Committee approves bill to modernize short-haul delivery of RV chassis, limits 40‑mile hauls to non‑interstate highways

The Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation voted 7‑0 to pass Senate Bill 13, which would modernize rules permitting short‑haul delivery of recreational vehicle chassis by reflecting the increased capabilities of today’s pickup trucks.

Senator Blake Doriaux, the bill sponsor, said the change is intended to update a standard set decades ago so manufacturers can safely deliver chassis using modern light‑ and medium‑duty trucks. "Senate Bill 13 is modernized making the process of hauling RV frames around more modern to meet the newer equipment on pickup trucks that can handle the braking," the sponsor said during the committee presentation.

The bill drew industry testimony from Andrew Medford, director of transportation safety at Lippert Components. Medford said the provision would allow "more efficient delivery" of chassis and described Lippert’s operations, saying the company employs about 800 welders in chassis plants totaling roughly 1,100,000 square feet and that it consumes on the order of 300,000,000 pounds of steel annually. He also said Lippert supplies more than 90% of towable RV frames to local manufacturers and cited Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration metrics as context for the company’s safety record.

During questions, the committee chair asked whether the 40‑mile allowance would permit travel on interstate highways. Medford responded that their current delivery network does not use interstates for these short hauls and that tolls and logistics make interstate trips unlikely. To address that concern, the chair moved to amend the bill to clarify that the 40‑mile limit applies only to highways that are not interstate highways; the committee adopted the amendment by unanimous consent.

After the amendment and brief procedural handling, the committee conducted a roll call and the bill passed 7‑0 as amended. The committee did not record any dissent or abstentions during the roll call. The meeting adjourned shortly after the vote.

The committee’s action moves the bill forward consistent with the committee’s schedule; no further hearings or external approvals were recorded during this meeting.