options for load types.
Motor Carrier Registration
The Texas motor carrier registration requirements as they apply to farmers and farm equipment dealers, are:
1. Operators of commercial motor vehicles that meet the following criteria must register with TxDMV as motor carriers:
• A vehicle (or combination of vehicles) with a gross weight, registered
weight, or gross weight rating exceeding 26,000 pounds, that is designed or used for transportation of cargo in furtherance of any commercial enterprise;
• A commercial motor vehicle owned or controlled by someone who is not a
U.S. citizen or does not live in the U.S.
2. Operators of the following types of vehicles are not required to register with
TxDMV:
• A farm vehicle with a gross weight, registered weight, and gross weight rating of less than 48,000 pounds;
• A cotton vehicle registered with Texas cotton vehicle specialty license plate.
To register online or obtain more information on motor carrier registration, visit the TxDMV website at
www.TxD M V.go v .
Oversize/Overweight Permits
All vehicles and loads exceeding Texas legal size and weight limits must obtain an oversize/overweight permit from the TxDMV.
• Legal Width - 8 feet, 6 inches
• Legal Height - 14 feet
• Legal Length - Varies based on vehicles and combinations*
• Legal Gross Weight - 80,000 pounds*
Implement of Husbandry Permits (Annual) - $270 +
• Issued for the transport of implements of husbandry - vehicles designed and adapted for use as a farm implement, machinery, or tool for tilling the soil. Also includes feed trucks, in-tow fertilizer/chemical spreaders, self-propelled machinery designed or adapted to apply plant food materials or agricultural chemicals but not "designed or adapted for the sole purpose of transporting the materials or chemicals."
• Size Limits - 16 feet wide, 16 feet high, 110 feet overall length
• Weight Limit - 254,300 pounds (May not exceed maximum permissible weights.)
• Operating Authority - Texas Motor Carrier Registration, if applicable.
• Fees - $270 permit fee plus the Highway Maintenance Fee (HMF) determined by the gross weight. (HMFs range from $150 - $375.)
• Route Restrictions - Travel is allowed on all state-maintained roadways. May not travel on load restricted roads/bridges when exceeding posted capacity.
General Permit (Single-Trip) - $60 +
• Issued for the transport of loads that cannot be reasonably dismantled.
• Width, Height, Length, and Weight Limits - Unlimited*
• Operating Authority - Texas Motor Carrier Registration, if applicable.
• Fees - $60 permit fee. If exceeding legal gross weight, an additional Highway
Maintenance Fee (HMF) will be charged. (HMFs range from $150 - $375.)
• Route Restrictions - Travel is allowed on all state-maintained roadways (may
not exceed 16 feet wide on Interstate highways). May not travel on load restricted roads/bridges when exceeding posted capacity.
*Vehicles/loads exceeding 20 feet wide, 18 feet-11 inches high, 125 feet long, or
200,000 pounds must comply with Super Heavy guidelines. Visit the TxDMV
website for more information, www .TxDM V.gov .
Cylindrical Bales of Hay Permit (Annual) - $10
Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit (Annual) - Fees Vary
• Issued to transport commodities that reasonably can be dismantled.
• Size Limits - All dimensions must be legal.
• Weight Limits - Axle weight tolerances are based on the commodity hauled.
Tolerances may not exceed 5 percent of the allowable gross weight based
upon the federal Bridge Gross Weight Formula.
Vehicles hauling agricultural commodities to the first point of processing may exceed allowable axle weight by a tolerance of 12 percent. (Wood chips originating at forest location qualify as agricultural.)
Vehicles hauling non-agricultural commodities may exceed allowable axle weight by a tolerance of 10 percent.
• Operating Authority
Agricultural Commodities - Texas Motor Carrier Registration, if applicable.
Non-agricultural Commodities - Texas Motor Carrier Registration AND must have a $15,000 bond (Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit Bond) or an Irrevocable Letter of Credit on file with the TxDMV.
• Fees
Base fee - $90, and
Administrative fee - $5, and
County fee - based on the number of counties applied for: 1-5, $175; 6-20,
$250; 21-40, $450; 41-60, $625; 61-80, $800; 81-100, $900; and 101-254,
$1000.
• Route Restrictions - Travel is allowed on county roads and state-maintained roadways, excluding Interstate highways, in counties listed on permit. May not travel on a load restricted bridge when exceeding posted capacity unless it provides the only public vehicular access to origin or destination.
Timber Permit (Annual) - $900
• Issued to transport unrefined timber, wood chips or woody biomass.
• Size Limits - All dimensions must be legal.
• Weight Limits - Tandem axle group weights may be up to 44,000 pounds provided the gross weight does not exceed 84,000 pounds.
• Operating Authority - Texas Motor Carrier Registration AND must have a
$15,000 bond (Timber Permit Bond) or an Irrevocable Letter of Credit on file with the TxDMV.
• Route Restrictions - Travel is allowed on county roads and state-maintained roadways, excluding Interstate highways, in the timber counties listed on the permit. Permit may only be issued for travel in the timber counties listed in the most recent edition of Texas A&M's Harvest Trend Report.
For more information on oversize/overweight permits, visit the TxDMV website or call 1-800-299-1700 and select the menu option for the desired topic.
A Guide to Moving Farm Equipment and Agricultural Products in Texas
