Nevada § 484D.615 - Length of vehicle: Restrictions; special permit; exceptions

§ 484D.615. Length of vehicle: Restrictions; special permit; exceptions

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the length of a bus may not exceed

45 feet and the length of a motortruck may not exceed 40 feet. 2. A passenger bus which has three or more axles and two sections joined together

by an articulated joint with a trailer which is equipped with a mechanically steered

rear axle may not exceed a length of 65 feet. 3. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 4, 7 and 9, no combination of vehicles,

including any attachments thereto coupled together, may exceed a length of 70 feet. 4. The Department of Transportation, by regulation, shall provide for the operation

of combinations of vehicles in excess of 70 feet in length. The regulations must establish standards for the operation of such vehicles which

must be consistent with their safe operation upon the public highways and with the

provisions of 23 C.F.R. § 658.23 . Such standards must include: (a) Types and number of vehicles to be permitted in combination; (b) Horsepower of a motortruck; (c) Operating speeds; (d) Braking ability; and (e) Driver qualifications. The operation of such vehicles is not permitted on highways where, in the opinion

of the Department of Transportation, their use would be inconsistent with the public

safety because of a narrow roadway, excessive grades, extreme curvature or vehicular

congestion. 5. Combinations of vehicles operated under the provisions of subsection 4 may, after

obtaining a special permit issued at the discretion of, and in accordance with procedures

established by, the Department of Transportation, carry loads not to exceed the values

set forth in the following formula: W=500 [LN/(N-1) + 12N + 36], wherein: (a) W equals the maximum load in pounds carried on any group of two or more consecutive

axles computed to the nearest 500 pounds; (b) L equals the distance in feet between the extremes of any group of two or more

consecutive axles; and (c) N equals the number of axles in the group under consideration. The distance between axles must be measured to the nearest foot. If a fraction is exactly one-half foot, the next largest whole number must be used. The permits may be restricted in such manner as the Department of Transportation

considers necessary and may, at the option of the Department, be cancelled without

notice. No such permits may be issued for operation on any highway where that operation

would prevent this State from receiving federal money for highway purposes. 6. Upon approving an application for a permit to operate combinations of vehicles

pursuant to subsection 5, the Department of Transportation shall withhold issuance

of the permit until the applicant has furnished proof of compliance with the provisions

of NRS 706.531 . 7. The load upon any motor vehicle operated alone, or the load upon any combination

of vehicles, must not extend beyond the front or the rear of the vehicle or combination

of vehicles for a distance of more than 10 feet, or a total of 10 feet both to the

front or the rear, and a combination of vehicles and load thereon may not exceed a

total of 75 feet without having secured a permit pursuant to subsection 4 or NRS 484D.600 . The provisions of this subsection do not apply to the booms or masts of shovels,

cranes or water well drilling and servicing equipment carried upon a vehicle if: (a) The booms or masts do not extend by a distance greater than two-thirds of the

wheelbase beyond the front tires of the vehicle. (b) The projecting structure or attachments thereto are securely held in place to

prevent dropping or swaying. (c) No part of the structure which extends beyond the front tires is less than 7 feet

from the roadway. (d) The driver's vision is not impaired by the projecting or supporting structure. 8. Lights and other warning devices which are required to be mounted on a vehicle

pursuant to this chapter must not be included in determining the length of a vehicle

or combination of vehicles and the load thereon. 9. This section does not apply to: (a) Vehicles used by a public utility for the transportation of poles; (b) A combination of vehicles consisting of a truck-tractor drawing a semitrailer

that does not exceed 53 feet in length; (c) A combination of vehicles consisting of a truck-tractor drawing a semitrailer

and a trailer, neither of which exceeds 28 1/2 feet in length; (d) A driveaway saddle mount with full mount vehicle transporter combination that

does not exceed 97 feet in length; or (e) A towaway trailer transporter combination that does not exceed: (1) Eighty-two feet in length; and (2) Twenty-six thousand pounds in weight. 10. As used in this section: (a) “ Driveaway saddle mount with full mount vehicle transporter combination ” means a vehicle combination designed and specifically used to tow up to three trucks

or truck-tractors, each connected by a saddle to the frame or fifth wheel of the forward

vehicle of the truck-tractor in front of it. (b) “Motortruck” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 482.073 . (c) “Towaway trailer transporter combination” has the meaning ascribed to it in 49 U.S.C. § 31111 .