The Northeast Manufactured Housing Association (NEMHA) has been working diligently over the past two years in an effort to harmonize the transportation requirements for the 11 Northeastern states. In an area roughly the size of California, manufacturers and transporters are usually required to meet two or more different sets of regulations and requirements for movement of manufactured and modular homes that are imposed at the state level. Burdensome regulations coupled with a lack of uniformity in laws governing dimensions, permitting fees, and escort requirements across the region has made a clear resolution of these impediments a top priority for NEMHA.

NEMHA, which is an association consisting of all the state manufactured housing associations in those 11 states, seeks to set the allowable manufactured/modular home length not to exceed 80’ and not to regulate overall vehicle length; make the allowable overall height limit at 14’6"; set the allowable width limit at 16’; not require a police escort if within the dimensional limits; and provide some type of uniformity in permitting fees. NEMHA is also sensitive to "time of movement" disparities that exist between neighboring states.

NEMHA retained the services of Maine Tomorrow, Inc., a transportation consulting firm headed by the former state transportation secretary of Maine. A Draft Policy Paper was developed to measure the current rules/regulations against each other, and to set the standard for what harmonized rules would look like. This included researching 11 States and 4 toll authorities and their regulations governing the transport of homes. Once the Final Report was written and approved by NEMHA, it was sent to all eleven Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Division Administrators highlighting issues in their State.

NEMHA also initiated and participated in a meeting with the Vermont Secretary of Transportation and the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Vermont’s officials recognized that it is in both the industry’s and Vermont’s best interest to harmonize the rules across the Northeast and they agreed to support NEMHA’s efforts. They will assist in working for a relaxation of the rules/regulations in Connecticut and have suggested approaches to that end. Also, as a result of the meeting in Vermont NEMHA was invited to send a representative to speak to the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highway Transport’s June meeting, thereby elevating these issues to the national level. NEMHA also testified before the House & Senate Transportation Committees in New Hampshire in support of HB 1183, increasing permittable length to 110 feet and height to 14’ 6”.

While much work has been done, more effort is still necessary in various Northeastern states in order to accomplish the objectives of the harmonization initiative. Efforts are underway in the states to make this happen. If you have any questions, please contact Thayer Long at the NMHC at (703) 558-0678, or tlong@modularcouncil.org