Sec. 623.071.  PERMIT TO MOVE CERTAIN EQUIPMENT.
(a)  The department may issue a permit to allow the operation on a state highway of equipment that exceeds the weight and size limits provided by law for the movement of equipment or a commodity that cannot reasonably be dismantled.
(b)  The department may issue a permit to a person to operate over a farm-to-market or ranch-to-market road superheavy or oversize equipment that:
(1)  is used to transport oilfield drill pipe or drill collars stored in a pipe box;  and
(2)  has a gross weight or size that exceeds the limits allowed by law to be transported over a state highway.
(c)  The department may issue an annual permit to allow the operation on a state highway of equipment that exceeds weight and size limits provided by law for the movement of:
(1)  an implement of husbandry by a dealer;
(2)  water well drilling machinery and equipment or harvesting equipment being moved as part of an agricultural operation; or
(3)  equipment or a commodity that:
(A)  cannot reasonably be dismantled; and
(B)  does not exceed:
(i)  12 feet in width;
(ii)  14 feet in height;
(iii)  110 feet in length; or
(iv)  120,000 pounds gross weight.
(c-1)  The department may issue an annual permit that allows a person to operate over a state highway or road a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting a load that cannot reasonably be dismantled that exceeds the length and height limits provided by law, except that:
(1)  the maximum length allowed may not exceed 110 feet; and
(2)  the maximum height allowed may not exceed 14 feet.
(d)  The department may issue an annual permit to a motor carrier, as defined by Section 643.001, that allows the motor carrier to operate on a state highway two or more vehicles for the movement of superheavy or oversize equipment described by Subsection (c)(3).  An application under this subsection must be on the form prescribed by the department and include a description of each vehicle to be operated by the motor carrier under the permit.  A permit issued under this subsection:
(1)  may not authorize the operation of more than one vehicle at the same time;  and
(2)  must be carried in the vehicle that is being operated to move the superheavy or oversize equipment under the permit.
(e)  The department may not issue a permit under this section unless the equipment may be operated without material damage to the highway.
(f)  In this section, "pipe box" means a container specifically constructed to safely transport and handle oilfield drill pipe and drill collars.
(g)  A single trip permit that increases the height or width limits established in Subsection (c)(3)(B)(i) or (ii) may be issued by the department and used in conjunction with an annual permit issued under Subsection (c).
(h)  If on completion of a route and engineering study the department determines that the additional length can be transported safely, the department may issue to a person a single trip permit that allows the person to operate over a highway in this state superheavy or oversize equipment exceeding the length limitation established by Subsection (c) and that may be used in conjunction with an annual permit issued under that subsection.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 568, Sec. 1, eff. June 2, 1997;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 807, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by: 
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 941 (H.B. 422), Sec. 3, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 18 (S.B. 562), Sec. 1, eff. May 15, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 18 (S.B. 562), Sec. 2, eff. May 15, 2015.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 411 (S.B. 1815), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2021.