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Session of 2026
SENATE BILL No. 411
By Committee on Transportation
1-28
AN ACT concerning vehicles; relating to traffic regulations; providing for
the use of triple trailers on highways; increasing the allowable gross
weight for such vehicle combinations; relating to dealer license plates;
providing for the use of trailers with such plates; amending K.S.A. 8-
1904, 8-1909 and 8-2406 and repealing the existing sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 8-1904 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-
1904. (a) No vehicle including any load thereon shall exceed a height of
14 feet, except that a vehicle transporting cylindrically shaped bales of hay
as authorized by K.S.A. 8-1902(e), and amendments thereto, may be
loaded with such bales secured to a height not exceeding 14 1/2 feet. Should
a vehicle so loaded with bales strike any overpass or other obstacle, the
operator of the vehicle shall be liable for all damages resulting therefrom.
The secretary of transportation may adopt rules and regulations for the
movement of such loads of cylindrically shaped bales of hay.
(b) No motor vehicle including the load thereon shall exceed a length
of 45 feet extreme overall dimension, excluding the front and rear
bumpers, except as provided in subsection (d).
(c) Except as otherwise provided in K.S.A. 8-1914 and 8-1915, and
amendments thereto, and subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) , (i) and, (j) and
(k), no combination of vehicles coupled together shall exceed a total length
of 65 feet.
(d) The length limitations in subsection (b) shall not apply to a truck
tractor. No semitrailer which that is being operated in combination with a
truck tractor shall exceed 59 1/2 feet in length. No semitrailer or trailer
which that is being operated in a combination consisting of a truck tractor,
semitrailer and trailer shall exceed 281/2 feet in length.
(e) The limitations in this section governing maximum length of a
semitrailer or trailer shall not apply to vehicles operating in the daytime
when transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of a structural
nature which that cannot readily be dismembered, except that it shall be
unlawful to operate any such vehicle or combination of vehicles which
that exceeds a total length of 85 feet unless a special permit for such
operation has been issued by the secretary of transportation or by an agent
or designee of the secretary pursuant to K.S.A. 8-1911, and amendments
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thereto. For the purpose of authorizing the issuance of such special permits
at motor carrier inspection stations, the secretary of transportation may
contract with the superintendent of the Kansas highway patrol for such
purpose, and in such event, the superintendent or any designee of the
superintendent may issue such special permit pursuant to the terms and
conditions of the contract. The limitations in this section shall not apply to
vehicles transporting such objects operated at nighttime by a public utility
when required for emergency repair of public service facilities or
properties or when operated under special permit as provided in K.S.A. 8-
1911, and amendments thereto, but in respect to such night transportation ,
every such vehicle and the load thereon shall be equipped with a sufficient
number of clearance lamps on both sides and marker lamps upon the
extreme ends of any projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of
such load.
(f) The limitations of this section governing the maximum length of
combinations of vehicles shall not apply to a combination of vehicles
consisting of a truck tractor towing a house trailer, if such combination of
vehicles does not exceed an overall length of 97 feet.
(g) The length limitations of this section shall not apply to stinger-
steered automobile or boat transporters or one truck and one trailer vehicle
combination, loaded or unloaded, used in transporting a combine, forage
cutter or combine header to be engaged in farm custom harvesting
operations, as defined in K.S.A. 8-143j(d), and amendments thereto. A
stinger-steered boat transporter or one truck and one trailer vehicle
combination, loaded or unloaded, used in transporting a combine, forage
cutter or combine header to be engaged in farm custom harvesting
operations, as defined in K.S.A. 8-143j(d), and amendments thereto, shall
not exceed an overall length limit of 75 feet, exclusive of front and rear
overhang. A stinger-steered automobile transporter shall not exceed an
overall length limit of 80 feet, exclusive of front and rear overhang.
(h) The length limitations of this section shall not apply to drive-away
saddlemount or drive-away saddlemount with fullmount vehicle
transporter combination. A drive-away saddlemount or drive-away
saddlemount with fullmount vehicle transporter combination shall not
exceed an extreme overall dimension of 97 feet.
(i) The length limitations of this section shall not apply to a one
truck-tractor two trailer combination or one truck-tractor semitrailer trailer
combination used in transporting equipment utilized by custom harvesters
under contract to agricultural producers to harvest wheat, soybeans or
milo, during the months of April through November, but the length of the
property-carrying units, excluding load, shall not exceed 811/2 feet.
(j) The length limitations of this section shall not apply to a towaway
trailer transporter combination consisting of a trailer transporter towing
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unit and two trailers or semitrailers with a total weight not exceeding
26,000 pounds and in which the trailers or semitrailers carry no property
and constitute inventory property of a manufacturer, distributor or dealer
of such trailers or semitrailers. Such towaway trailer transporter
combination shall not exceed a length of 82 feet. As used in this
subsection, "a trailer transporting towing unit" means a power unit that is
not used to carry property when operating in a towaway trailer transporter
combination.
(k) The length limitations of this section shall not apply to a one
truck-tractor three trailer combination vehicle. Such one truck-tractor
three trailer combination vehicle shall not exceed a length of 86 feet.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 8-1909 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-1909.
(a) No vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be moved or operated on
any highway when if the gross weight on two or more consecutive axles
exceeds the limitations prescribed in the following table:
Distance in feet between the Maximum load in pounds carried
extremes of any group of 2 or on any group of 2 or more
more consecutive axles consecutive axles
2 axles 3 axles 4 axles 5 axles 6 axles 7 axles 8 axles
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.......... 34,000
5.......... 34,000
6.......... 34,000
7.......... 34,000
8 and less 34,000 34,000
More than 8 38,000 42,000
9.......... 39,000 42,500
10........ 40,000 43,500
11........................ 44,000
12........ ............... 45,000 50,000
13........ ............... 45,500 50,500
14........ ............... 46,500 51,500
15........ ............... 47,000 52,000
16........ ............... 48,000 52,500 58,000
17........ ............... 48,500 53,500 58,500
18........ ............... 49,500 54,000 59,000
19........ ............... 50,000 54,500 60,000
20........ ............... 51,000 55,500 60,500 66,000
21........ ............... 51,500 56,000 61,000 66,500
22........ ............... 52,500 56,500 61,500 67,000
23........ ............... 53,000 57,500 62,500 68,000
24........ ............... 54,000 58,000 63,000 68,500 74,000
25........ ............... 54,500 58,500 63,500 69,000 74,500
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26........ ............... 55,500 59,500 64,000 69,500 75,000
27........ ............... 56,000 60,000 65,000 70,000 75,500
28........ ............... 57,000 60,500 65,500 71,000 76,500 82,000
29........ ............... 57,500 61,500 66,000 71,500 77,000 82,500
30........ ............... 58,500 62,000 66,500 72,000 77,500 83,000
31........ ............... 59,000 62,500 67,500 72,500 78,000 83,500
32........ ............... 60,000 63,500 68,000 73,000 78,500 84,500
33........ ............... ................ 64,000 68,500 74,000 79,000 85,000
34........ ............... ................ 64,500 69,000 74,500 80,000 85,500
35........ ............... ................ 65,500 70,000 75,000 80,500
36........ ............... ................ 66,000 70,500 75,500 81,000
37........ ............... ................ 66,500 71,000 76,000 81,500
38........ ............... ................ 67,500 72,000 77,000 82,000
39........ ............... ................ 68,000 72,500 77,500 82,500
40........ ............... ................ 68,500 73,000 78,000 83,500
41........ ............... ................ 69,500 73,500 78,500 84,000
42........ ............... ................ 70,000 74,000 79,000 84,500
43........ ............... ................ 70,500 75,000 80,000 85,000
44........ ............... ................ 71,500 75,500 80,500 85,500
45........ ............... ................ 72,000 76,000 81,000
46........ ............... ................ 72,500 76,500 81,500
47........ ............... ................ 73,500 77,500 82,000
48........ ............... ................ 74,000 78,000 83,000
49........ ............... ................ 74,500 78,500 83,500
50........ ............... ................ 75,500 79,000 84,000
51........ ............... ................ 76,000 80,000 84,500
52........ ............... ................ 76,500 80,500 85,000
53........ ............... ................ 77,500 81,000 85,500
54........ ............... ................ 78,000 81,500
55........ ............... ................ 78,500 82,500
56........ ............... ................ 79,500 83,000
57........ ............... ................ 80,000 83,500
58........ ............... ................ ............... 84,000
59........ ............... ................ ............... 85,000
60........ ............... ................ ............... 85,500
except that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of
34,000 pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles
is 36 feet or more.
(1) The gross weight on any one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed the
limits prescribed in K.S.A. 8-1908, and amendments thereto.
(2) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (e), for vehicles and
combinations of vehicles on the interstate system the table in this section
shall not authorize a maximum gross weight of more than 80,000 pounds.
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(3) The table in this section shall not apply to truck tractor and dump
semitrailer or truck trailer combination when such are used as a
combination unit exclusively for the transportation of sand, salt for
highway maintenance operations, gravel, slag stone, limestone, crushed
stone, cinders, coal, blacktop, dirt or fill material, when such vehicles are
used for transportation to a construction site, highway maintenance or
construction project or other storage facility, except that such vehicles or
combination of vehicles shall not be exempted from any application of the
table as may be required to determine applicable axle weights for triple
and quad axles as defined in K.S.A. 8-1908, and amendments thereto. As
used in this paragraph (3), the term "dump semitrailer" means any
semitrailer designed in such a way as to divest itself of the load carried
thereon.
(b) Any vehicle registered under the laws of this state which vehicle
that is designed and used primarily for the transportation of property or for
the transportation of 10 or more persons may, at the time of its registration,
be subjected by the director of vehicles to investigation or test as may be
necessary to enable such director to determine whether such vehicle may
safely be operated upon the highways in compliance with all provisions of
this act. Every such vehicle shall meet the following requirements:
(1) ItSuch vehicle shall be equipped with brakes as required in K.S.A.
8-1734, and amendments thereto.
(2) Every motor vehicle to be operated outside of business and
residence districts shall have motive power adequate to propel such
vehicle and any load thereon or to be drawn thereby, at a speed which that
will not impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.
Exception to this requirement shall be recognized when reduced speed is
necessary for safe operation or when a vehicle or combination of vehicles
is necessarily or in compliance with law or police direction proceeding at
reduced speed.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle or
combination of vehicles with a gross weight in excess of the limitations set
forth in article 19 of chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and
amendments thereto, except as provided in K.S.A. 8-1911, and
amendments thereto.
(d) As used in this section, "interstate system" means the national
system of interstate and defense highways.
(e) A vehicle, if operated by an engine fueled primarily by natural
gas, may exceed any vehicle weight limit under this section, up to a
maximum gross vehicle weight of 82,000 pounds, by an amount that is
equal to the difference between:
(1) The weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and
fueling system carried by that vehicle; and
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(2) the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system.
(f) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (a)(2) for vehicles and
combinations of vehicles on the interstate system, a one truck-tractor three
trailer combination vehicle may exceed the weight limit under this section
up to a maximum gross weight of 140,000 pounds. In the event that a
truck-tractor three trailer combination vehicle must be reduced to a truck-
tractor two trailer combination vehicle because weather or road
conditions would make such combination unsafe for operation, the rear
trailer shall be removed from the truck-tractor three trailer combination
vehicle and the truck-tractor two trailer combination vehicle may exceed
the weight limit under this section up to a maximum gross weight of
100,000 pounds.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 8-2406 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-2406.
(a) The annual fee for the first dealer license plate is $275, and the annual
fee for additional dealer license plates shall be an amount equal to the
amount required to register a passenger vehicle having a gross weight of
less than 4,500 pounds, except that the annual fee for dealer license plates
used by trailer dealers on trailers which they that such trailer dealers have
purchased or own and are holding for resale shall be $25 for each plate. To
determine the number of dealer license plates that the dealer needs, the
director may base the decision on the dealer's past sales, inventory and any
other pertinent factors as the director may determine. After the end of the
first year of licensure as a dealer, not more than one dealer license plate
shall be issued to any dealer who has not reported to the division the sale
of at least five motor vehicles in the preceding year. There shall be no
refund of fees for dealer license plates in the event of suspension,
revocation or voluntary cancellation of a license. The director is hereby
authorized to designate by identifying symbols on a dealer's license plate
the type of dealer's license that the person has been issued. If a dealer has
an established place of business in more than one county, such dealer shall
secure a separate and distinct dealer's license and dealer license plates for
each established place of business.
(b) New motor vehicle dealers and used motor vehicle dealers may
authorize use of dealer license plates assigned to such motor vehicle
dealers as follows:
(1) The licensed motor vehicle dealer and such dealer's spouse;
(2) the sales manager and all other sales personnel when , if such
manager and sales personnel are properly licensed in Kansas, except that
no dealer license plate shall be assigned to sales personnel who are
working at the established place of business of the dealer less than 20
hours per week;
(3) any employee of such motor vehicle dealer when , if the use
thereof is directly connected to a particular business transaction of such
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motor vehicle dealer;
(4) the customer when , if operating a motor vehicle in connection
with negotiations to purchase such motor vehicle or during a
demonstration of such motor vehicle; and
(5) any school district and any accredited nonpublic school which
that has entered into an agreement with a dealer to use a motor vehicle as a
driver training motor vehicle, as defined in K.S.A. 72-4005, and
amendments thereto, in an approved driver training course.
(c) A wholesaler dealer may authorize the use of dealer license plates
on vehicles purchased by the wholesaler for resale to a retail vehicle dealer
as follows:
(1) To transport or operate a vehicle to or from a licensed retail or
wholesale vehicle dealer for the purpose of buying, selling, or offering or
attempting to negotiate a sale of the vehicle to a licensed vehicle dealer;
(2) to deliver a vehicle purchased from the wholesale vehicle dealer
to a purchasing vehicle dealer.
(d) Salvage vehicle dealers may use dealer license plates only on
vehicles which they that such salvage vehicle dealers have purchased for
salvage, including dismantling, disassembling or recycling.
(e) Insurance companies may use dealer license plates only on
vehicles purchased or acquired for salvage in the course of business of the
insurance company.
(f) Lending agencies may use dealer license plates only on vehicles
which they that such lending agencies have repossessed or are holding for
disposition due to repossession.
(g) Trailer dealers may use dealer license plates only on trailers which
they that such trailer dealers have purchased or own and are holding for
resale. Trailer dealers may use dealer license plates for demonstration
purposes on a trailer under loaded conditions subject to weight limits,
length limits or any other requirements set forth in law.
(h) Brokers are not entitled to be assigned or to use any dealer license
plates.
(i) Except as provided above, dealer license plates shall be used only
in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 8-136, and amendments
thereto. This subsection (i) does not apply to K.S.A. 8-2425, and
amendments thereto, or full-privilege license plates or dealer-hauler full-
privilege trailer license plates issued thereunder.
Sec. 4. K.S.A. 8-1904, 8-1909 and 8-2406 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the Kansas register.
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