HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7212 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7212
~0lf0RT�p To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 25, 1987
�rExPy. Subject: COMMERCIAL VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS
On March 17, 1987, the City Council received I.R. No. 7179 outlining the
implementation of a commercial vehicle weight inspection program. Included
in the I.R. were changes needed in Chapter 22 of the City Code in order to
implement the program and a comparison of the State and City weight limits.
Listed below is the comparison of the State and City weight limits .
STATE CURRENT CITY
LENGTH LIMITS LIMITS
Single Motor Vehicle 45' 35'
Truck-Tractor No limit 35'
Bus 40' 40'
Trailer (Full or Double) 28 1/2' n/a
Semi -Trailer 57 ' n/a
Combination n/a 50'
WIDTH 8 112' 8'
WEIGHT
Gross 80,000# 72,000#
Single Axle 20,000# 18,000#
Tandem Axle 34,000# 32,000#
Wheel Load (#/Inch of Tire Width) 650#/inch 650#/inch
SPECIAL VEHICLE APPLICATIONS
Concrete Trucks
Gross 64,000# 48,000#
Single Axle 20,000# 12,000#
Tandem Axle 44,000# 36,000#
Solid Waste Vehicles
Gross 64,000# n/a
Single Axle 20,000# n/a
Tandem Axle 44,000# n/a
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7212 pgL
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 25, 1987
x Subject: COMMERCIAL VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS
If the program were to be implemented as described in the March I.R., trucks
caning into Fort Worth and using the most direct route to their destination
would be allowed to carry the State limit. Likewise, trucks originating in
Fort Worth and delivering outside the City would be allowed to carry the
State limit. Trucks originating in Fort Worth and delivering within the City
would be allowed only to carry the lighter City weight limit.
The City staff has been in communication with several individuals associated
with the trucking industry regarding the program. The input received was
that if the City enforces a stricter weight limit than the State, Fort Worth
would be placed at an economic disadvantage with other cities. The reason
for the disadvantage being that trucking firms located outside Fort Worth
delivering goods in the City could operate more efficiently (larger cargos)
than firms located and delivering within the City.
Transportation firms would be encouraged to locate outside the City so they
could carry loads at the higher State limit.
Currently, within the City of Fort Worth, there is minimum enforcement of the
State limit and no enforcement of the City weight requirements. Because the
City weight limits have never been enforced, it is believed that those trucks
which adhere to a limit, probably adhere to the State requirements.
Therefore, if the current City weight limits were raised to those at the
State, it is believed that there would not be a great amount of heavier
trucks on the City streets.
Staff recognizes the fact that as the weight of the truck increases, the
amount of damage caused by the trucks to the streets also increases ,
everything else remaining the same. Because the trucks adhering to weight
limits probably adhere to the State limit, staff believes that a change of
the City requirements to the State weight limits would not cause a large
increase in the weights of the trucks traveling on the City streets .
Therefore, the staff's opinion is that a change of the City weight limits to
the State limits and enforcing the new limits would decrease instead of
increase, damages to the streets.
Unless otherwise directed by the City Council , staff will prepare the
necessary changes to Chapter 22 of the City Code to affect the changes to
comply with the State's weight limits.
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ity Manager
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS