Archives West Finding Aid
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Montana Department of Highways, Gross Vehicle Weight Division records, 1967-1991
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Montana. Department of Highways.
- Title
- Montana Department of Highways, Gross Vehicle Weight Division records
- Dates
- 1967-1991 (inclusive)19671991
- Quantity
- 1 linear ft
- Collection Number
- RS 492 (Formerly RS 428)
- Summary
- This collection is a subgroup (Division) of the Montana Department of Transportation records, RS 492. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Transportation records. This collection is comprised of records documenting the work of the Gross Vehicle Weight Division of the Department of Highways, and includes correspondence (1973-1991), minutes (1982-1990), reports (1974-1988) and subject files (1967-1991) all dealing with implementation and enforcement of Gross Vehicle Weight laws in Montana.
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Montana State Highway Commission was created in 1913 by the state Legislative Assembly. The original Commission was composed of three members. In 1917 new legislation altered the organization of the Commission by authorizing the appointment of twelve members according to geographic highway districts. Membership was changed again in 1921 to three members appointed by the Governor and in 1941 to five members, also appointed by the Governor. In 1971 the Commission was renamed the Montana Department of Highways, created by Chapter 7 of the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971 and implemented by executive order of the Governor on December 16, 1971. The Department of Highways took over all but the advisory functions of the State Highway Commission.
By 1972, the Department consisted of seven divisions: the Legal Division, Personnel Division, Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division. Each division was headed by an administrator. The Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division were furthered sub-divided into bureaus, headed by Chiefs. In 1991, the Department of Highways became the Department of Transportation.
The primary function of the Gross Vehicle Weight Division is the implementation and enforcement of the gross vehicle weight restrictions of Montana, through the use of remote weigh stations and enforcement officers. The functions of the Gross Vehicle Weight Division are now the carried out by Motor Carrier Services Division’s Enforcement Bureau.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes general correspondence (1967-1991), including interoffice memos with the director and with the legal division; administrative staff meeting minutes (1983-1988); GVW staff minutes (1987-1990); annual reports to FHWA; and subject files (1965-1991), including a file on the Consolidated Man Power Estimating System (1988), files on the Montana Log Truckers Association, organizational charts and reorganization files (1966-1991), a file on a proposed weight distance tax, HB 985 (1991), and a "Gross Vehicle Weight Manual" (1974).
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by series.
Location of Collection
41:5-3Processing Note
In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Transportation were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 492, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.
Collections from Montana Department of Transportation's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 492. Rather than reprocessing over 280 linear feet of Transportation materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links through the central finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup/sub-subgroup pertains to your research needs.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition information available upon request
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
CorrespondenceReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | DOH Audit Unit |
1985-1990 |
| 1/2-4 | DOH Director |
1974-1981 |
| 1/5 | DOH Legal Division |
1973-1976 |
| 1/6 | DOH Personnel |
1982-1986 |
| 1/7-8 | Administrator |
1974-1991 |
| 1/9 | Compliance Bureau |
1989 |
| 1/10 | Enforcement Bureau |
1984-1989 |
| 1/11 | Fiscal Bureau |
1986-1990 |
| 1/12 | Special Permits Section |
1989-1991 |
MinutesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/13 | Administrative Staff Meetings |
1982-1988 |
| 1/14 | Staff Meetings |
1987-1990 |
ReportsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/15 | Size and Weight Manual |
1974 |
| 1/16 | Annual Report (Federal Certification) |
1984-1988 |
Subject FilesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/17 | Agency, Federal, FHWA: Surface Trans.
Program |
1991 |
| 1/18-20 | Agency, State, Justice Department: Highway
Patrol |
1967-1991 |
| 1/21 | Agency, State, Justice Department: Motor Vehicle
Div. |
1988-1991 |
| 1/22 | Agency, State: Public Service Commission |
1986-1990 |
| 1/23 | Agency, State: Revenue Department |
1981-1990 |
| 1/24 | Associations: American Association of Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) |
1988-1989 |
| 1/25 | Associations: Montana Manufactured Housing and RV
Association |
1986-1990 |
| 1/26 | Associations: Montana Log Truckers
Association |
1988-1990 |
| 1/27 | Committees: Grace Period Committee |
1990 |
| 1/28 | Committees: GVW Staff |
1987-1988 |
| 1/29 | Feasibility of Automated Routing and Permitting Of
Oversized Vehicles |
1996 |
| 1/30 | Gross Vehicle Weight Manual |
1985 |
| 1/31 | Organization/Reorganization |
1962-1991 |
| 1/32 | Programs and Projects: International Registration
Plan |
1990 |
| 1/33 | Programs and Projects: Weight Distance Tax |
1991 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Highways
- Highways--Montana
- Transportation--Montana
Finding aid prepared by Rachel Lilley; Updated by Lindsey
Mick
2013;
2024
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
