Motor Vehicles

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included details that were speculative or overly specific compared to the official bill summary and text.

Increasing Weight Limits for Freight Vehicles

This bill proposes to amend Tennessee law to allow freight vehicles with three axles to weigh up to 85,000 pounds if federal law permits.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the maximum gross vehicle weight limit for freight trucks with an axle group of three axles (tridem) from what it was before to 85,000 pounds, provided that federal law allows this change.
• Requires truck operators who are assessed additional taxes on each pound of weight not previously taxed by Tennessee to pay these taxes within 90 days.

Who It Names or Affects

• Freight truck owners and operators in Tennessee
• The Department of Revenue

Terms To Know

Axle group

A set of wheels on a vehicle that are connected by an axle.

Gross vehicle weight

The total weight of the truck and everything it is carrying.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill only changes Tennessee's laws if federal law allows for it.
• It did not pass in its current session, so these rules are not active yet.

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that registration is a condition precedent to use of a freight motor vehicle in this state, and the owner or operator of such vehicle must pay a registration tax sufficient to allow for its operation under a
declared maximum gross weight for its axle configuration.

This bill provides that (i) to the extent permissible under federal law, the maximum gross vehicle weight of such a vehicle with an axle group of three axles (tridem) for registration and use of
such a vehicle on the public highways of this state is 85,000 and (ii) if an operator is assessed an additional tax on each pound of weight for which no tax of this state has been previously paid, then such additional tax must be paid to the department o
f
revenue within 90 days of being assessed.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 781
By Massey

HOUSE BILL 770
By Crawford

HB0770
002948
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
relative to maximum gross weight of freight motor
vehicles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-4-113(a)(7)(A), is amended by
adding the following as a new subdivision:
(iii) Notwithstanding chapter 7 of this title and to the extent permissible under
federal law, the maximum gross vehicle weight of a vehicle with an axle group of three
(3) axles (tridem) is eighty-five thousand pounds (85,000 lbs.);
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-4-113(a)(7), is amended by
adding the following as a new subdivision:
(M) If an operator is assessed an additional tax on each pound of weight for
which no Tennessee tax has been previously paid, then such additional tax must be paid
to the department within ninety (90) days of being assessed.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-7-203(b), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(10) Notwithstanding subdivision (b)(3) and to the extent permissible under
federal law, the total gross vehicle weight of a vehicle with an axle group of three (3)
axles (tridem) over, on, or upon the public highways of this state must not exceed eighty-
five thousand pounds (85,000 lbs.).
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.