KRS 138.655 — Definitions for KRS 138.660 to 138.7291 and 138.990(13) and (14)

As used in KRS 138.660 to 138.7291 and 138.990(13) and (14), unless the context
requires otherwise:
(1) "Cabinet" means the Transportation Cabinet;
(2) "Combined licensed weight" shall mean the greater of:
(a) The declared combined maximum gross weight of the vehicle and any towed
unit for registration purposes for the current registration period; or
(b) The highest actual combined gross weight of the vehicle and any towed u nit
when operated on the public highways of the state during the current
registration period;
(3) "Gasoline" has the same meaning as in KRS 138.210;
(4) "Heavy equipment motor carrier" means any person who operates on the public
highways of this state as a "motor carrier" as defined in subsection (6) of this
section, except that it shall not include motor vehicles used to transport persons for
hire;
(5) "Licensee" means for purposes of KRS 138.660 to 138.7291 any person who has
been granted a license as a "motor carrier" or a "heavy equipment motor carrier," or
any motor vehicle in which a valid trip permit is carried;
(6) "Motor carrier" means every person who operates or causes to be operated on any
highway in this state, any bus engaged in hauling passeng ers for hire operating
under a certificate of convenience and necessity and any commercial truck or
commercial tractor-trailer combination having a total of two (2) or more axles and a
declared gross weight above twenty -six thousand (26,000) pounds. The nu mber of
axles shall include not only those axles on the power unit but if a tractor -trailer
combination is involved, also those axles on the trailer or semitrailer:
(a) "Axle" means any two (2) or more load -carrying wheels mounted in a single
transverse vertical plane;
(b) "Trailers and semitrailers" are those as defined in KRS 186.650(1) and (2),
except that it does not include those trailers defined in KRS 186.650(3) an d
(4) and those exempted from regulation under KRS 186.675. The term "motor
carrier" shall not mean or shall not include any person operating or causing to
be operated a city bus;
(c) "Commercial" refers to any activity for business purposes; and
(d) For the purposes of KRS 138.660(3) motor carriers, trailers, and semitrailers
shall not mean a farm vehicle as defined in KRS 186.050(4) or under another
jurisdiction's law as a farm vehicle;
(7) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle, machine, or mechanical contriv ance propelled
by an internal combustion engine and licensed for operation and operated upon the
public highways and any trailer or semitrailer attached to or having its front end
supported by such motor vehicle;
(8) "Person" includes every natural person, fiduciary, association, state or political
subdivision, or corporation. Whenever used in any clause describing and imposing
imprisonment the term "person" as applied to an association means and includes the
partners or members thereof, and as applied to a corporation the officers thereof;
(9) "Public highway" means every way or place generally open to the use of the public
as a matter of right for the purpose of vehicular travel notwithstanding that it may
be temporarily closed or travel thereon restricted for the purpose of construction,
maintenance, repair, or reconstruction; also including all city streets, alleys, and any
way or place on which a toll is charged for using such way or place;
(10) "Quarterly" for the purposes of KRS 138.660 to 138.7291 means a calendar quarter;
(11) "Special fuels" means and includes all combustible gases and liquids used for the
generation of power in an internal combustion engine to propel vehicles of any kind
upon the public highways, except that it does not include gasoline;
(12) "Trip permit" means a permit for the operating during a ten (10) consecutive day
period of any motor vehicle of any "heavy equipment motor carrier" not licensed
under KRS 138.665; and
(13) "Use" means the consumption of gasoline and special fue ls in propelling motor
vehicles on the public highways.