MTLRS482.xml Guide to the Montana Department of Highways, Gross Vehicle Weight Division records 1967-1991 Montana Department of Highways, Gross Vehicle Weight Division Finding aid prepared by Rachel Lilley; Updated by Lindsey Mick Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Montana Historical Society 2013; 2024 Finding aid encoded by Matt Kruse; Updated by Lindsey Mick2013; 2024 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition). Montana Historical Society Archives RS 428_RS 492 Montana. Department of Highways. Montana Department of Highways, Gross Vehicle Weight Division records 1967-1991 1 linear ft 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. 41:5-3 English

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.

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).

This collection is arranged by series.

Collection is open for research.

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.

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.

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

Acquisition information available upon request

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.

Highways Transportation--Montana Highways--Montana Montana Transportation Detailed Description of the Collection Correspondence 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 Minutes 1/13 Administrative Staff Meetings 1982-1988 1/14 Staff Meetings 1987-1990 Reports 1/15 Size and Weight Manual 1974 1/16 Annual Report (Federal Certification) 1984-1988 Subject Files 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