SB494

Senate Bill 494 mandates that the Director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation must formally request that the United States Congress amend federal law (23 U.S.C. § 127). The specific request asks Congress to grant a waiver for vehicle weight limitations on the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways within Arkansas for certain logging vehicles. To qualify as a 'covered logging vehicle,' the vehicle must transport unprocessed forest products, have a gross vehicle weight of no more than 85,000 pounds, possess at least 5 axles, operate on a segment of the Interstate no more than 20 miles long, and hold a permit from the Arkansas Highway Police. The act includes a sunset provision, stating it will expire once the requested federal legislation is enacted. The Director is also required to notify the Bureau of Legislative Research once such federal action occurs.