Length of Vehicles and Loads

  1. Law
  2. Georgia Code
  3. Highways, Bridges, and Ferries
  4. Regulation of Maintenance and Use of Public Roads Generally
  5. Dimensions and Weight of Vehicles and Loads
  6. Length of Vehicles and Loads

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  1. As used in this article, the term:
    1. "Bimodal semitrailer" means a detachable load-carrying unit designed to be attached to a coupling on the rear of a truck tractor by which it is partly supported during movement over the highway and designed either with retractable flanged wheels or to attach to a detachable flanged wheel assembly for movement on the rails.
    2. "Combination of vehicles" means a semitrailer pulled by a truck tractor or a semitrailer and trailer pulled by a truck tractor operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination.
    3. "Extendable semitrailer" means a semitrailer that has been manufactured for the purpose of extending the frame to increase the overall length for the purpose of transporting single-piece loads.
    4. "NHS" means the National Highway System.
    5. "Semitrailer" means a detachable load-carrying unit designed to be attached to a coupling on the rear of a truck tractor by which it is partly supported.
    6. "Trailer" means a detachable load-carrying unit designed to be attached to a coupling at the rear of a semitrailer and capable of support in operation without the truck tractor.
    7. "Truck tractor" means the noncargo-carrying power unit that operates in combination with a semitrailer or trailer, except that a truck tractor and semitrailer engaged in the transportation of automobiles may transport motor vehicles on part of the power unit.
  2. Unless exempted in Code Section 32-6-25 or so authorized by a permit issued pursuant to Code Section 32-6-28, the following length limits shall apply:
    1. Trailer and semitrailer lengths:
      1. Truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combinations shall have trailers and semitrailers that do not exceed 28 feet in length;
      2. Truck tractor-semitrailer combinations shall have semitrailers that do not exceed 53 feet in length, unless signs are posted that indicate semitrailer length restrictions;
      3. On interstate and NHS routes, single-piece loads may be transported on an extendable semitrailer that exceeds 53 feet, provided that no pieces will be loaded end to end and the semitrailer does not exceed 75 feet in length; on roads other than the interstate and NHS routes, the foregoing provisions of this subparagraph shall also apply, except that the overall length shall not exceed 100 feet. Empty extendable semitrailers or extendable semitrailers transporting a single-piece load of 53 feet or less shall be required to maintain a semitrailer length of 53 feet or less. When the semitrailer is extended as described in this subparagraph, the rear extremity of each extendable semitrailer or load shall be marked with a four-inch multidirectional amber strobe light and with 18 inch bright red or orange warning flags on the rearmost of the load or semitrailer;
      4. Maxi-cube combinations shall have a cargo box that does not exceed 34 feet, provided that the pair of cargo boxes together does not exceed 60 feet and the overall length, including the power unit, does not exceed 65 feet; and
      5. Trailer and semitrailer length requirements in this paragraph shall not apply to automobile and boat transporters; however, no unit of the vehicle shall exceed 56 feet in length; and
    2. Overall truck tractor-semitrailer or truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer lengths:
      1. Maxi-cube combinations shall have an overall length that does not exceed 65 feet;
      2. Saddlemount and saddlemount with fullmount combinations shall have an overall length that does not exceed 97 feet; and
      3. All other combinations of truck tractor-semitrailer or truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer operated on roads other than interstate or the NHS shall have an overall length that does not exceed 100 feet, unless signs are posted that indicate length restrictions. This maximum length shall include the federal allowance for automobile and boat transporter loads to overhang up to three feet over the front of the vehicle and overhang up to six feet over the rear of the vehicle.

(Ga. L. 1927, p. 226, § 15; Code 1933, § 68-401; Ga. L. 1956, p. 83, § 2; Ga. L. 1959, p. 27, § 1; Ga. L. 1964, p. 83, § 1; Ga. L. 1968, p. 30, § 1; Code 1933, § 95A-958, enacted by Ga. L. 1973, p. 947, § 1; Ga. L. 1974, p. 1422, §§ 35, 36; Ga. L. 1979, p. 439, § 2; Ga. L. 1980, p. 576, §§ 1-3; Ga. L. 1981, p. 133, § 1; Ga. L. 1983, p. 1798, § 2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1002, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 414, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1030, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1569, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 693, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 255, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 94, § 32; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2467, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 786, § 1; Ga. L. 1995, p. 990, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1010, § 2; Ga. L. 1999, p. 567, § 2; Ga. L. 1999, p. 828, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 136, § 32; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1654, § 1; Ga. L. 2001, p. 4, § 32; Ga. L. 2010, p. 442, § 1/HB 1174; Ga. L. 2017, p. 720, § 1/HB 328.)

The 2017 amendment, effective July 1, 2017, substituted "six feet" for "four feet" near the end of the last sentence of subparagraph (b)(2)(C).

Cross references.

- Light, flag, or strobe lamp on projecting load, § 40-8-27.

Code Commission notes.

- Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1988, "term" was substituted for "terms" at the end of the introductory language of subsection (a).

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Delegation of authority constitutional.

- Delegation of authority to the Department of Transportation to determine which of the thousands of miles of state highways are suitable for the types of truck traffic governed by the statute is not unconstitutional. State v. Moore, 259 Ga. 139, 376 S.E.2d 877 (1989).

Enforcement of different limits violates equal protection clause.

- Enforcement of total length limits - i.e., combination of vehicle and load - for general freight transport that are different from those total length limits enforced as to live poultry transport violates the equal protection clause of the Georgia Constitution. State v. Moore, 259 Ga. 139, 376 S.E.2d 877 (1989).

Cited in Seabolt v. State, 174 Ga. App. 572, 330 S.E.2d 789 (1985).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Preemption.

- 49 U.S.C. § 2311, which establishes certain minimum vehicle lengths, without reference to loads, did not preempt O.C.G.A. § 32-6-24 with regard to load lengths of automobile transporters on federally assisted highways. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U85-1.

Promotion of safety and protection of public investment.

- O.C.G.A. §§ 32-1-10,32-6-23,32-6-24,46-7-61 (now repealed) and46-7-78 (now repealed) are intended to promote the safety of the traveling public and protect the public's investment in the public's roads and highways. 1981 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U81-17.

Traffic regulation.

- This section qualifies as a statute relating to traffic upon the public roads, streets, and highways, violation of which is punishable as a misdemeanor offense. 1979 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U79-14.

RESEARCH REFERENCES

ALR.

- Validity, construction, and application of statutes or other regulations affecting the moving of buildings on highways, 83 A.L.R.2d 464.

Violation of regulation governing size or weight of motor vehicles, or combinations of vehicles and loads, on the highway as basis of liability for personal injury, death, or damage to private property, 21 A.L.R.3d 989.


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