§ 15-31. Definitions.

[The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:]

Axle means a beam with a spindle or spindles about which wheels rotate.

Axle group means a combination of two (2) or more consecutive axles considered together in determining their combined load effect on, a highway (such as tandem, tridum, or quadrum axle groups).

Booster means a mechanism which attaches additional axles to the rear of a trailer. The trailer to booster connection may rely on mechanical, air (or other gas), or hydraulic means to provide load transfer. Generally designed to provide axle spacing between groups of a minimum of ten (10) feet bridge or greater. (Also called axle extensions or stingers.)

Converter dolly means an auxiliary undercarriage assembly consisting of a chassis, fifth wheel and tow bar used to convert a semitrailer to a full trailer. (No load distribution occurs between dolly and power unit.)

Deck means the load-carrying area on a platform, lowbed or chassis-type trailer, can be flat level, drop side, recessed well (transformer) or beam design.

Designated truck routes (National Network-NN) means highways designated by the secretary of the department in accordance with the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 that includes provisions for truck-semi trailer-trailer combinations and maximum vehicle width of eight (8) feet six (6) inches.

Destination means the location at which a vehicle subject to this article delivers all or part of its load, the location at which that vehicle departs a public road to deliver all or part of its load, or the location at which that vehicle leaves Webster Parish. The location is specified by a street address corresponding to the addresses assigned by the Webster Parish Communications District ("911" district).

Dolly, jeep means a short, frame-type trailer complete with upper coupler, fifth wheel and undercarriage assembly and designed in such a manner that when coupled to a semi-trailer and tractor it carries a portion of the trailer kingpin load while transferring the remainder to the tractor fifth wheel. (Also called joe dog or a load divider dolly; usually as a sliding fifth wheel or a fixed fifth wheel for the trailer to couple with.)

Domicile means the fixed, permanent and principal residence for legal purposes.

Dromedary unit means a load-carrying compartment on a truck-tractor located between the cab and fifth wheel.

Dummy axle means a single axle attached independently to the frame of a vehicle and so designed and placed as to indicate the appearance of and to carry a uniformly distributed load of a normal axle group.

Envelope vehicle means a truck/semi-trailer combination or truck-tractor/manufactured housing combination that does not exceed the size and weight limits specified by the Webster Parish Police Jury.

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded.

Gross weight (GW) means the weight of a vehicle and/or combination of vehicles plus the weight of any thereon.

High volume heavy vehicle location means any location which is the origin or destination of a vehicle or vehicles which require an overweight or oversize permit and which location is the origin or destination for ten (10) or more trips or loads within a twelve-month period.

Individual axle means any of the two (2), three (3), or four (4) axles which make up the tandem, tridum, or quadrum axle groups.

Interstate hauling means vehicle movement between or through two (2) or more jurisdictions.

Intrastate hauling means movement of a vehicle from one (1) point within a jurisdiction to another point within the same jurisdiction, regardless of routes traversed.

Jeep means a short frame-type trailer complete with upper coupler, fifth wheel and undercarriage assembly and designed in such a manner that when coupled to a semi-trailer and tractor it carries a portion of the trailer kingpin load while transferring the remainder to the tractor fifth wheel. (Also called joe dog or a load divider dolly; usually as a sliding fifth wheel or a fixed fifth wheel for the trailer to couple with.)

Length means the total longitudinal dimension of a single vehicle, a trailer, or a semi-trailer. Length of a trailer or semi-trailer is measured from the point of the cargo-carrying unit to its rear and includes load-holding devices thereon.

Mobile home means (a) a trailer or semi-trailer which is designed, constructed and equipped as a dwelling place, living abode or sleeping place, either permanently or temporarily, and is equipped for use as a conveyance on highways; or (b) a trailer or semi-trailer whose chassis and exterior shell is designed and constructed for use as a mobile home, as defined in (a), but which is used instead permanently or temporarily for the advertising, sales, display or promotion of merchandise or services, or for any other commercial purpose except the transportation of property for hire or the transportation of property for distribution by a private carrier.

Origin means the location at which a vehicle subject to this ordinance [article] loads all or part of its load, the location at which that vehicle enters a public road to transport all or part of its load, or the location at which that vehicle enters Webster Parish. The location is specified by a street address corresponding to the addresses assigned by the Webster Parish Communications District ("911" district).

Quadrum axle means any four (4) consecutive axles whose centers are forty (40) or more inches but not more than ninety-six (96) inches apart. A quadrum axle must be designed to equalize the load between the axles.

Semi-trailer means any single vehicle without motive power designed for carrying property and passengers and so designed in conjunction and used with a motor vehicle that some part of its weight and that of its own load rests or is carried by another vehicle and having one (1) or more load-carrying axles.

Single axle means any single axle or any assembly of two (2) or more axles whose containers are less than forty (40) inches apart.

Stinger-steered combination means a truck-tractor semi-trailer wherein the fifth wheel is located on a drop frame located behind and below the rear-most axles of the power unit.

Tandem axle means any two (2) consecutive axles whose centers are forty (40) or more inches but not more than ninety-six (96) inches apart. A tandem axle must be designed to equalize the load between the axles.

Trailer means any single vehicle without motive power designed for carrying property and passengers wholly on its own structure, drawn by a motor vehicle, which carries no part of the weight and load of the trailer on its own wheels, and having two (2) or more load-carrying axles.

Trailer dolly means an auxiliary undercarriage assembly consisting of a chassis, fifth wheel and tow bar used to convert semi-trailer to a full trailer.

Trailer, drop center (double drop) means a trailer design employing an offset or drop in the cargo deck immediately behind the supports and another immediately in front of the suspension, the purpose of which is to lower the cargo deck and/or to provide the greatest height possible for the cargo in the dropped area.

Trailer, drop frame means a trailer design employing one (1) offset or drop in the cargo deck immediately behind the supports. (Also called a single drop trailer.)

Tridum axle means any three (3) consecutive axles whose centers are forty (40) or more inches but not more than ninety-six (96) inches apart. A tridum axle must be designed to equalize the load between the axles.

Trunion axle means an axle configuration with two (2) individual axles mounted in the same transverse plane, with four (4) tires on each axle, connected at a pivot which allows each individual axle to oscillate in a vertical plane to provide constant and equal weight distribution on each individual axle.

Trunion axle group means two (2) or more consecutive trunion axles, which are individually attached to, and/or articulated, from the vehicle by a weight equalizing suspension system.

Variable load suspension axles means axles which can be regulated by the driver of the vehicle either through the use of an in-cab valve or switch or by turning a valve on the outside of the track. These axles are controlled by hydraulic and air suspension systems, mechanically, or by a combination of these methods.

Vehicle means any device by which a person or things may be transported upon a public highway or bridge. A trailer or semi-trailer shall be a separate vehicle.

Width means the total outside transverse dimension of a vehicle including any load or load-holding devices thereon, but, excluding approved safety devices and tire bulge due to load.

(Ord. No. 994, 8-3-2010; Ord. No. 994-Amend., 2-1-2011)