61-8-905. Classification standards. (1) Commercial tow trucks are divided into the following five classes based on the manufacturer's rating:
     (a) Class A tow truck equipment must have a minimum manufacturer's rating of 4 tons and must be mounted on a truck chassis with a minimum manufacturer's rating of 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
     (b) Class B tow truck equipment must have a minimum manufacturer's rating of 8 tons and must be mounted on a truck chassis with a minimum manufacturer's rating of 18,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
     (c) Class C tow truck equipment must have a minimum manufacturer's rating of 16 tons and must be mounted on a chassis that has a minimum manufacturer's rating of 32,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
     (d) Class D is class A, B, or C tow truck equipment that includes manufactured rollbacks and car carriers with manufacturer's gross vehicle ratings ranging from 10,000 pounds to 30,000 pounds. The rollbacks and car carriers must be mounted on a truck-trailer chassis that, at a minimum, is equal to the minimum gross weight of the rollback or car carrier.
     (e) Class E includes two or more tow trucks working together with a combined manufacturer's rating of a minimum of 80,000 pounds with access to supportive equipment, such as forklifts, banders, and air bags, for the recovery of rollovers and wrecked, disabled, and abandoned vehicles whose cargo requires special handling. Class E refers to tow truck companies and not to tow truck equipment.
     (2) (a) An operator of noncommercially manufactured or modified tow truck equipment in use on October 1, 1995, that wishes to participate in the law enforcement rotation system must have its equipment classified by the department within a time period set by the department. Once the equipment is classified, further modifications may not be made.
     (b) (i) The department shall establish a committee composed of members selected from the:
     (A) tow truck industry;
     (B) the motor carrier services division of the department of transportation; and
     (C) the highway patrol.
     (ii) The committee is responsible for hearing disputes that may arise regarding the classification of noncommercially manufactured or modified tow truck equipment.
     (iii) The department shall establish by rule a procedure for hearing a dispute.
     (c) After October 1, 1995, an operator of new noncommercially manufactured or modified tow truck equipment must have its equipment independently certified before participating in the law enforcement rotation system.

     History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 283, L. 1995.