Bill defining minitrucks and “utility-type” vehicles is on final reading A bill to allow minitrucks to be operated on all Nebraska roads except interstate highways, controlled-access highways and expressways is one step from passage in the Nebraska Legislature. LB 650 puts a definition of minitrucks into statute. In addition, it requires that these vehicles are titled, registered, insured and operated with headlights and taillights on. The bill also puts a definition of “utility-type” vehicles into statute, clearly separating them from minitrucks, but requiring them to be insured if operated on public two-lane highways between sunrise and sunset. Two more bills addressing slow-moving and utility-type vehicles have not yet had a public hearing. Today’s 1:30 p.m. Transportation and Telecommunications Committee hearing included bills seeking oversize/overweight exceptions for emergency vehicles, livestock hauling and hay hauling. Nebraska Trucking is monitoring these bills. Our hope is that a more inclusive bill will be introduced next session to address oversize/overweight exceptions and permits in a global way, eliminating special provisions for so many different types of loads. (Remember that you can watch or listen to the hearings through the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications service at http://www.netnebraska.org/publicmedia/capitol.html.)               return