Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Special Requirements – Section 14

These flashcards cover the key rules, limits, equipment requirements, safety practices, and regulatory references contained in Section 14 of the Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Handbook.

What papers must every Texas commercial motor vehicle carry while operating on a public highway?

Current registration papers (receipt for license plates) showing the empty weight of the vehicle and the weight it is registered to haul.

When must a driver obtain a special permit from the Texas Department of Transportation?

Whenever the load or equipment is heavier, longer, wider, or higher than allowed by law and cannot reasonably be dismantled.

What emergency warning devices must a truck carry between ½ hour after sunset and ½ hour before sunrise when operating outside city limits?

At least three flares, three red electric lanterns, or three portable red emergency reflectors.

During daylight hours when lamps are not required, what replaces flares, lanterns, or reflectors on a disabled vehicle?

Two red flags.

Which vehicles are prohibited from using flares or fusees and must use DOT-approved triangular reflectors instead?

Motor vehicles transporting explosives, cargo-tank trucks hauling flammable liquids or compressed flammable gases, and vehicles using compressed gas as fuel.

What is the first action a driver must take when a commercial vehicle becomes disabled on the roadway?

Promptly place the required flares, flags, or reflectors to warn other traffic.

On what size vehicles must hazard-warning signal lights be actuated when stopped on a roadway or shoulder?

Any truck, bus, truck tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer 80 inches or more in width or 30 feet or more in overall length.

What size fire extinguisher is required on school buses, buses, taxis, and other passenger-for-hire vehicles?

A chemical-type fire extinguisher of at least one-quart capacity, properly filled, securely mounted, and readily accessible.

At what height above the ground must reflectors be mounted on trucks, buses, and trailers 80 inches or more in width?

Not less than 24 inches nor more than 60 inches.

Are mobile homes being moved under permit subject to standard lighting and reflector requirements?

No. Mobile homes moved under permit are exempt from lighting and reflector requirements.

On a two way road how far along should flags be placed in front and in back of the trailer?

One flag 100ft in front of the trailer. two flags behind the trailer, first 10ft and second 100ft from the trailer.

On a decided highway how far should flags be placed?

Three flags should be placed behind the trailer 10ft, 100ft, and 200ft from the trailer.

How far along should flags be placed in front and behind a trailer on a curved road where vision is obscured?

100ft from in front of the trailer and 10ft, 200ft from behind of the trailer

On every truck or bus less than 80” in width how many lights and reflectors are required?

Front: two white or amber signal lamps.

Back: two red tail lamps and license plate lamp.

On which vehicles are flashing lights permitted?

emergency vehicles, on snow removal equipment, and on school buses when stopping or stopped for children to board or alight

Which trailers are completely exempt from having brakes?

Trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers with a gross weight of 4,500 pounds or less.

What brake requirement applies to trailers over 4,500 lbs but not exceeding 15,000 lbs when operated faster than 30 mph?

They must have brakes acting on both wheels of the rear axle.

How quickly must a combination of vehicles weighing 3,000 lbs or less be able to stop from 20 mph? And how much if it exceeds 3,000 lbs?

Within 40 feet. If it exceeds it is within 50 feet.

Which vehicles are exempt from having electrical turn signals?

Motorcycles and passenger cars or trucks under 80 inches wide manufactured before 1960, unless their body or load extends more than 24 inches to the left of the steering-wheel center or more than 14 feet to the rear.

When are mud flaps (safety guards) required on Texas trucks and trailers?

When the vehicle has four or more tires on the rear axle; flaps must reach within 8 inches of the roadway.

What lighting must animal-drawn vehicles display at night on a highway?

A white light on the front visible 1,000 ft and two red lights on the rear visible 1,000 ft, or one red light plus two red reflectors visible 600 ft.

What is the maximum legal vehicle height in Texas, including its load?

14 feet.

What is the maximum legal vehicle width in Texas, including load (without permit)?

102 inches (8 feet 6 inches).

What is the maximum length for a single motor vehicle other than a truck tractor?

45 feet.

What is the maximum length of a semitrailer in a tractor-semitrailer combination?

59 feet.

What length can a semi trailer or trailer not exceed?

28-1/2 feet each when operated in a truck tractor, semitrailer, and trailer combination

What vehicle can exceed 65 feet?

Truck tractor-trailer combination

What is the greatest weight allowed for vehicles or combination of vehicles?

80,000 pounds. Load limits are based upon the size of the vehicle, the number and distance between axles, and also on the tire size. Depending, you can exceed 80,000 pounds with a permit

Without a permit, how far may a load extend beyond the vehicle?

No more than 3 feet beyond the front and 4 feet beyond the rear.

What warning is required when a load extends more than 4 ft beyond the rear of a vehicle?

A red flag at least 12 inches square in daylight and a red light visible 500 ft at night.

What is the maximum gross weight for any vehicle or combination without an overweight permit?

80,000 pounds (subject to axle and tire limitations).

How many vehicles may legally be operated in combination on Texas highways?

No more than three.

What is the maximum length allowed for the drawbar, chain, or cable when one vehicle tows another?

15 feet (does not apply to pole trailers).

What flag must be attached to a towing chain, rope, or cable?

A white flag at least 12 inches square.

How could large vehicles have curb clearance for the rear wheels when turning right?

Approach the corner in the proper lane, about four feet from the curb (close enough to keep a car from passing on the right). As soon as the front wheels pass the corner, turn wide to the right, swinging over the center of the side street if necessary, in order for the right rear wheel to clear the curb

What practices are recommended for reversing large vehicles?

get out and walk around your truck and make certain there is nothing behind. Then back immediately and watch carefully.

Use both rearview mirrors. You can’t see the right side while hanging out the left door.

If necessary to back some distance, stop partway, then get out and check your progress.

Try to have someone standing in a safe place to guide you by signaling.

Park where you will not have to back to get away from the parking place.

Never back around an intersection corner to turn around.

What kind of wheel devices are unlawful on Texas highways because they damage the road surface?

Wheels with cleats, lugs, flanges, studs, spikes, or other extensions on the rim.

At what maximum speed is a slow-moving vehicle emblem required?

On vehicles designed to operate at 25 mph or less.

What is prohibited regarding coasting in a commercial motor vehicle?

Coasting down a grade with the clutch disengaged while the transmission is left in gear.

How must trucks follow one another on the highway?

With enough distance to allow a vehicle to safely overtake and enter the gap between them.

Which vehicles must always stop at all railroad grade crossings outside business or residence districts?

School buses carrying school children, other buses carrying passengers for hire, trucks carrying explosives, and super-heavy equipment.

What following distance should a professional truck driver maintain on the open road?

About four seconds, increased to 6–8 seconds in bad weather.

How much can fuel economy improve by driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph?

Up to one mile per gallon.

When passing a motorcycle or bicycle, how much clearance should a truck allow?

At least 6 feet to the left; never try to share the lane.

Name three types of vehicles that are not required to be registered, inspected, or display a license plate when operated temporarily on highways.

Farm tractors; farm trailers/semitrailers ≤4,000 lbs gross; implements of husbandry (also power sweepers and certain golf carts).

Which Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations has Texas adopted by reference?

49 CFR Parts 390-393 and 395-397, as well as Hazardous Materials Regulations Parts 171-173, 177, and 178.