1. Fire Apparatus Vehicle Size and Weight Regulation Initiative
Roger Lackore
August 29, 2009

2. State Size and Weight

3. Purpose Propose Federal regulations or guidelines.
Recommend criteria that would provide consistent State regulations.
Ease the burden of permitting when delivering apparatus across the country.

4. Federal Regulations
23 CFR Ch. 1 Part 658 – Truck Size and Weight, Route Designations – Length, Width and Weight Limitations on National Network
20,000 lbs Single Axle
34,000 lbs Tandem Axle
80,000 lbs GVW

5. Non-Divisible Load Exemption
Federal Regulations allow for higher axle weights for “non-divisible” loads
FHWA interprets fire apparatus as non-divisible.
States are free to offer exemptions

6. Weight

7. Width

8. Height

9. Length

10. How to Influence State Regulations
AASHTO
Participation in annual meetings – keep the need in front of the association
FHWA
Encourage FWHA to issue guidelines to States.

11. Initiative Endorsed Jointly by FAMA and IAFC
John Sztykiel of FAMA and Larry Grorud of IAFC cosponsored a letter to AASHTO in support of creating standardized apparatus axle weight exemptions.
FAMA presented a white paper to AASHTO outlining the issues and providing recommended state regulations.
Delivered to AASHTO at the annual meeting of the Subcommittee on Highway Transport, June, 2009

12. FAMA White-Paper for AASHTO
State Regulations are Restrictive
Aerial Apparatus
Tanker Apparatus
Quint Apparatus
Maneuverability Demands Restricts the Use of More Axles
Precedence for Exemptions
Federal Level
State Level

13. FAMA White-Paper for AASHTO
Current State Regulations are Inconsistent
Inconsistent Regulations Impede Interoperability
NFPA Recognizes need for higher axle weights
Impact on highways is minimal
Numbers of Apparatus
Total Vehicle Miles Traveled

14. FAMA White-Paper for AASHTO
Recommended State Regulation Wording…
An emergency vehicle may exceed otherwise applicable vehicle weight limits up to the following maximums:
24,000 pounds on a single steering axle;
33,500 pounds on a single drive axle;
62,000 pounds on a tandem axle; or
52,000 pounds on a tandem rear drive steer axle, up to a maximum gross vehicle weight of 86,000 lbs.

15. Next Steps
Convince FHWA to publish size and weight guidelines to the States using the FAMA recommended regulation wording.
Provide simplified apparatus configurations with nominal size and weight data.

16. California

17. California Fall 2008 Notice of Proposed Rule-Making
Proposed changes made all apparatus compliant
FAMA Endorsed

18. California
August, 2009
Proposal revised to restrict tandem axle weights
Public comments due Sept 15

19. California Draft Letter to Caltrans
1) Retain the original proposed text.
2) Establish the 48,000 lbs tandem axle weight but increase the permitting allowance from 15% to 21% so that the maximum permitted tandem axle weight is at least 58,000 lbs.

20. Suggested Direction Current proposal fixes 90%
Truck vs Apparatus wording
Covers apparatus w/out tanks
31K on single rear axles
Removes Apparatus Categories
Allowable Length from 40 to 65 ft.
Take Queue from Frank Drayton
Direction by Sept 2