2012 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 75 - VEHICLES
Chapter 49 - Size, Weight and Load
Section 4923 - Length of vehicles

§ 4923.  Length of vehicles.

(a)  Motor vehicles.--

(1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2), no motor vehicle, including any load and bumpers, shall exceed an overall length of 40 feet.

(2)  Paragraph (1) does not apply to the following:

(i)  A motor vehicle equipped with a boom or boomlike device if the vehicle does not exceed 55 feet.

(ii)  A bus or motor home which does not exceed 45 feet.

(iii)  An articulated bus which does not exceed 63 feet.

(iv)  An automobile or boat transporter which does not exceed 45 feet, exclusive of an overhang of not more than three feet on the front and four feet on the rear.

(b)  Exceptions.--(Deleted by amendment).

(b.1)  Combinations.--

(1)  The length of a single trailer being towed by a truck tractor shall not exceed 53 feet provided the distance between the kingpin and the center line of the rear axle or rear axle group does not exceed 41 feet or, in the case of a trailer used exclusively or primarily to transport vehicles in connection with motor sports competition events, does not exceed 46 feet.

(2)  For a double trailer, the length of each trailer being towed in combination by a truck tractor shall not exceed 28 1/2 feet.

(3)  The overall length of the combination of a truck tractor with a conventional fifth wheel and an auto or boat transporter shall not exceed 65 feet, exclusive of an overhang of not more than three feet on the front and four feet on the rear of the combination.

(4)  The overall length of a stinger-steered auto or boat transporter combination shall not exceed 75 feet, exclusive of an overhang of not more than three feet on the front and four feet on the rear of the combination.

(5)  The overall length of a saddle-mount combination shall not exceed 75 feet.

(6)  The overall length of a maxi-cube combination shall not exceed 65 feet.

(7)  A combination consisting of any tow truck towing a disabled motor vehicle to a place of repairs or other place of safety.

(8)  A combination transporting articles that, themselves, do not exceed 70 feet in length and are nondivisible as to length.

(c)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

"Automobile or boat transporter."  A truck of a total length not greater than 45 feet, exclusive of an overhang of not more than three feet on the front and four feet on the rear of the vehicle configured by the manufacturer to haul either automobiles, light trucks or boats.

(June 6, 1979, P.L.39, No.12, eff. imd.; June 18, 1980, P.L.229, No.68, eff. 60 days; July 1, 1981, P.L.197, No.60, eff. imd.; July 7, 1983, P.L.32, No.19, eff. imd.; Dec. 11, 1986, P.L.1530, No.166, eff. 60 days; Feb. 10, 1994, P.L.10, No.2, eff. imd.; Apr. 17, 1997, P.L.6, No.3, eff. 60 days; June 22, 2001, P.L.559, No.37, eff. imd.; Oct. 4, 2002, P.L.845, No.123, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1667, No.211, eff. 60 days; Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1407, No.174, eff. 60 days)

2012 Amendment.  Act 174 amended subsec. (a)(2)(iii).

1983 Amendment.  See section 7 of Act 19 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to expiration of amendments authorizing two trailers and long combinations.

Cross References.  Section 4923 is referred to in sections 4904, 4908, 4924 of this title.