(a) General information.
  (1) Permits issued under this section are subject to the requirements of §219.41 of this title (relating to General Requirements).
  (2) A quarterly hubometer permit:
    (A) is effective for three consecutive months;
    (B) allows the unit to travel on all state-maintained highways; and
    (C) allows the unit to travel on a state-wide basis.
  (3) A unit permitted under this subsection must not exceed any of the following dimensions:
    (A) 12 feet in width;
    (B) 14 feet, 6 inches in height; and
    (C) 95 feet in length.
  (4) With the exception of units that are overlength only, a unit operated with a permit issued under this section must be equipped with a hubometer. The permittee must maintain the hubometer in good working condition.
  (5) A unit exceeding 175,000 pounds gross weight must:
    (A) have front and rear escort flag vehicles to prevent traffic from traveling beside the unit as it crosses a bridge;
    (B) cross all multi-lane bridges by centering the unit on a lane line;
    (C) cross all two-lane bridges in the center of the bridge; and
    (D) cross each bridge at a speed not greater than 20 miles per hour.
(b) Maximum permit weight limits.
  (1) The maximum permit weight for any single axle must not exceed 30,000 pounds or 850 pounds per inch of tire width, whichever is less.
  (2) The maximum permit weight for any group of axles on a unit will be determined by calculating the "W" weight for the group, using the formulas in Figure 2: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas," and comparing the calculated "W" weight with the corresponding "W" weight that is established in Figure 1: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Table."
  (3) The maximum permit weight per inch of tire width for axles that are steerable must not exceed 950 pounds, and the maximum permit weight per inch of tire width for axles that are not steerable must not exceed 850 pounds.
  (4) A unit that does not have any group of axles that exceeds the limits established in Figure 1: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Table," and Figure 2: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas" will be permitted with a single-trip mileage or quarterly hubometer permit for travel on any route that does not include a load restricted bridge.
  (5) A unit that has any group of axles that exceeds the limits established by Figure 1: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Table," and Figure 2: 43 TAC §219.42(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas" will be eligible, on an individual case-by-case basis, for a single-trip mileage permit only; permit approval or denial will be based on a detailed route study and an analysis conducted by TxDOT of each bridge on the proposed travel route to determine if the road(s) and bridge(s) are capable of sustaining the movement.
  (6) A bridge that has been analyzed and determined to be incapable of sustaining the unit will be excluded from the permit route.
(c) Initial permit application and issuance.
  (1) An application for an initial quarterly hubometer permit under this section must be made in accordance with §219.41(b) of this title. In addition, the applicant must provide the current hubometer mileage reading and an initial $31 processing fee.
  (2) Upon verification of the unit information and receipt of the permit fee, the department will provide a copy of the permit to the applicant, as well as a renewal application.
(d) Permit renewals and closeouts.
  (1) An application for a permit renewal or closeout must be made on a form and in the manner prescribed by the department.
  (2) Upon receipt of the renewal application, the department will verify unit information, check mileage traveled on the last permit, calculate the new permit fee, and advise the applicant of the permit fee.
(e) Permit fees.
  (1) Minimum fee. The minimum fee for a quarterly hubometer permit is either the calculated permit fee or $31, whichever is the greater amount.
  (2) Fees for overlength units. A unit that is overlength only must obtain a quarterly hubometer permit with a fee of $31, but is not required to have a hubometer.
  (3) Quarterly hubometer permit fee calculation. The permit fee for a quarterly hubometer permit is calculated by multiplying the hubometer mileage, the highway use factor, and the total rate per mile, and then adding the indirect cost share to the product.
    (A) Hubometer mileage. Mileage for a quarterly hubometer permit is determined by the unit's current hubometer mileage reading minus the unit's hubometer mileage reading from the previous quarterly hubometer permit.
    (B) Highway use factor. The highway use factor for a quarterly hubometer permit is 0.3.
    (C) Total rate per mile. The total rate per mile is the combined mileage rates for width, height, and weight for the unit. The rate per mile for a trailer-mounted unit is based on the overall width, overall height, and all axle weights, including the truck-tractor axles.
      (i) The mileage rate for width is $.06 per mile for each foot (or fraction thereof) above legal width.
      (ii) The mileage rate for height is $.04 per mile for each foot (or fraction thereof) above legal height.
      (iii) The mileage rate for a single axle or any axle within a group that exceeds 20,000 pounds, but is less than or equal to 25,000 pounds, is calculated by multiplying $.045 times the amount by which the axle or axle group weight exceeds the legal weight for the axle or axle group and dividing the resultant figure by 1,000 pounds.
      (iv) The mileage rate for a single axle or any axle within a group that exceeds 25,000 pounds, but is less than or equal to 30,000 pounds, is calculated by multiplying $.055 times the amount by which the axle or axle group weight exceeds the legal weight for the axle or axle group and dividing the resultant figure by 1,000 pounds.
  (4) Permit fees for trailer-mounted units. The permit fee for a trailer-mounted unit is based on the overall width, overall height, and all axle weights, including the truck-tractor axles.
(f) Amendments. A quarterly hubometer permit may be amended only to change the following:
  (1) if listed on the permit, the hubometer serial number; or
  (2) the license plate number.

Source Note: The provisions of this §219.43 adopted to be effective February 21, 1999, 24 TexReg 1221; amended to be effective November 21, 1999, 24 TexReg 10143; transferred effective January 1, 2012, as published in the Texas Register January 27, 2012, 37 TexReg 359; amended to be effective June 28, 2015, 40 TexReg 4003; amended to be effective December 14, 2015, 40 TexReg 8900; amended to be effective March 6, 2018, 43 TexReg 1283; amended to be effective December 30, 2020, 45 TexReg 9582; amended to be effective January 4, 2024, 48 TexReg 8383; amended to be effective July 18, 2024, 49 TexReg 5161