(a) Purpose. This section prescribes the requirements and procedures regarding the annual permit for the operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles that will be used to transport unrefined timber, wood chips, woody biomass, or equipment used to load timber on a vehicle under the provisions of Transportation Code, Chapter 623, Subchapter Q.
(b) Application for permit.
  (1) To qualify for a timber permit, a person must submit an application to the department.
  (2) The application shall be in a form prescribed by the department and at a minimum, will require the following:
    (A) name, customer identification number, and address of the applicant;
    (B) name, telephone number, and email address of contact person;
    (C) vehicle information, including vehicle year, make, license plate number and state of issuance, and vehicle identification number;
    (D) a list of timber producing counties described in Transportation Code, §623.321(a), in which the vehicle or combination of vehicles will be operated; and
    (E) applicant's USDOT Number if applicant is required by law to have a USDOT Number.
  (3) The application shall be accompanied by:
    (A) the total annual permit fee required by statute; and
    (B) a blanket bond or irrevocable letter of credit as required by Transportation Code, §623.012, unless the applicant has a current blanket bond or irrevocable letter of credit on file with the department that complies with Transportation Code, §623.012.
(c) Issuance and placement of permit and windshield sticker; restrictions.
  (1) A permit and a windshield sticker will be issued once the application is approved, and each will be mailed to the applicant at the address contained in the application.
  (2) The windshield sticker shall be affixed to the inside of the windshield of the vehicle in accordance with the diagram printed on the back of the sticker and in a manner that will not obstruct the vision of the driver. Any attempt to remove the sticker from the windshield will render the sticker void and will require a new permit and sticker.
  (3) A replacement sticker for a lost, stolen, or mutilated windshield sticker may be issued, provided that the permittee submits a request on a form approved by the department which shall include a statement, signed by the permittee, affirming that the sticker was lost, stolen, or mutilated. The replacement sticker shall only be valid for the permitted vehicle.
(d) Notification. The financially responsible party as defined in Transportation Code, §623.323(a), shall electronically file the notification document described by §623.323(b) with the department via the form on the department's website.
(e) Transfer of permit. An annual permit issued under this section is not transferable between vehicles.
(f) Amendments. An annual permit issued under this section will not be amended except in the case of department error.
(g) Termination of permit. An annual permit issued under this section will automatically terminate, and the windshield sticker must be removed from the vehicle:
  (1) on the expiration of the permit;
  (2) when the lease of the vehicle expires;
  (3) on the sale or other transfer of ownership of the vehicle for which the permit was issued;
  (4) on the dissolution or termination of the partnership, corporation, or other legal entity to which the permit was issued; or
  (5) if the permittee fails to timely replenish the bond or letter of credit as required by Transportation Code, §623.012.
(h) Restrictions. Permits issued under this section are subject to the restrictions in §219.11(l) of this title.

Source Note: The provisions of this §219.31 adopted to be effective February 6, 2014, 39 TexReg 504; amended to be effective December 14, 2015, 40 TexReg 8900; amended to be effective December 30, 2020, 45 TexReg 9594; amended to be effective January 4, 2024, 48 TexReg 8383; amended to be effective July 18, 2024, 49 TexReg 5161