§ 11-33. Truck routes.

(a)

Definitions. For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

(1)

Most direct route possible shall mean that this may be considered as the shortest route between the point of origin or destination and a point on the nearest truck route which is nearest the point of origin or destination. However, when this route runs through a residential neighborhood or over a street not otherwise suited for truck traffic, the city may designate an alternate route.

(2)

Pole trailer shall mean every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach, or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.

(3)

Semitrailer shall mean every vehicle without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.

(4)

Single axle load shall mean the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels mounted on a single axle which is not part of a tandem axle.

(5)

Tandem axle load shall mean the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels on all axles in tandem.

(6)

Trailer shall mean every vehicle without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designated for carrying persons or property and being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.

(7)

Truck routes shall mean those routes which are designated by this section for the use of truck traffic.

(8)

Truck tractor shall mean every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.

(9)

Truck traffic shall mean the operation of any motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property, equipped with tandem axles, or all truck-tractor, or all combinations of truck tractor with trailer, semi-trailer or pole trailer.

(b)

Designation. For the purposes of this chapter, those streets and thoroughfares within the corporate limits of the city which are enumerated as follows are hereby designated as truck routes:

Route	Extent
Interstate Highway 20	Entire extent within corporate limits
U.S. Highway 80 (Moore Avenue)	Entire extent within corporate limits
Spur 557	Entire extent within corporate limits
State Highway 34	Entire extent within corporate limits
State Highway 205	West U.S. Highway 80 to corporate limits
Farm Road 148	West U.S. Highway 80 to corporate limits
Spur 87	East U.S. Highway 80 to East Brin Street
Farm Road 986	Entire length
Farm Road 2578 (British Flying School Blvd.)	North State Highway 34 to corporate limits
Farm Road 429	East U.S. Highway 80 to corporate limits
Virginia Street	Entire length
North Frances Street	North Virginia Street to corporate limits
Apache Trail	Entire length
Metrocrest Way	Entire length
Metro Drive	Apache Trail to West U.S. Highway 80
Airport Road	South Virginia Street to Interstate Hwy. 20
Industrial Blvd.	Entire length

 

(c)

Use required generally. No person shall operate truck traffic upon any roads, avenues, streets or thoroughfares within the corporate limits of the city except on those which are designated as truck routes.

(d)

Exception: Point of origin.

(1)

The provisions of subsection (c) above notwithstanding, in those instances where any truck traffic, originating within the corporate limits of the city, shall have as its point of origin a point located off a designated truck route, it shall proceed to the nearest point on a designated truck route by the most direct route possible. If such traffic shall originate outside the corporate limits of the city and enter the city at a point which is not on a designated truck route, it shall proceed to the nearest point on a designated truck route by the most direct route possible.

(2)

In those cases where truck traffic originates off a designated truck route, whether inside or outside the corporate limits of the city, and the destination of the truck traffic is nearer to a point entering the corporate limits of the city than to the nearest point on a designated truck route by the most direct route possible, it shall not be necessary to proceed to the nearest designated truck route.

(e)

Exception: To, from terminal. Vehicles restricted to truck routes may depart from a point on such designated truck route for the purpose of traveling to and from a truck terminal, provided that such vehicle proceeds by the most direct route to or from the applicable truck terminal.

(f)

Exception - Loading, unloading. Truck traffic restricted to the streets designated as truck routes may depart from such truck routes where it is necessary to load or unload at locations situated off designated truck routes. Provided, however, such truck traffic shall not leave any designated truck route until such has reached a point on some designated truck route which is nearest to the place of loading or unloading by the most direct route possible. After leaving a designated truck route to load or unload, truck traffic may continue off truck routes to as many stops for loading and unloading at destinations as necessary. Provided further, however, that if, in the course of making the necessary stops for loading and unloading, the truck traffic shall cross a designated truck route, then, in that event, such truck shall not again leave any designated truck routes until it has reached a point on some designated truck route which is nearest to the next place of loading and unloading by the most direct route possible.

(g)

Exception: To, from driver's residence. Truck tractors may depart from streets designated as truck routes for the purpose of parking overnight at the residence of the driver of the truck tractor, subject to the provisions of section 33-34 (overnight parking for storage on streets or right-of-way) and paragraph (i) below.

(h)

Justification of departure. Persons operating truck traffic upon a street or roadway which is not designated a truck route by this section shall have in their possession for inspection by police officers, the log book, delivery slips, or other evidence of their destination and point of origin to justify the presence of the vehicle on a street or roadway other than a designated truck route.

(i)

Parking vehicles. It shall be unlawful for any vehicle included in the definition of truck traffic to park in a residential area, either multifamily or single-family, unless it is in the process of being loaded or unloaded.

Except however and subject to the provisions of section 33-34 (overnight parking for storage on streets or right-of-way), the driver of a single truck tractor may park that tractor in a residential area overnight as long as the vehicle is parked entirely on an improved surface upon private property. No more than one truck tractor may be parked on a single family lot.

In any prosecution charging a violation of this paragraph, proof that the particular vehicle described in the complaint was parked in violation of this section, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was, at the time of such parking, the registered owner of such vehicle, shall constitute in evidence a prima facie presumption that the registered owner of such vehicle was the person who parked such vehicle at the point where such violation occurred.

(j)

Weight limits. No vehicle having a single axle load of 20,000 pounds or a tandem axle load of 25,000 pounds shall be operated on a city street within the city limits of Terrell.

(k)

Signs, markings. The city engineer shall erect appropriate signs and markings in accordance with the requirements of the Texas Manuel on Uniform Traffic Control Devices advising motorists of the truck routes established by this section.

(l)

Alternate routes. Whenever any street or roadway designated as a truck route is under repair, or otherwise temporarily out of use, the city engineer shall be authorized to designate alternate truck routes.

(Code 1968, § 24-52; Ord. No. 2522, §§ 1, 2, 3-6-12)