Section 169.865 Special Farm Products Permits

MINNESOTA STATUTES AND CODES

Section 169.865 Special Farm Products Permits

169.865 SPECIAL FARM PRODUCTS PERMITS.

Subdivision 1.Six-axle vehicles.

(a) A road authority may issue an annual permit authorizing a vehicle or combination of vehicles with a total of six or more axles to haul raw or unprocessed agricultural products and be operated with a gross vehicle weight of up to:

(1) 90,000 pounds; and

(2) 99,000 pounds during the period set by the commissioner under section 169.826, subdivision 1.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (4), a vehicle or combination of vehicles operated under this subdivision and transporting only sealed intermodal containers may be operated on an interstate highway if allowed by the United States Department of Transportation.

Subd. 2.Seven-axle vehicles.

(a) A road authority may issue an annual permit authorizing a vehicle or combination of vehicles with a total of seven or more axles to haul raw or unprocessed agricultural products and be operated with a gross vehicle weight of up to:

(1) 97,000 pounds; and

(2) 99,000 pounds during the period set by the commissioner under section 169.826, subdivision 1.

(b) Drivers of vehicles operating under this subdivision must comply with driver qualification requirements adopted under section 221.0314, subdivisions 2 to 5, and Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, parts 40 and 382.

Subd. 3.Requirements; restrictions.

(a) A vehicle or combination of vehicles operating under this section:

(1) is subject to axle weight limitations under section 169.824, subdivision 1;

(2) is subject to seasonal load restrictions under section 169.87;

(3) is subject to bridge load limits posted under section 169.84;

(4) may only be operated on paved streets and highways other than interstate highways;

(5) may not be operated with loads that exceed the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating as affixed to the vehicle, or other certification of gross vehicle weight rating complying with Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, parts 567.4 to 567.7;

(6) must be issued a permit from each road authority having jurisdiction over a road on which the vehicle is operated, if required;

(7) must comply with the requirements of section 169.851, subdivision 4; and

(8) must have brakes on all wheels.

(b) The percentage allowances for exceeding gross weights if transporting unfinished forest products under section 168.013, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), or for the first haul of unprocessed or raw farm products or unfinished forest products under section 168.013, subdivision 3, paragraph (d), clause (3), do not apply to a vehicle or combination of vehicles operated under this section.

Subd. 4.Deposit of revenues; appropriation.

(a) Revenue from the permits issued by the commissioner under this section must be deposited:

(1) in fiscal years 2008 through 2011, in the bridge inspection and signing account in the special revenue fund; and

(2) in fiscal year 2012 and subsequent years, in the trunk highway fund.

(b) The revenue in the bridge inspection and signing account under this section is annually appropriated to the commissioner for:

(1) inspection of local bridges and identification of local bridges to be posted, including contracting with a consultant for some or all of these functions; and

(2) erection of weight-posting signs on local bridges.