[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 23, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 23CFR658.23]

[Page 294-295]
 
                           TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS
 
 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 658_TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT, ROUTE DESIGNATIONS_LENGTH, WIDTH AND WEIGHT LIMITATIONS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 658.23  LCV freeze; cargo-carrying unit freeze.

    (a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and except for 
tow trucks with vehicles in tow, a State may allow the operation of 
LCV's on the Interstate System only as listed in appendix C to this 
part.
    (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a State may not 
allow the operation on the NN of any CMV combination with two or more 
cargo-carrying units (not including the truck tractor) whose cargo-
carrying units exceed:
    (i) The maximum combination trailer, semitrailer, or other type of 
length limitation authorized by State law or regulation of that State on 
or before June 1, 1991; or
    (ii) The length of the cargo-carrying units of those CMV 
combinations, by specific configuration, in actual, lawful operation on 
a regular or periodic basis (including continuing seasonal operation) in 
that State on or before June 1, 1991, as listed in appendix C to this 
part.
    (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the following 
CMV combinations with two or more cargo-carrying units may operate on 
the NN.
    (1) Truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer and truck tractor-semitrailer-
semitrailer combinations with a maximum length of the individual cargo 
units of 28.5 feet or less.
    (2) Vehicles described in Sec. 658.13(e) and (g).
    (3) Truck-trailer and truck-semitrailer combinations with an overall 
length of 65 feet or less.
    (4) Maxi-cubes.
    (5) Tow trucks with vehicles in tow.
    (c) For specific safety purposes and road construction, a State may 
make minor adjustments of a temporary and emergency nature to route 
designation and vehicle operating restrictions applicable to 
combinations subject to 23 U.S.C. 127(d) and 49 U.S.C. 31112 and in

[[Page 295]]

effect on June 1, 1991 (July 6, 1991, for Alaska). Minor adjustments 
which last 30 days or less may be made without notifying the FHWA. Minor 
adjustments which exceed 30 days require approval of the FHWA. When such 
adjustments are needed, a State must submit to the FHWA, by the end of 
the 30th day, a written description of the emergency, the date on which 
it began, and the date on which it is expected to conclude. If the 
adjustment involves alternate route designations, the State shall 
describe the new route on which vehicles otherwise subject to the freeze 
imposed by 23 U.S.C. 127(d) and 49 U.S.C. 31112 are allowed to operate. 
To the extent possible, the geometric and pavement design 
characteristics of the alternate route should be equivalent to those of 
the highway section which is temporarily unavailable. If the adjustment 
involves vehicle operating restrictions, the State shall list the 
restrictions that have been removed or modified. If the adjustment is 
approved, the FHWA will publish the notice of adjustment, with an 
expiration date, in the Federal Register. Requests for extension of time 
beyond the originally established conclusion date shall be subject to 
the same approval and publications process as the original request. If 
upon consultation with the FHWA a decision is reached that minor 
adjustments made by a State are not legitimately attributable to road or 
bridge construction or safety, the FHWA will inform the State, and the 
original conditions of the freeze must be reimposed immediately. Failure 
to do so may subject the State to a penalty pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 141.
    (d) A State may issue a permit authorizing a CMV to transport an 
overlength nondivisible load on two or more cargo-carrying units on the 
NN without regard to the restrictions in Sec. 658.23(a)(2).
    (e) States further restricting or prohibiting the operation of 
vehicles subject to 23 U.S.C. 127(d) and 49 U.S.C. 31112 after June 1, 
1991, shall notify the FHWA within 30 days after the restriction is 
effective. The FHWA will publish the restriction in the Federal Register 
as an amendment to appendix C to this part. Failure to provide such 
notification may subject the State to a penalty pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 
141.
    (f) The Federal Highway Administrator, on his or her own motion or 
upon a request by any person (including a State), shall review the 
information set forth in appendix C to this part. If the Administrator 
determines there is cause to believe that a mistake was made in the 
accuracy of the information contained in appendix C to this part, the 
Administrator shall commence a proceeding to determine whether the 
information published should be corrected. If the Administrator 
determines that there is a mistake in the accuracy of the information 
contained in appendix C to this part, the Administrator shall publish in 
the Federal Register the appropriate corrections to reflect that 
determination.

[59 FR 30420, June 13, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 15214, Mar. 22, 1995; 
62 FR 10181, Mar. 5, 1997; 72 FR 7748, Feb. 20, 2007]