There’s a whole lot of hubbub about APUs (Auxiliary Power Units- or turbines) nowadays. Yes, the federal authorities is permitting as much as 400 lbs for vans with APUs- or any system used to scale back gasoline use and emissions. It’s a part of the idling discount strategy- to encourage truckers and trucking corporations to put in APUs. But that does not imply you possibly can all the time get it.
The wording of the law says that any car with an APU “may be allowed up to an additional 400 lbs total in gross, axle, tandem, or bridge formula weight limits”- a generator put in on the tractor wouldn’t permit for bridge law variance.
The drawback is that, although the federal authorities is permitting the load improve, the states do not have to permit it. That means in a single state you could be allowed to run as much as 80,400 lbs. however within the subsequent state, you could be restricted to 80,000 lbs. regardless of the federal authorities’s ruling. Many states have already got weight tolerances above the 400 lb weight exemption, so the ruling actually does not have an effect on the enforcement procedures.
It’s nice in principle, however in follow, it is just about nugatory.
What we have run into is that many officers are unaware of the Federal ruling, so, whereas a state legislature might have adopted the 400 lb allowance, the enforcement officers is probably not conscious of it. All of the next info is topic to vary and, as all the time, the fitting hand might not know what the left hand is doing. Be ready to point out as a lot documentation as potential everytime you run right into a street block!
The following is an inventory of states and the standing of their 400 lb weight exemption standing. We are contact state officers directly- none of that is second-hand info. All info is topic to vary.
States which have adopted the 400 lb weight allowance (officers on the weigh stations could also be unaware):
Arkansas
Arkansas will permit an additional 400 lbs on an axle to account for the APU however won’t permit greater than 80,000 lbs for gross weight.
California
Idaho
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan DOES permit 400 lbs for an APU. The drawback you could run into is that no weigh station officers we spoke with knew concerning the Federal ruling and the Michigan Center for Truck Safety was underneath the impression that Michigan had not adopted the ruling, however couldn’t say for positive. According to Lieutenant Dave Ford, Michigan does certainly honor the 400 lb ruling. Drivers are required to have the APU’s weight documented by the producer and have proof that the documented APU has been put in on that unit (versus a special APU).
North Dakota
Oregon
Oregon Senate invoice 223 formally permits vans with APU (auxiliary energy models) an additional 400 lbs of their gross weight limits. Oregon complies with the federal ruling and requires written certification of the APU’s weight. Oregon motor service enforcement officers have been permitting the 400 pound weight exemption since February of 2006. The APU have to be in working situation.
Virginia
The 400 lb weight exemption is allowed on interstate highways solely. Drivers on state routes are topic to Virginia’s normal gross and axle weight enforcement.
Washington
States that haven’t adopted the 400 lb weight exemption and:
*have weight tolerances (for scale variance)
*have low charge quantities and will not make you offload for 400 lbs obese
*and states whose officers are impossible to offer you a ticket until you provoke them- officer discretion is an element (the officers in lots of of those states didn’t know concerning the 400 lb weight exemption however stated the 400 lbs is just too low for them to hassle with):
Connecticut
Officers on the Greenwich weigh station did not know concerning the Federal ruling, however they stated the probabilities of them writing a quotation for such a small quantity is unlikely. That stretch of I 95 is restricted to 80,000 lbs it doesn’t matter what permits a driver is carrying, so the restrict is 80,000 lbs. 80,001 lbs might end in a ticket, nevertheless it’s unlikely till the truck reaches 81,000 lbs, relying on officer discretion. The official phrase from Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Headquarters is that Connecticut has not adopted the 400 pound weight exemption.
Colorado
Delaware
Georgia
Florida
Kentucky
Depends completely on officer discretion- you aren’t more likely to get a ticket for 400 lbs.
Louisiana
Montana
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Officers on the North Carolina weigh stations that we referred to as did not know concerning the Federal 400 lb allowance however stated that they’ve a 500 lb tolerance that they will permit earlier than they begin writing tickets.
South Dakota
Officers wouldn’t disclose their tolerance allowance however say their tolerance is bigger than 400 lbs, so, despite the fact that the legilature might not have adopted the Federal normal but, their present requirements permit for the elevated weight.
Utah
Officers on the Henefer POE say they’ll permit as much as 500 lbs for an APU. Officers at different POEs have been not sure concerning the law.
West Virginia
Wyoming
Officers on the Cheyenne I 25 nb weigh station say they’ll permit as much as 500 lbs over with no ticket.
States that don’t permit 400 lbs for an APU (based mostly on our inquiries- topic to vary):
Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, New Jersey
There are a number of states lacking from this record. We are nonetheless contacting states we have now not acquired a solution from and can present up to date info when it turns into obtainable! Feel free to contact us together with your enter and experiences.
To get the 400 lb. allowance, you will want to have the ability to present:
* licensed weight of the APU in writing (in case your APU solely weighs 380 lbs, you will solely be allowed 380 lbs)
* licensed proof (or be capable of exhibit) that the APU is practical (working)
You’ll additionally need to carry a replica of the Federal regulation with you. You can discover it within the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ECFR/] in Title 23 (Highways), half 658.17 (you will discover it in part n).
Source by Suzanne Roquemore
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