(a) Purpose and scope. This section contains general requirements relating to oversize/overweight permits, including single-trip permits. Specific requirements for each type of specialty permit are provided for in this chapter.     
      (b) Prerequisites to obtaining an oversize/overweight permit. Unless exempted by law or this chapter, the following requirements must be met prior to the issuance of an oversize/overweight permit.      
        (1) Commercial motor carrier registration or surety bond. Prior to obtaining an oversize/overweight permit, an applicant permitted under the provisions of Transportation Code, Chapter 623, Subchapter D, must be registered as a commercial motor carrier under Chapter 218 of this title (relating to Motor Carriers) or, if not required to obtain a motor carrier registration, file a surety bond with the department as described in subsection (n) of this section.       
        (2) Vehicle registration. A vehicle registered with a permit plate will not be issued an oversize/overweight permit under this subchapter. A permitted vehicle operating under this subchapter must be registered with one of the following types of vehicle registration:                  (A) current Texas license plates that indicate the permitted vehicle is registered for maximum legal gross weight or the maximum weight the vehicle can transport;                   (B) Texas temporary vehicle registration;                   (C) current out of state license plates that are apportioned for travel in Texas; or                   (D) foreign commercial vehicles registered under Texas annual registration.         
      (c) Permit application.      
        (1) An application for a permit shall be made in a form and by the method prescribed by the department, and at a minimum shall include the following, unless stated otherwise in this subchapter:                  (A) name, customer identification number, and address of the applicant;                   (B) name, telephone number, and email address of contact person;                   (C) applicant's USDOT Number if applicant is required by law to have a USDOT Number;                   (D) complete load description, including maximum width, height, length, overhang, and gross weight;                   (E) complete description of vehicle, including truck year, make, license plate number and state of issuance, and vehicle identification number, if required;                   (F) vehicle axle and tire information including number of axles, distance between axles, axle weights, number of tires, and tire size for overweight permit applications; and                   (G) any other information required by law.         
        (2) Applications transmitted electronically are considered signed if a digital signature is transmitted with the application and intended by the applicant to authenticate the application.                  (A) The department may only accept a digital signature used to authenticate an application under procedures that comply with any applicable rules adopted by the Department of Information Resources regarding department use or acceptance of a digital signature.                   (B) The department may only accept a digital signature to authenticate an application if the digital signature is:                      (i) unique to the person using it;                       (ii) capable of independent verification;                       (iii) under the sole control of the person using it; and                       (iv) transmitted in a manner that will make it infeasible to change the data in the communication or digital signature without invalidating the digital signature.           
      (d) Maximum permit weight limits.      
        (1) General. An overweight permitted vehicle will not be routed over a load-restricted bridge when exceeding the posted capacity of the bridge, unless a special exception is granted by TxDOT, based on an analysis of the bridge performed by a TxDOT approved licensed professional engineer or by TxDOT. Any analysis by a non-TxDOT engineer must have final approval from TxDOT.                  (A) An axle group must have a minimum spacing of four feet, measured from center of axle to center of axle, between each axle in the group to achieve the maximum permit weight for the group.                   (B) The maximum permit weight for an axle group with spacing of five or more feet between each axle will be based on an engineering study of the equipment conducted by TxDOT.                   (C) A permitted vehicle will be allowed to have air suspension, hydraulic suspension, and mechanical suspension axles in a common weight equalizing suspension system for any axle group.                   (D) The department may permit axle weights greater than those specified in this section, for a specific individual permit request, based on an engineering study of the route and hauling equipment performed by a TxDOT approved licensed professional engineer or by TxDOT. Any analysis by a non-TxDOT engineer must have final approval from TxDOT.                   (E) A permitted vehicle or combination of vehicles may not exceed the manufacturer's rated tire carrying capacity, unless expressly authorized in the language on the permit based on an analysis performed by a TxDOT approved licensed professional engineer or by TxDOT. Any analysis by a non-TxDOT engineer must have final approval from TxDOT.                   (F) Two or more consecutive axle groups having an axle spacing of less than 12 feet, measured from the center of the last axle of the preceding group to the center of the first axle of the following group, will be reduced by 2.5% for each foot less than 12 feet.         
        (2) Maximum axle weight limits. Maximum permit weight for an axle or axle group is based on 650 pounds per inch of tire width or the following axle or axle group weights, whichever is the lesser amount:                  (A) single axle--25,000 pounds;                   (B) two axle group--46,000 pounds;                   (C) three axle group--60,000 pounds;                   (D) four axle group--70,000 pounds;                   (E) five axle group--81,400 pounds;                   (F) axle group with six or more axles--determined by TxDOT based on an engineering study of the equipment, which will include the type of steering system used, the type of axle suspension, the spacing distance between each axle, the number of tires per axle, and the tire size on each axle; or                   (G) trunnion axles--30,000 pounds per axle if the trunnion configuration has:                      (i) two axles;                       (ii) eight tires per axle;                       (iii) axles a minimum of 10 feet in width; and                       (iv) at least five feet of spacing between the axles, not to exceed six feet.           
        (3) Weight limits for load restricted roads. Maximum permit weight for an axle or axle group, when traveling on a load restricted road, will be based on 650 pounds per inch of tire width or the following axle or axle group weights, whichever is the lesser amount:                  (A) single axle--22,500 pounds;                   (B) two axle group--41,400 pounds;                   (C) three axle group--54,000 pounds;                   (D) four axle group--63,000 pounds;                   (E) five axle group--73,260 pounds;                   (F) axle group with six or more axles--determined by TxDOT based on an engineering study of the equipment, which will include the type of steering system used, the type of axle suspension, the spacing distance between each axle, the number of tires per axle, and the tire size on each axle;                   (G) trunnion axles--54,000 pounds; and                   (H) two or more consecutive axle groups having an axle spacing of less than 12 feet, measured from the center of the last axle of the preceding group to the center of the first axle of the following group will be reduced by 2.5% for each foot less than 12 feet.         
      (e) Permit issuance.      
        (1) General. Upon receiving an application in the form prescribed by the department, the department will review the permit application for the appropriate information and will then determine the most practical route based on information provided by TxDOT.       
        (2) Routing.                  (A) A permitted vehicle will be routed over the most practical route available taking into consideration:                      (i) the size and weight of the overdimension load in relation to vertical clearances, width restrictions, steep grades, and weak or load restricted bridges;                       (ii) the geometrics of the roadway in comparison to the overdimension load;                       (iii) sections of highways restricted to specific load sizes and weights due to construction, maintenance, and hazardous conditions;                       (iv) traffic conditions, including traffic volume;                       (v) route designations by municipalities in accordance with Transportation Code, §623.072;                       (vi) load restricted roads; and                       (vii) other considerations for the safe transportation of the load.                     (B) When a permit applicant desires a route other than the most practical, more than one permit will be required for the trip unless an exception is granted by the department.         
        (3) Movement to and from point of origin or place of business. A permitted vehicle will be allowed to:                  (A) move empty oversize and overweight hauling equipment to and from the job site; and                   (B) move oversize and overweight hauling equipment with a load from the permitted vehicle's point of origin to pick up a permitted load, and to the permitted vehicle's point of origin or the permittee's place of business after dropping off a permitted load, as long as:                      (i) the load does not exceed legal size and weight limits under Transportation Code, Chapters 621 and 622; and                       (ii) the transport complies with the permit, including the time period stated on the permit.           
      (f) Payment of permit fees, refunds.      
        (1) Payment methods. All permit applications must be accompanied by the proper fee, which shall be payable as provided by §209.23 of this title (relating to Methods of Payment).       
        (2) Refunds. A permit fee will not be refunded after the permit number has been issued unless such refund is necessary to correct an error made by the permit officer.       
      (g) Amendments. A permit may be amended for the following reasons:      
        (1) vehicle breakdown;       
        (2) changing the intermediate points in an approved permit route;       
        (3) extending the expiration date due to conditions which would cause the move to be delayed;       
        (4) changing route origin or route destination prior to the start date as listed on the permit;       
        (5) changing vehicle size limits prior to the permit start date as listed on the permit, provided that changing the vehicle size limit does not necessitate a change in the approved route; and       
        (6) correcting any mistake that is made due to permit officer error.       
      (h) Requirements for overwidth loads.      
        (1) Unless stated otherwise on the permit, an overwidth load must travel in the outside traffic lane on multi-lane highways, when the width of the load exceeds 12 feet.       
        (2) Overwidth loads are subject to the escort requirements of subsection (k) of this section.       
        (3) A permitted vehicle exceeding 16 feet in width will not be routed on the main lanes of a controlled access highway, unless an exception is granted by TxDOT, based on a route and traffic study. The load may be permitted on the frontage roads when available, if the movement will not pose a safety hazard to other highway users.       
        (4) An applicant requesting a permit to move a load exceeding 20 feet wide will be furnished with a proposed route. The applicant must physically inspect the proposed route to determine if the vehicle and load can safely negotiate it, unless an exception is granted based on a route and traffic study conducted by TxDOT. A permit application and the appropriate fee are required for every route inspection.                  (A) The applicant must notify the department in writing whether the vehicle and load can or cannot safely negotiate the proposed route.                   (B) If any section of the proposed route is unacceptable, the applicant shall provide the department with an alternate route around the unacceptable section.                   (C) Once a route is decided upon and a permit issued, the permit may not be amended unless an exception is granted by the department.         
      (i) Requirements for overlength loads.      
        (1) Overlength loads are subject to the escort requirements stated in subsection (k) of this section.       
        (2) A single vehicle, such as a motor crane, that has a permanently mounted boom is not considered as having either front or rear overhang as a result of the boom because the boom is an integral part of the vehicle.       
        (3) When a single vehicle with a permanently attached boom exceeds the maximum legal length of 45 feet, a permit will not be issued if the boom projects more than 25 feet beyond the front bumper of the vehicle, or when the boom projects more than 30 feet beyond the rear bumper of the vehicle, unless an exception is granted by TxDOT, based on a route and traffic study.       
        (4) Maximum permit length for a single vehicle is 75 feet.       
       Cont'd...