A truck hauls a load in Yellowstone National Park. Wyoming’s House Bill 0132 applies to commercial hauling of goods including hay, forestry products and agriculture combine header machinery. (Moonstone Images/Getty Images)
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has enacted two laws taking effect July 1 that will offer more options for commercial load permits and impose tougher restrictions on commercial drivers.
Due to the enactment of House Bill 0132 (Annual Permits for Specified Commercial Loads), more permitting options for commercial loads will be available. This change applies to those hauling commercial loads of hay, forestry products, agricultural combine header machinery, and prefabricated buildings, panels or trusses.
The legislation was sponsored by state Rep. Scott Smith (R). Its cosponsors, all Republicans, were Reps. Bill Allemand, Jayme Lien, Chip Neiman and Mike Schmid as well as state Sens. Bob Ide and John Kolb.
The bill increases the maximum length of the extended period permit, such as for hay, from 90 days to one year and increases the fee from $50 to $200. A fiscal note about the impact of the new law predicted a $527,000 annual revenue decrease to the state Highway Fund because the current inefficient process requires truckers to obtain multiple permits. The new law will streamline the process, resulting in longer and fewer commercial ad permits.
For example, truckers who haul hay year round can opt for an annual $200 permit instead of having to obtain multiple permits every 90 days in a single year.
During a House hearing, lawmakers learned firsthand about the impact of the current permitting law on a Wyoming resident who transports sheds on his trailer. Under the present system, he can fit three different sheds on his trailer, but he needs a new permit each time he drops one off because his load changes. The new law will enable that driver to obtain a single $400 permit.
Also on July 1, various changes take effect for CDL and commercial learner’s permits under HB 0028 “Commercial Driver’s Licenses — Revisions” sponsored by the House Transportation Committee. One feature of the new law is to comply with a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration program called “Even Exchange” in which the knowledge test for obtaining a CDL is waived for qualified military drivers. Now Wyoming will join 21 states participating in the program. The new Wyoming law also will exempt military CDL holders from taking the driving skills test.
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Another aspect of the new CDL law will conform Wyoming statutes with federal U.S. Department of Transportation regulations by requiring anyone who fraudulently obtained a CDL to be retested in Wyoming and disqualified from driving for a year if that person fails to retest within the state to obtain a CDL.
Other changes are expanding serious commercial vehicle traffic violations to prohibit:
- Reading, writing and sending text messages while driving a commercial vehicle
- In-hand use of electronic wireless devices (such as cellphones) when driving a commercial vehicle
Also, the state will be taking a tougher stance for drivers younger than 21 who are convicted of driving under the influence — no matter if the infraction was for driving a regular car rather than a commercial vehicle — while they hold a CDL or CLP. The state will permanently retain that DUI conviction on their record.
This new harsher stance will not affect drivers younger than 21 if they don’t hold a CDL or CLP. Currently, drivers in that age bracket with a DUI conviction automatically have their record expunged when they turn 21.
