Tex. Transp. Code Section 623.0172
Permit for Intermodal Shipping Container


(a)

In this section, “intermodal shipping container” means an enclosed, standardized, reusable container that:

(1)

is used to pack, ship, move, or transport cargo;

(2)

is designed to be carried on a semitrailer and loaded onto or unloaded from:

(A)

a ship or vessel for international transportation; or

(B)

a rail system for international transportation; and

(3)

when combined with vehicles transporting the container, has a gross weight or axle weight that exceeds the limits allowed by law to be transported over a state highway or county or municipal road.

(b)

The department shall issue an annual permit for the international transportation of an intermodal shipping container moving by a truck-tractor and semitrailer combination that has six total axles and is equipped with a roll stability support safety system and truck blind spot systems only if:

(1)

the gross weight of the combination does not exceed 93,000 pounds;

(2)

the distance between the front axle of the truck-tractor and the last axle of the semitrailer, measured longitudinally, is approximately 647 inches;

(3)

the truck-tractor is configured as follows:

(A)

one single axle that does not exceed 13,000 pounds;

(B)

one two-axle group that does not exceed 37,000 pounds, in which no axle in the group exceeds 18,500 pounds; and

(C)

the distance between the individual axles on the two-axle group of the truck-tractor, measured longitudinally, is not less than 51 inches and not more than 52 inches; and

(4)

the semitrailer is configured as follows:

(A)

one three-axle group that does not exceed 49,195 pounds, in which no axle in the group exceeds 16,400 pounds; and

(B)

the distance between the individual axles in the three-axle group of the semitrailer, measured longitudinally, is 60 inches.

(c)

The department shall restrict vehicles operating under a permit issued under this section to routes that are:

(1)

located in a county with a population of more than 90,000;

(2)

on highways in the state highway system; and

(3)

not more than five miles from the border between this state and Arkansas.

(d)

An intermodal shipping container being moved under a permit issued under this section must be continuously sealed from the point of origin to the point of destination with a seal that is required by:

(1)

the United States Customs and Border Protection;

(2)

the United States Food and Drug Administration; or

(3)

federal law or regulation.

(e)

A permit issued under this section does not authorize the operation of a vehicle combination described by Subsection (b) on:

(1)

load-restricted roads or bridges, including a road or bridge for which a maximum weight and load limit has been established and posted by the Texas Department of Transportation under Section 621.102 (Authority to Set Maximum Weights); or

(2)

routes for which the Texas Department of Transportation has not authorized the operation of a vehicle combination described by Subsection (b).

(f)

A permit issued under this subchapter does not authorize the transportation of a material designated as of January 1, 2017, as a hazardous material by the United States secretary of transportation under 49 U.S.C. Section 5103(a).

(g)

An applicant for a permit under this section must designate each Texas Department of Transportation district in which the permit will be used.

(h)

The department shall initially set the fee for a permit issued under this section in an amount not to exceed $2,000. Beginning in 2022, on September 1 of each even-numbered year the department shall set the fee for a permit issued under this section in an amount based on a reasonable estimate of the costs associated with the operation of vehicles issued a permit under this section over routes described by Subsection (c), including any increase in the costs necessary to maintain or repair those highways. The estimate shall be based on the results of the study conducted under Subsection (l).

(i)

Of the fee collected under this section for a permit:

(1)

90 percent shall be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund;

(2)

5 percent shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund; and

(3)

5 percent shall be deposited to the appropriate county road and bridge fund.

(j)

A fee deposited under Subsection (i)(1) may only be used for transportation projects in the Texas Department of Transportation district designated in the permit application for which the fee was assessed.

(k)

The department may suspend a permit issued under this section if the department receives notice from the Federal Highway Administration that the operation of a vehicle under a permit authorized by this section would result in the loss of federal highway funding.

(l)

Beginning in 2022, not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, the Texas Department of Transportation shall conduct a study concerning vehicles operating under a permit issued under this section and publish the results of the study. In conducting the study, the Texas Department of Transportation shall collect and examine the following information:

(1)

the weight and configuration of vehicles operating under a permit under this section that are involved in a motor vehicle collision;

(2)

the types of vehicles operating under a permit issued under this section;

(3)

traffic volumes and variations of vehicles operating under a permit issued under this section;

(4)

weigh-in-motion data for highways located in and around the area described by Subsection (c);

(5)

impacts to state and local bridges, including long-term bridge performance, for bridges located in and around the area described by Subsection (c); and

(6)

impacts to state and local roads, including changes in pavement design standards, construction specification details, maintenance frequency and types, and properties of pavement and underlying soils resulting from or necessitated by vehicles operating under a permit issued under this section.
Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 475 (H.B. 2319), Sec. 2, eff. June 9, 2017.
Amended by:
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 709 (H.B. 2190), Sec. 93, eff. September 1, 2023.

Source: Section 623.0172 — Permit for Intermodal Shipping Container, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.­623.­htm#623.­0172 (accessed Mar. 23, 2024).

623.001
Definitions
623.002
Rulemaking Authority
623.003
Route Determination
623.004
Denial of Permit
623.005
Disposition of Permit Fee in Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Fund
623.006
Disposition and Use of Permit Fees Due to County or Municipality
623.007
Permit to Be Carried in Vehicle
623.008
Authority to Require Escort Flag Vehicles and Escort Flaggers
623.011
Permit for Excess Axle or Gross Weight
623.012
Security for Permit
623.013
List of Permits Issued
623.014
Transfer of Permit
623.015
Liability for Damage
623.016
Recovery on Permit Security
623.017
Permit for Movement of Cylindrical Hay Bales
623.018
County Permit
623.019
Violations of Subchapter
623.051
Contract Allowing Oversize or Overweight Vehicle to Cross Road
623.052
Contract Allowing Overweight Vehicle with Commodities or Products to Cross Highway
623.070
Nonapplicability of Subchapter
623.071
Permit to Move Certain Equipment
623.072
Designated Route in Municipality
623.074
Application
623.075
Additional Requirements for Issuance of Permit
623.076
Permit Fee
623.077
Highway Maintenance Fee
623.078
Vehicle Supervision Fee
623.079
Registration of Equipment
623.080
Contents of Permit
623.082
Penalties
623.091
Definition
623.092
Permit Requirement
623.093
Contents of Application and Permit
623.094
Permit Issuance
623.095
Permit Types
623.096
Permit Fee
623.097
Duration of Permit
623.098
Caution Lights
623.099
Escort Flag Vehicle
623.100
Times and Days of Movement
623.101
Speed Limit
623.102
Equipment
623.103
Liability Insurance
623.104
Civil and Criminal Penalties
623.105
Penalty for Compensating Certain Unlawful Actions
623.0111
Additional Fee for Operation of Vehicle Under Permit
623.0112
Additional Administrative Fee
623.0113
Route Restrictions
623.121
Permit to Move Portable Building Unit
623.122
Designated Route in Municipality
623.123
Application
623.124
Fee
623.126
Form of Permit
623.127
Duration of Permit
623.128
Time of Movement
623.129
Escort Flag Vehicle
623.130
Compatible Cargo
623.141
Optional Procedure
623.142
Permit to Move Oil Well Servicing or Drilling Machinery
623.143
Designated Route in Municipality
623.144
Registration of Vehicle
623.145
Rules
623.146
Violation of Rule
623.147
Deposit of Fee in State Highway Fund and in Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Fund
623.148
Liability for Damage to Highways
623.149
Determination Whether Vehicle Subject to Registration or Eligible for Distinguishing License Plate
623.150
Nonapplicability of Subchapter
623.0155
Indemnification from Motor Carrier Prohibited
623.161
Definition
623.162
Axle Weight Restrictions
623.163
Surety Bond
623.164
Interstate and Defense Highways
623.165
Penalty
623.166
Defense to Prosecution: Bond in Effect
623.0171
Permit for Ready-mixed Concrete Trucks
623.0172
Permit for Intermodal Shipping Container
623.0181
Permits for Auxiliary Power Units
623.181
Annual Permit
623.182
Permit Fee
623.191
Optional Procedure
623.192
Permit to Move Unladen Lift Equipment Motor Vehicles
623.193
Designated Route in Municipality
623.194
Registration of Vehicle
623.195
Rules
623.196
Violation of Rule
623.197
Deposit of Fee in State Highway Fund and in Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Fund
623.198
Liability for Damage to Highways
623.199
Determination Whether Vehicle Subject to Registration or Eligible for Distinguishing License Plate
623.200
Nonapplicability of Subchapter
623.210
Optional Procedure
623.211
Definition
623.212
Permits by Port Authority
623.214
Permit Fees
623.215
Permit Requirements
623.216
Time of Movement
623.217
Speed Limit
623.218
Enforcement
623.219
Route Designation
623.230
Optional Procedure
623.231
Definition
623.232
Issuance of Permits
623.233
Maintenance Contracts
623.234
Permit Fees
623.235
Permit Requirements
623.236
Time of Movement
623.237
Speed Limit
623.238
Enforcement
623.239
Rules
623.250
Optional Procedure
623.251
Definition
623.252
Issuance of Permits
623.253
Maintenance Contracts
623.254
Permit Fees
623.255
Permit Requirements
623.256
Time of Movement
623.257
Speed Limit
623.258
Enforcement
623.259
Rules
623.271
Administrative Enforcement
623.272
Administrative Penalty for Failure to Provide Certificate or for False Information on Certificate
623.273
Injunctive Relief
623.274
Shipper’s Certificate of Weight
623.280
Optional Procedure
623.281
Definition
623.282
Issuance of Permits
623.283
Permit Fees
623.284
Permit Requirements
623.285
Time of Movement
623.286
Speed Limit
623.287
Enforcement
623.288
Rules
623.301
Optional Procedure
623.302
Definition
623.303
Issuance of Permits
623.304
Maintenance Contracts
623.305
Permit Fees
623.306
Permit Requirements
623.307
Time of Movement
623.308
Speed Limit
623.309
Enforcement
623.310
Rules
623.321
Permit
623.322
Qualification
623.323
Notification
623.324
Disposition of Fee
623.325
Interstate and Defense Highways
623.341
Permit to Deliver Relief Supplies
623.342
Rules
623.343
Permit Conditions
623.361
Optional Procedure
623.362
Definition
623.363
Issuance of Permits
623.364
Permit Fees
623.365
Permit Requirements
623.366
Time of Movement
623.367
Speed Limit
623.368
Enforcement
623.369
Rules
623.370
Bond
623.381
Optional Procedure
623.382
Issuance of Permits
623.383
Surety Bond
623.384
Permit Fees
623.385
Permit Requirements
623.386
Time of Movement
623.387
Speed Limit
623.388
Enforcement
623.389
Pavement Management Plan
623.390
Rules
623.401
Definition
623.402
Issuance of Permit
623.403
County and Municipality Designation
623.404
Permit Fee
623.405
Route Restrictions
623.406
Permit Conditions
623.407
Permit Sticker
623.408
Permit and Weight Record Documents
623.409
Offense
623.410
Study
623.411
Rules
623.421
Permit for Vehicles Transporting Fluid Milk
623.422
Permit Sticker
623.423
County Designation
623.424
Permit Conditions
623.425
Certain County or Municipal Actions Prohibited
623.426
Exclusive Permit
623.427
Rules
623.0711
Permits Authorized by Board
623.0975
List of Permits Issued

Accessed:
Mar. 23, 2024

§ 623.0172’s source at texas​.gov