Texas Timber Permit Bond

A Texas timber permit bond is required from transport operators that haul heavy wood loads. Section 623.012 of the Texas Transportation Code requires each applicant for a permit under Section 623.011, other than a permit under that section to operate a vehicle loaded with timber or pulp wood, wood chips, cotton, or agricultural products in their natural state to file this surety bond. Applicable operators are commercial motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or combination of those vehicles, or truck-tractors or combination of truck-tractors and one or more other vehicles:

• at an axle weight that is not heavier than the weight equal to the maximum allowable axle weight for the vehicle or combination plus a tolerance allowance of 10 percent of that allowable weight; and
• at a gross weight that is not heavier than the weight equal to the maximum allowable gross weight for the vehicle or combination plus a tolerance allowance of five percent.

As of September 1st, 2019, the permit may also be used to transport equipment used to load timber on to a motor vehicle or trailer.

The Texas timber permit bond must be issued in the amount of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) naming the Texas Department of Transportation (Tx DoT Timber Permitting Division) and the counties of the state as obligee(s). The surety bond must guarantee that the applicant will pay the Texas Department of Transportation for any damage to a state highway, and a county for any damage to a road or bridge of the county, caused by the operation of the vehicle(s).

Per the Tx DoT, "Vehicles moving under permit may travel on county roads and state-maintained roadways, excluding the Interstate Highway System, in timber harvest counties which must be selected on the permit application. An operator may only select from counties named in the most recent Texas A&M Forest Service's Harvest Trend Report. The Tx DoT further adivses: Notification required: At least two business days prior to movement, carrier must electronically notify TxDOT and affected counties of the address or geographical area that the carrier intends to operate, including the name or number of each county or state road and the dates or duration of movement. Electronic notification is made through the TxDMV website.

Timber Permit County Notification

Applying for a Texas timber permit bond is simple with a surety underwriter that experiences in the sector. National surety bond leader, Surety One, Inc. offers both surety and fidelity bonds needed by transportation and timber trade professionals in every state where they are required. Call us at (800) 373-2804, email us at Underwriting@SuretyOne.com or click here for live chat about an agricultural product dealer bond. We are available to help you understand the timber permit bond process specific to your need.

Surety bond application review and quoting are free of charge. There is no obligation to purchase.

What We Need From You

Obligee's Bond Form