as provided in clauses (B) and (C), a combination may not, when operated upon a highway, have a weight upon an axle in excess of 27,000 pounds or upon an axle or axle group in excess of the limits specified in Table 8-2.

       (B)   A combination having axle weights in excess of the limits specified in Table 8-2 will be authorized to carry axle weights up to 27,000 pounds, subject to the bridge engineer’s review and approval of the routes which cross bridges and supplemental application, Form M-936AS.

       (C)   An overweight super load combination having axle weights in excess of 27,000 pounds may be authorized where no feasible alternative is available, provided the applicant agrees to shore—in a manner approved by the bridge engineer—each bridge loaded in excess of its operating rating. The applicant shall also submit security satisfactory to the Department in accordance with section 4962 of the act (relating to conditions of permits and security damages).

     (iii)   Special mobile equipment axle weight limits.

       (A)   A special hauling permit will be issued for special mobile equipment having a single axle weight up to, but not exceeding, 50,000 pounds, subject to the bridge engineer’s review and approval of the routes and supplemental application, Form M-936AS. Special mobile equipment having only one axle in excess of 50,000 pounds may be transported with that axle placed piggyback on a semitrailer, subject to the bridge engineer’s review and approval of the routes and supplemental application, Form M-936AS.

       (B)   Special mobile equipment having an axle group with an axle weight in the group in excess of 27,000 pounds will be authorized where no feasible alternative is available, subject to the bridge engineer’s review and approval of the routes and supplemental application, Form M-936AS. The applicant will be required to shore—in a manner approved by the bridge engineer—each bridge loaded in excess of its operating rating. The applicant shall also, upon request, submit security satisfactory to the Department in accordance with section 4962 of the act (relating to conditions of permits and security damages).

     (iv)   No permitted vehicle may operate along a highway with a weight upon an axle in excess of the manufacturer’s rated axle capacity.

     (v)   A permitted vehicle may not operate along a highway with a weight upon a wheel in excess of 800 pounds per nominal inch of tire width on the wheel, except that special mobile equipment may be authorized to carry up to 1,000 pounds per nominal inch of tire width on the wheel subject to approval of the routes and supplemental application, Form M-936AS, by the bridge engineer and pavement engineer.

     (vi)   A permitted vehicle may not operate along a highway if equipped with other than pneumatic tires. Movement across the highway may be authorized, subject to the applicant submitting an acceptable traffic control plan and security to the Department.

   (6)  The applicant may appeal a denial of a permit by the Department under 2 Pa.C.S. § §  501—508 (relating to practice and procedure of Commonwealth agencies), by submitting a written request for a hearing within 30 days after service of the document containing the denial, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, Administrative Docket Clerk, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 9th Floor, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120-0096. A filing fee, as prescribed under Chapter 491 (relating to administrative practice and procedure), made payable to the ‘‘Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,’’ shall accompany each request.

   (7)  The Department will examine and determine the genuineness, regularity and legality of every application, and may reject an application if not satisfied as to its genuineness, regularity or legality, or the truth of a statement contained in the application. The Department may also make investigations and require additional information related to the permit application.

TABLE 8-1

Combination of Vehicles truck tractor & semitrailer		I General Gross Weight		II Maximum Gross Weight
no. of axles		no. of axles
2	&	1	66,000	66,000
2	&	2	91,000	91,000
2	&	3	102,000	102,000
2	&	4	111,000	111,000
3	&	1	91,000	91,000
3	&	2	116,000	120,000
3	&	3	127,000	147,000
3	&	4	136,000	174,000
4	&	1	102,000	102,000
4	&	2	127,000	147,000
4	&	3	136,000	174,000
4	&	4	136,000	201,000

TABLE 8-2

Number of Axles in Group	Distance Between Extreme Axles in Axle Group	Maximum Weight Upon Any Axle in Axle Group	Maximum Weight Upon Axle Group
One	—	27,000 pounds	27,000 pounds
Two	4 feet to 8 feet	26,000 pounds	52,000 pounds
Three	8 feet to 16 feet	21,000 pounds	63,000 pounds
Four	12 feet to 24 feet	18,000 pounds	72,000 pounds

Source

   The provisions of this §  179.8 adopted June 4, 1976, effective June 5, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 1287; amended August 5, 1977, effective August 6, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 2192; amended May 26, 1978, effective May 27, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1471; amended April 25, 1980, effective May 1, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 1686; renumbered May 16, 1981, 11 Pa.B. 1678; amended January 20, 1984, effective March 21, 1984, 14 Pa.B. 224; amended October 11, 1985, effective October 12, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 3654; readopted December 2, 1988, effective December 3, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 5364; amended May 14, 1993, effective August 13, 1993, 23 Pa.B. 2334; amended September 2, 2011, effective September 3, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 4772. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (229736) to (229742).

Cross References

   This section cited in 67 Pa. Code §  179.14 (relating to single-trip special hauling book permits for oversize movements).

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