Truck and trailer rules in Nebraska: licence classes, trailer brakes and safety chains, size limits and the carrier safety rules

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. All of the sources are sections of the Nebraska Revised Statutes as published by the Nebraska Legislature. Federal background and the other places are on the parent page, trucks and trailers for tree work.

At a glance

Item	What the sources say
Commercial motor vehicle	Used in commerce, rated 26,001 pounds or more, or a combination of 26,001 pounds or more with a towed unit over 10,000 pounds
Class A	Combination over 26,000 pounds rating when the towed unit is over 10,000 pounds
Class B	Single commercial vehicle rated 26,001 pounds or more, or towing a unit not over 10,000 pounds
Truck power or auxiliary brakes	Required on a truck and load over 12,000 pounds
Commercial trailers and semitrailers	Brakes on each wheel, operable from the driver's position, for a carrying capacity over 10,000 pounds
Cabin and recreational trailers	Brakes from 3,000 pounds gross loaded weight; breakaway, surge or impulse switch
Safety chains	Two safety chains or cables for cabin, recreational and utility trailers
Width, height	102 inches wide; 14 feet 6 inches high
Length	40 feet for a vehicle, 45 feet for a truck; 65 feet for a combination
Carrier rules for in-state work	Federal parts adopted as state law for intrastate vehicles over 10,000 pounds

Licence classes

Section 60-4,138 sets the classes for commercial licences and says they are issued in compliance with 49 CFR parts 380, 382, 383, 384, 391 and 392. Class A is any combination of motor vehicles and towed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds if the towed vehicles are rated more than 10,000 pounds. Class B is any single commercial motor vehicle rated 26,001 pounds or more, or such a vehicle towing a vehicle rated not more than 10,000 pounds. Class C covers smaller vehicles built for 16 or more passengers and vehicles that carry placarded hazardous materials. The section lists a restriction code K for operation of a commercial motor vehicle only in intrastate commerce. Section 60-465 defines a commercial motor vehicle as one used in commerce with a weight or rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or a combination of 26,001 pounds or more including a towed unit over 10,000 pounds, plus passenger and hazardous materials limbs; it excludes covered farm vehicles, recreational vehicles and some emergency and military vehicles. Section 60-4,137 requires a resident operating a commercial motor vehicle to hold a commercial licence or commercial learner's permit. See Nebraska section 60-4,138 on classes and section 60-465 on the definition.

Brakes, breakaway switch and safety chains

Section 60-6,246 is the trailer rule. All commercial trailers with a carrying capacity of more than 10,000 pounds, and semitrailers, must have brakes on each wheel that can be operated from the driving position of the towing vehicle. Cabin trailers and recreational trailers with a gross loaded weight of 3,000 pounds or more but under 6,500 pounds need brakes on at least two wheels, and at 6,500 pounds or more brakes on each wheel. These must also have a breakaway, surge or impulse switch so the trailer brakes apply if the trailer disengages. Cabin trailers, recreational trailers and utility trailers must be connected to the towing vehicle by two safety chains or safety cables in addition to the hitch, attached and strong enough to keep any part of the drawbar from touching the road if the hitch comes apart. Section 60-6,247 makes it unlawful to operate a truck or bus with a gross weight of truck and load over 12,000 pounds unless it has power brakes, auxiliary brakes or standard booster brake equipment. Section 60-6,244 sets stopping distances from 20 miles per hour: 30 feet for four-wheel-brake vehicles up to 7,000 pounds gross weight and 35 feet at 7,000 pounds or more. See Nebraska section 60-6,246 on trailers, section 60-6,247 on trucks and section 60-6,244 on motor vehicle brakes.

Width, height and length

Section 60-6,288 bars a vehicle wider than 102 inches, including load but excluding designated safety devices, from the Interstate system and from other highways, with a list of exceptions for farm equipment, combines, mobile homes and other named uses. Section 60-6,289 sets height at 14 feet 6 inches unladen or with load, and says no one is required to raise or rebuild an underpass, bridge or wire to pass a vehicle over 12 feet 6 inches high; owners, lessees and operators of vehicles over 12 feet 6 inches are jointly and severally liable for damage to overhead obstructions. Section 60-6,290 sets length at 40 feet for a vehicle including bumpers and load, 45 feet for a truck, and 65 feet for a combination of vehicles, with named exceptions such as a truck-tractor and single semitrailer combination, where a semitrailer may reach 53 feet including load if it was not operating in the state on December 1, 1982. See Nebraska section 60-6,290 on length.

Carrier safety rules for in-state work

Section 75-363 adopts parts of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations as Nebraska law, among them parts 382, 385, 387, 390, 391, 392, 393, 395 and 396. It says the regulations apply to all motor carriers, drivers and vehicles to which the federal regulations apply, and also to motor carriers transporting persons or property in intrastate commerce, for all vehicles of those carriers with a gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight over 10,000 pounds, and for drivers operating a commercial motor vehicle that needs a commercial licence. Subpart E of part 391 on physical qualifications carries its own state-law exceptions. The pages read do not describe a separate state carrier number or registration. See Nebraska section 75-363 on federal regulations adopted.