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On Monday, January 1, 2018, TxDMV will begin issuing an annual permit for the overweight transport of intermodal shipping containers. The 85th Texas Legislature created the new Intermodal Shipping Container Port Permit that allows travel within 30 miles of Texas ports (see “Travel” below) on approved roads.
To qualify for this permit, a truck-tractor and semitrailer combination must have six or seven axles with the following axle distances:
Six Axles:
- 647 inches between the front axle of the truck-tractor and the last axle of the semitrailer,
- 51 to 52 inches between the axles in the truck-tractor two-axle group, and
- 60 inches between the axles in the semitrailer three-axle group
Seven Axles:
- 612 inches between the front axle of the truck-tractor and the last axle of the semitrailer,
- 51 to 52 inches between the axles in the truck-tractor three-axle group, and
- 60 inches between the axles in the semitrailer three-axle group
The vehicle combination must be equipped with a roll stability support safety system and blind spot support systems.
An intermodal shipping container is an enclosed, standardized, reusable container used to pack, ship, move, or transport cargo. The container must be transferred to/from a ship, vessel, or a rail system for international transportation without unloading or reloading the cargo.
Weights – The gross weight and axle weights allowed are based on the total number of axles. Maximum gross and axle weight limits* are:
Six Axles:
- Gross weight – 93,000 pounds
- Truck-tractor single axle – 13,000 pounds
- Truck-tractor two-axle group – 18,500 pounds per axle
- Semitrailer three-axle group – 16,400 pounds per axle
Seven Axles:
- Gross weight – 100,000 pounds
- Truck-tractor single axle – 15,000 pounds
- Truck-tractor three-axle group – 14,900 pounds per axle
- Semitrailer three-axle group – 15,400 pounds per axle
*The weights listed above include all enforcement tolerances.
Size – Must be legal width, height and length.
Travel – Travel with this permit must begin or end at a port authority or port of entry that is located in a county contiguous to the Gulf of Mexico or a bay or inlet opening into the gulf, and may not exceed 30 miles from the port authority or port of entry.
Permit is valid for travel on state, county and municipal roads that have been approved by the Texas Department of Transportation and that are within the counties and municipalities selected for travel on the permit application. Vehicle may not travel on the interstate highway system, or a load-restricted road or load-posted bridge when exceeding the posted capacity. Permit holder is responsible for routing and obtaining current restrictions and information concerning hazardous weather-related road conditions prior to movement.
Fee – Annual permit fee is $6,000.
Windshield Sticker – Permit stickers must be affixed to the windshield of the permitted vehicles. Intermodal Shipping Container Port Permits are mailed to applicants; they are not available at TxDMV offices.
Seal – Container must be continuously sealed from the point of origin to the point of destination with a seal that is required by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or federal law or regulation.
Other Information – This permit does not authorize the transport of a material designated, as of Jan. 1, 2017, as a hazardous material by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation under 49 U.S.C. Section 5103(a).
Apply starting January 1, 2018, using TxPROS: http://TxPROS.TxDMV.gov/
For information on how to use TxPROS, including step-by-step video tutorials, go to the TxDMV website at http://www.TxDMV.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/txpros-info-and-tutorials.
Contact Information – Reach the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Division – Oversize/Overweight Permits Section at:
Phone: 1-800-299-1700, options 2-1-3
Online: Visit the Motor Carrier portal for all your TxDMV needs at http://www.TxDMV.gov/motor-carriers.
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