(a) General information.
  (1) Permits issued under this section are subject to the requirements of §219.61 of this title (relating to General Requirements for Permits for Oversize and Overweight Unladen Lift Equipment Motor Vehicles).
  (2) A single-trip mileage permit:
    (A) is limited to a maximum of seven consecutive days;
    (B) is routed from the point of origin to the point of destination and has the route listed on the permit; and
    (C) allows the unladen lift equipment motor vehicle to be returned to the point of origin on the same permit, provided the return trip is made within the time period stated in the permit.
  (3) An unladen lift equipment motor vehicle exceeding 175,000 pounds gross weight must:
    (A) have front and rear escort flag vehicles to prevent traffic from traveling beside the unladen lift equipment motor vehicle as it crosses a bridge;
    (B) cross all multi-lane bridges by centering the unladen lift equipment motor vehicle 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.
  (4) An unladen lift equipment motor vehicle exceeding 12 feet in width must be centered in the outside traffic lane of any highway that has paved shoulders.
  (5) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the permitted unladen lift equipment motor vehicle must not cross a load-restricted bridge when exceeding the posted capacity of the bridge.
(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 an unladen lift equipment motor vehicle is determined by calculating the "W" weight for the group, using the formulas shown in Figure 2: 43 TAC §219.62(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas," and comparing the calculated "W" weight with the corresponding "W" weight that is established in Figure 1: 43 TAC §219.62(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) An applicant with an unladen lift equipment motor vehicle that has any group of axles that exceeds the limits established by Figure 1: 43 TAC §219.62(f),"Maximum Permit Weight Table," and Figure 2: 43 TAC §219.62(f), "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas," must comply with the following process and requirements:
    (A) submit the following to the department to determine if a permit can be issued:
      (i) a detailed diagram, on a form prescribed by the department, which illustrates the required information listed in §219.61(b)(5) of this title;
      (ii) the exact beginning and ending points relative to a state highway; and
      (iii) the name and contact information of the applicant's TxDOT-approved licensed professional engineer.
    (B) The department will select and provide the applicant with a tentative route based on the size of the unladen lift equipment motor vehicle, excluding the weight. The applicant must inspect the tentative route and advise the department, in writing, that the route is capable of accommodating the unladen lift equipment motor vehicle.
    (C) Before the department will issue a permit, the applicant's TxDOT-approved licensed professional engineer must submit to TxDOT a written certification that includes a detailed structural analysis of the bridges on the proposed route demonstrating that the bridges and culverts on the travel route are capable of sustaining the unladen lift equipment motor vehicle. The certification must be approved by TxDOT and submitted to the department before the department will issue the permit.
(c) Permit application and issuance.
  (1) An application for a single-trip mileage permit under this section must be made in accordance with §219.61(b) of this title and must also include the origin and destination points of the unladen lift equipment motor vehicle.
  (2) Upon receipt of the application, the department will review and verify size and weight information, check the route and mileage to be traveled, compute the permit fee, and advise the applicant of the permit fee.
  (3) Upon receipt of the permit fee, the department will advise the applicant of the permit number and will provide a copy of the permit to the applicant.
(d) Permit fees and refunds.
  (1) Minimum fee. The minimum fee for a single-trip mileage permit is either the calculated permit fee or $31, whichever is the greater amount.
  (2) Permit fee calculation. The permit fee for a single-trip mileage permit is calculated by multiplying the number of miles traveled, the highway use factor, and the total rate per mile, and then adding the indirect cost share to the product.
    (A) Highway use factor. The highway use factor for a single-trip mileage permit is 0.6.
    (B) Total rate per mile. The total rate per mile is the combined mileage rates for width, height, and weight for the unladen lift equipment motor vehicle.
      (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.
  (3) Refunds. Fees for permits issued under this section are non-refundable.
(e) Amendments. A single-trip mileage permit issued under this section may not be amended unless an exception is granted by the department.
(f) Weight table and formulas. The following table entitled "Maximum Permit Weight Table" is Figure 1: 43 TAC §219.62(f), and the list of formulas entitled "Maximum Permit Weight Formulas," is Figure 2: 43 TAC §219.62(f).
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Attached Graphic

Source Note: The provisions of this §219.62 adopted to be effective February 21, 1999, 24 TexReg 1221; amended to be effective November 21, 1999, 24 TexReg 10144; amended to be effective January 4, 2007, 31 TexReg 10831; 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 September 18, 2018, 43 TexReg 6003; amended to be effective December30,2020, 45 TexReg 9582; amended to be effective July 18, 2024, 49 TexReg 5161