Pole and utility vehicles/trailers – Washington

Length exception

The general length limitations of 75 feet in ARCW § 46.44.030 does not apply to vehicles transporting poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of a structural nature that cannot be dismembered and operated by a public utility when required for emergency repair of public service facilities or properties.

Lamps and reflectors

For night transportation every such vehicle and 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 the load.

Pole trailers 30 feet or more in overall length must have, on each side, one amber side marker lamp and one amber reflector, centrally located with respect to the length of the vehicle.

All pole trailers must have:

• On each side, one amber side market lamp at or near the front of the load;
• One amber reflector at or near the front of the load; and
• On the rearmost support for the load, one combination marker lamp showing amber to the front and red to the rear and side, mounted to indicate maximum width of the pole trailer.

After June 1, 1978, every pole trailer 80 inches or more in overall width or 30 feet or more in overall length must be equipped with hazard warning lamps.

The rear warning lamps:

• Must be mounted at the same level;
• Be as widely spaced laterally as practicable;
• Must show simultaneously flashing amber or red lights, or any shade of color between amber and red; and
• Be visible from not less than 500 in normal sunlight.

Special permits (nondivisible loads)

A log truck with pole trailer hauling a single load of nondivisible poles, where the log truck is supporting a proportionate share of the load, must be permitted for overlength based on load length, like a truck tractor semi-trailer configuration. Measurement will be taken from the front of load or bunks, whichever comes first to the end of the load. No portion of the pole trailer may extend beyond the load in an overlength configuration.

Special permits (divisible loads)

An overlength permit may be issued to a log truck pulling a pole-trailer, trailer combination, carrying two distinct and separate loads, as if it was a truck-tractor pulling a set of double trailers. Measurement for the log truck, pole-trailer, trailer combination will be from the front of the first bunk on the truck to the rear of the second trailer, or load, whichever provides the greatest distance up to 68 feet.