United States Department of TransportationInterpretation ID: 07-003363drn
Homologatiedienst
Van Hool N.V.
Bernard Van Hoolstraat 58
Lier-Koningshooikt
BELGIUM B 2500
Dear Mr. Meulders:
This responds to your request for an interpretation of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations that may apply to a ski-box that you wish to place at the back of motorcoach buses. You state that the total length of the bus with the ski-box exceeds the authorised 45 maximum length in the US, if indeed the depth of the ski-box is also added to the length of the vehicle.
Nothing in NHTSAs regulations limits the length of buses to 45 feet or any other length. However, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which is a separate Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation, has a regulation that may be relevant to your question.
The FHWA has provided the following information. Federal regulations related to commercial bus length, issued by the FHWA at 23 CFR 658.13(d), prohibit States from imposing a limit of less than 45 feet on the length of any bus on the National Network, which includes the Interstate System of highways and other Federally designated routes as specified in Appendix A to 23 CFR Part 658. Outside of this Federal limitation, the maximum length limitations for buses are established by the individual State governments.
You may also wish to check the information at the following FHWA web addresses:
The overall FHWA internet page on Vehicle Size and Weight (which contains FHWA contact information) is at:
http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/size_weight.htm
The FHWA Freight Management and Operations internet page on Federal Vehicle Size Regulation (which contains a downloadable pamphlet) is at:
http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/size_regs_final_rpt/index.htm
For further information about FHWAs regulations in this area, the contact person is:
Michael P. Onder, Team Leader
Truck Size and Weight
Office of Freight Management and Operations
Federal Highway Administration
telephone: +202-366-2639
facsimile: +202-366-3225
e-mail: michael.onder@dot.gov
In addition, you may wish to consult the laws of the individual States.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, about NHTSAs regulations, please contact Dorothy Nakama of my staff at (202) 366-2992.
Sincerely yours,
Anthony M. Cooke
Chief Counsel
cc: Michael P. Onder, Team Leader
Truck Size and Weight
Office of Freight Management and Operations
Federal Highway Administration
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d.4/15/08