Transportation measures given governor’s stamp of approval

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three transportation measures authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom were signed into law by Governor Stitt this month, bringing Oklahoma into compliance with federal regulations.

Senate Bill 61 limits the overall length of a combination of vehicles consisting of a trailer transporter towing unit and 2 trailers with total weight under 26,000 pounds, defined as a towaway trailer transporter combination, to 82 feet. The measure also allows a stinger-steered automobile transporter to have an overall length up to 80 feet with an extension of load, that extension being limited to 4 feet beyond the front or 6 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle. The bill also allows an automobile transporter to transport cargo or freight on a backhaul. 

Senate Bill 374 applies to all roads or highways weight limits that are currently applied only to interstate highways. Weight limits for certain vehicles operating under special permits are eliminated. The measure defines dual lane axles and dual lane axles group, and extends weight limit exemption to a dual lane trailer with dual lane axles. Exemptions are also extended to heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicles and emergency vehicles. 

SB 375 provides that, on the Interstate Highway System, a vehicle carrying fluid milk products is to be considered a load that cannot be easily dismantled or divided.

“While most Oklahomans may not see how these bills impact them, these three common sense transportation bills bring Oklahoma into compliance with the federal FAST Act which was passed in 2015,” said Bergstrom, R-Adair.  “States were to be in compliance within three years or risk losing federal highway funds, but it’s been four years already for Oklahoma. All these bills were approved by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety.   If we did not pass these bills we risked losing funds to build and maintain the highways that Oklahomans travel.”

            SB 61 goes into effect November 1, 2019, while SB 374 becomes effective 90 days after the legislative session adjourns.  SB 375 will become law on July 1, 2019.