Pole and utility vehicles/trailers – Mississippi

Length limitations

The vehicle length limitations provided in Miss. Code Ann. 63-5-19 do not apply to vehicles operated at nighttime by a public utility transporting poles, pipes, machinery or other objects of a structural nature which cannot readily be dismembered when required for emergency repair of public service facilities or properties.

Lamps

Despite the above length exception for vehicle operated at night by public utilities, every vehicle and its load must be equipped with enough clearance lamps on both sides and marker lamps upon the extreme ends of any projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of such load.

Connections for trailer and towed vehicles

The requirement that every trailer towed a public highway at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour must be coupled to the towing vehicle by means of a safety chain, chains, cables, or equivalent device in addition to the regular hitch or coupling does not apply to a pole, pipe, casing, long or piling dolly.

The connection between any two vehicles transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of a structural nature which cannot be readily dismembers are exempt from the 15-foot tow-bar rule.

Rear projection of load

The load upon the rear vehicle of a combination of vehicles transporting forest or agricultural products in their natural state must not project more than 28 feet beyond the rear axle of the vehicle.

If projecting more than 28 feet beyond the rear axle and, due to the end use for which they are intended (such as tall utility poles or light poles or the like), then this special circumstance may be considered good cause for obtaining a permit pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 63-5-51 before operation.

Rear projection of load

Any vehicle transporting projecting loads that extend four feet or more beyond the rear or body of the vehicle must operate during daylight or nighttime hours, and the load on vehicles designed to transport forestry products must be secured by at least two chains, two wire ropes, or two nylon straps, one positioned behind the front bolster and one in front of the back bolster.  

Key definitions

A "pole blanket permit" allows for movements of poles or extended length timber loads on state-maintained highways.

Pole trailer definition: Every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes, boats or structural members capable generally of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.

The definition of "trailer" does not include "pole trailer".