17 AAC 25.900. Definitions

Unless the context indicates otherwise, in this chapter

(1) "axle" means the common axis of rotation of two or more wheels, whether power-driven or freely rotating, attached to the vehicle for the purpose of carrying a portion of the vehicle weight, including any load;

(2) "axle group" means two or more axles where an individual axle is spaced less than 8 feet and 1 inch from any other axle, as measured from the centers of the axles;

(3) "belly axle" means a single axle on a trailer or semitrailer that is located at least 14 feet from the furthest rear axle of a vehicle;

(4) "booster axle" means an axle on a truck that is designed to transfer a portion of the truck weight to the steering axle, and that is located more than 8 feet and 1 inch from the nearest axle;

(5) "cargo-carrying length" means the portion of the overall length of a trailer, excluding the coupling device, upon which a load can be carried;

(6) "cargo-carrying vehicle" means a truck, trailer, semitrailer, or other vehicle capable of carrying a load;

(7) "commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation and public facilities;

(8) "department" means the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities;

(9) "division" means the division of measurement standards and commercial vehicle enforcement within the department;

(10) "dromedary" means a box, tank, deck, or plate that does not exceed 10 feet in length, and that may be used to carry cargo on a truck-tractor;

(11) "emergency" means a condition that is potentially hazardous to life or property, or that prevents a damaged highway from being used by the public;

(12) "enforcement officer" means a

(A) peace officer; or

(B) department employee who is

(i) authorized by the commissioner of transportation and public facilities under AS 45.75.131 ; and

(ii) appointed as a special officer by the commissioner of public safety under AS 18.65.010 ;

(13) repealed 11/16/2004;

(14) "4-axle group" or "quad axle" means a multi-axle group of four axles that is attached with a connecting mechanism, with each separate axle located less than 8 feet and 1 inch from the other axles;

(15) "full mount" means a vehicle mounted completely upon the first or last vehicle in a saddlemount combination;

(16) "gross weight" or "gross vehicle weight" means the total weight of a vehicle, or a combination of vehicles, including load and any accumulated snow, ice, mud, rocks, or dirt;

(17) "height" means the total vertical dimension of a vehicle above a roadway, including any load, load-holding device, and equipment;

(18) "inclement weather" means

(A) fog, rain, or snow conditions that restrict visibility to less than 1,000 feet;

(B) wind conditions that render a vehicle unable to maintain directional control within one driving lane; or

(19) "jeep" means a short frame-type trailer complete with upper coupler, fifth wheel, and undercarriage assembly and designed so that, when coupled between a semitrailer and tractor, the jeep carries a portion of the trailer king pin load while transferring the remainder of that load to the tractor's fifth wheel;

(20) "king pin" means the device that connects the upper half to the lower half of a coupling device in a manner that permits relative motion in a horizontal plane between a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle;

(21) "length" means the total longitudinal dimension of a vehicle;

(22) "lift axle" or "variable suspension axle" means an axle

(A) with mounted tires and rims; and

(B) that may be elevated or regulated by raising its tires from the roadway, with the result that a portion of the vehicle weight is transferred to another axle or axle group;

(23) "load" means anything that is carried on or in a vehicle, but that is not permanently attached to the vehicle;

(24) "long combination vehicle" or "LCV" means a combination of a power vehicle and cargo-carrying vehicles that exceeds the length specified in 17 AAC 25.012(c) ;

(25) "multi-axle group" means an assembly of more than two axles that are attached with connecting devices;

(26) "non-divisible vehicle or load" means a vehicle or load that

(A) exceeds a length or weight limit set out in this chapter; and

(B) if separated into smaller vehicles or loads, would

(i) compromise the intended use of the vehicle;

(ii) destroy the value of the load or vehicle; or

(iii) require more than eight work hours to dismantle using appropriate equipment;

(27) "overall length" means the total longitudinal length of a vehicle or a combination of vehicles;

(28) "overall width" means width as measured in accordance with 17 AAC 25.012(a) ;

(29) "permit" means an authorization issued under 17 AAC 25.320 for movement or operation of oversize and overweight vehicles on a highway;

(30) "pounds per inch of tire width" means a measure of weight restriction based upon a tire manufacturer's rating of nominal tire width;

(31) "power vehicle" means a truck, a truck-tractor, or another vehicle capable of towing a cargo-carrying vehicle;

(32) "saddle" means a mechanism that connects the front axle of a towed vehicle, by a king pin, to the frame or fifth wheel of the towing vehicle;

(33) "saddlemount combination" means a power unit towing up to three other power vehicles, each connected to the preceding vehicle by a saddle;

(34) "semitrailer" means a vehicle or cargo-carrying vehicle without motive power designed for carrying persons or property, and so constructed to be drawn by a power vehicle such that some part of its own weight and that of its load rests on or is carried by another vehicle;

(35) "shifting" means the process by which a portion of a load is transferred from one axle group to another by adjusting air pressure, adjusting the fifth wheel, or physically moving part of the load to another axle group without removing the load from the vehicle;

(36) "single axle" means an assembly of two or more wheels whose centers are in one transverse vertical plane not less than 8 feet and 1 inch from another axle, and extending across the full width of a vehicle;

(37) "single axle weight" means the total weight transmitted to the roadway by the wheels of a single axle;

(38) "state" means State of Alaska;

(39) "steering axle" means one or more axles on the front of a power vehicle that can be activated by the operator to directly accomplish guidance or steerage of the power vehicle or a combination of vehicles;

(40) "steerable axle" means an axle that has a self-steering mechanism that operates while a vehicle is in motion;

(41) "supplemental axle" means a lift axle, a variable suspension axle, or a belly axle;

(42) "tandem axle weight" means the total weight transmitted to the roadway by a tandem axle;

(43) "terminal" means a business licensed under AS 43.70 where commercial goods are loaded or unloaded from commercial vehicles or services for commercial vehicles are obtained;

(44) "3-axle group" or "tridem axle" means a multi-axle group of three axles that is attached to a vehicle with a connecting mechanism, with each separate axle located less than 8 feet and 1 inch from the other axles;

(45) "trailer" means a towed cargo-carrying vehicle with one or more axles configured so that no significant portion of its total weight rests upon the towing vehicle;

(46) "truck" means a motorized cargo-carrying vehicle that is designed, used, or maintained primarily for the movement of a load; "truck" includes a vehicle that pulls trailers or semitrailers;

(47) "truck-tractor" means a motorized vehicle designed and used primarily for pulling cargo-carrying vehicles; however, "truck-tractor" includes a truck-tractor with a dromedary;

(48) "2-axle group" or "tandem axle" means an assembly of two axles that are attached to a vehicle by a connecting mechanism designed to distribute weight equally to both axles of the group, "2-axle group" or "tandem axle" does not include lift axles, variable suspension axles, booster axles, or belly axles located within less than 8 feet and 1 inch of that assembly;

(49) "variable suspension axle" has the meaning given to "lift axle" in this section;

(50) "vehicle" means a wheeled device capable of transporting persons or property on a highway; "vehicle" includes anything permanently attached to the wheeled device that is not included in the definition for "equipment" in this section.

History: Eff. 8/13/95, Register 135; am 10/7/2001, Register 160; am 11/16/2004; Register 172

Authority: AS 19.05.010

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