State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Engrossed ][ House Amendment 001 ]

90_HB0745

      625 ILCS 5/15-111         from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111
          Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to provide  that  weight
      limitations  do  not  apply  to vehicles operated by a public
      utility, railroad, or private  contractor  when  transporting
      equipment  or vehicles required for emergency repair at train
      derailment sites, public utility facilities or properties, or
      water wells (now weight limitations do not apply to  vehicles
      operated  by a public utility transporting equipment required
      for  emergency  repair  of  public  utility   facilities   or
      properties or water wells).  Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9003171NTsb
                                               LRB9003171NTsb
 1        AN  ACT  to  amend  the Illinois Vehicle Code by changing
 2    Section 15-111.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section  5.   The  Illinois  Vehicle  Code  is amended by
 6    changing Section 15-111 as follows:
 7        (625 ILCS 5/15-111) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111)
 8        Sec. 15-111.  Wheel and axle loads and gross weights.
 9        (a)  No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped  with
10    pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
11    the  highways of this State when the gross weight on the road
12    surface  through  any  single  axle  thereof  exceeds  18,000
13    pounds, except when a  different  limit  is  established  and
14    posted  in  accordance  with  Section  15-316  and except any
15    single axle of a 2 axle motor vehicle weighing 36,000  pounds
16    or  less  and  not a part of a combination of vehicles, shall
17    not exceed 20,000 pounds. Provided, however, that any  single
18    axle of a 2 axle motor vehicle equipped with a personnel lift
19    or  digger derrick, weighing 36,000 pounds or less, owned and
20    operated by a public utility, shall not exceed 20,000 pounds.
21    No vehicle or combination of  vehicles  equipped  with  other
22    than pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load,
23    upon  the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
24    road surface through any wheel thereof exceeds 800 pounds per
25    inch width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road
26    surface through any axle thereof exceeds 16,000  pounds.   An
27    axle  load  shall be defined as the total load transmitted to
28    the road by all wheels whose centers may be included  between
29    2   parallel  transverse  vertical  planes  40  inches  apart
30    extending across the full width of the vehicle.
31        Any 2 or more single axles whose centers are more than 40
                            -2-                LRB9003171NTsb
 1    inches and not more than 96 inches  apart,  measured  to  the
 2    nearest  inch  between  extreme axles in the series, shall be
 3    defined as tandem axles, and the gross weight transmitted  to
 4    the  road  surface through the series shall not exceed 32,000
 5    pounds and no axle of the series  shall  exceed  the  maximum
 6    weight  permitted  under  this  Section  for  a  single axle.
 7    Provided that on a 4 axle vehicle or on  a  5  or  more  axle
 8    combination  of  vehicles  the  weight on a series of 3 axles
 9    whose centers are more than 96 inches apart, measured between
10    extreme axles in the series, shall not exceed  those  allowed
11    on  3  axles in the table contained in subsection (f) of this
12    Section and no axle or tandem axle of the series shall exceed
13    the maximum weight permitted under this Section for a  single
14    or tandem axle. Provided also that a 3 axle vehicle or 3 axle
15    truck  mixer  registered  as  a Special Hauling Vehicle, used
16    exclusively for the mixing and  transportation  of  concrete,
17    specially   equipped  with  a  road  surface  engaging  mixer
18    trailing  4th axle, manufactured prior to  or  in  the  model
19    year  of  2004  and  first  registered  in  Illinois prior to
20    January 1, 2005, with a distance greater than 72  inches  but
21    not  more  than  96  inches between any series of 2 axles may
22    transmit to the road  surface  a  maximum  weight  of  18,000
23    pounds  on each of these axles with a gross weight on these 2
24    axles  not  to  exceed  36,000  pounds.   Any  such   vehicle
25    manufactured in the model year of 2004 or thereafter or first
26    registered  in  Illinois after December 31, 2004 may transmit
27    to the road surface a maximum of 32,000 pounds through  these
28    2 axles and none of the axles shall exceed 18,000 pounds.
29        A truck, not in combination and specially equipped with a
30    selfcompactor,  or  an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off
31    container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse operations,
32    and a truck used exclusively for the collection of  rendering
33    materials  may,  however,  when laden, transmit upon the road
34    surface of any highway  except  when  part  of  the  National
                            -3-                LRB9003171NTsb
 1    System  of  Interstate  and  Defense Highways, a gross weight
 2    upon a single axle not more than 22,000 pounds,  and  upon  a
 3    tandem  axle  not  more  than  40,000  pounds.  When unladen,
 4    however, those trucks shall comply with the axle  limitations
 5    applicable to all other trucks.
 6        A  2  axle  truck specially equipped with a front loading
 7    compactor used exclusively for garbage, refuse, or  recycling
 8    may  transmit  20,000 pounds per axle provided that the gross
 9    weight of the vehicle does not exceed 40,000 pounds.
10        (b)  The gross weight  of  vehicles  and  combination  of
11    vehicles  including  the weight of the vehicle or combination
12    and its maximum  load  shall  be  subject  to  the  foregoing
13    limitations  and further shall not exceed the following gross
14    weights dependent upon  the  number  of  axles  and  distance
15    between  extreme axles of the vehicle or combination measured
16    longitudinally to the nearest foot.
17    VEHICLES HAVING 2 AXLES ....................... 36,000 pounds
18                      VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
19                           HAVING 3 AXLES
20    With Tandem                     With or
21       Axles                        Without
22                                    Tandem Axles
23    Minimum                         Minimum
24    distance to        Maximum      distance to         Maximum
25    nearest foot       Gross        nearest foot        Gross
26    between            Weight       between             Weight
27    extreme axles      (pounds)     extreme axles       (pounds)
28    10 feet            41,000       16 feet             46,000
29    11                 42,000       17                  47,000
30    12                 43,000       18                  47,500
31    13                 44,000       19                  48,000
32    14                 44,500       20                  49,000
33    15                 45,000       21 feet or more     50,000
                            -4-                LRB9003171NTsb
 1                      VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
 2                           HAVING 4 AXLES
 3    Minimum                         Minimum
 4    distance to        Maximum      distance to         Maximum
 5    nearest foot       Gross        nearest foot        Gross
 6    between            Weight       between             Weight
 7    extreme axles      (pounds)     extreme axles       (pounds)
 8    15 feet            50,000       26 feet             57,500
 9    16                 50,500       27                  58,000
10    17                 51,500       28                  58,500
11    18                 52,000       29                  59,500
12    19                 52,500       30                  60,000
13    20                 53,500       31                  60,500
14    21                 54,000       32                  61,500
15    22                 54,500       33                  62,000
16    23                 55,500       34                  62,500
17    24                 56,000       35                  63,500
18    25                 56,500       36 feet or more     64,000
19        In applying the above table to a vehicle having more than
20    4 axles that is not in combination, only  4  axles  shall  be
21    considered in determining the maximum gross weights.
22                 COMBINATIONS HAVING 5 OR MORE AXLES
23    Minimum distance to           Maximum
24    nearest foot between          Gross Weight
25    extreme axles                 (pounds)
26    42 feet or less               72,000
27    43                            73,000
28    44 feet or more               73,280
29    VEHICLES OPERATING ON CRAWLER TYPE TRACKS ..... 40,000 pounds
30                 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SELFCOMPACTORS
31       OR ROLL-OFF HOISTS AND ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS FOR GARBAGE
32              OR REFUSE HAULS ONLY AND TRUCKS USED FOR
33                THE COLLECTION OF RENDERING MATERIALS
                            -5-                LRB9003171NTsb
 1               On Highway Not Part of National System
 2                 of Interstate and Defense Highways
 3    with 2 axles                                    36,000 pounds
 4    with 3 axles                                    54,000 pounds
 5                    TWO AXLE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH
 6             A FRONT LOADING COMPACTOR USED EXCLUSIVELY
 7         FOR THE COLLECTION OF GARBAGE, REFUSE, OR RECYCLING
 8    with 2 axles                                    40,000 pounds
 9        (c)  Cities  having  a population of more than 50,000 may
10    permit by ordinance axle loads on 2 axle  motor  vehicles  33
11    1/2%  above those provided for herein, but the increase shall
12    not become effective until the city has  officially  notified
13    the  Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall not
14    apply to those vehicles when outside of  the  limits  of  the
15    city,  nor shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor vehicle
16    operating over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
17        (d)  Weight  limitations  shall  not  apply  to  vehicles
18    (including loads) operated by a public utility, railroad,  or
19    private  contractor  when  transporting equipment or vehicles
20    required for emergency repair at train derailment  sites,  of
21    public utility facilities or properties, or water wells.
22        A  combination  of  vehicles, including a tow truck and a
23    disabled vehicle or disabled combination  of  vehicles,  that
24    exceeds  the  weight restriction imposed by this Code, may be
25    operated on a public highway  in  this  State  provided  that
26    neither  the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor
27    the tow truck itself  shall  exceed  the  weight  limitations
28    permitted  under  this  Chapter. During the towing operation,
29    neither the tow  truck  nor  the  vehicle  combination  shall
30    exceed the following axle weight limitations:
31             A.  24,000 pounds - Single rear axle;
32             B.  44,000 pounds - Tandem rear axle;
33        Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of
                            -6-                LRB9003171NTsb
 1    the  tow  truck  and  vehicles  being  towed.   The tow truck
 2    license plate must cover the operating empty  weight  of  the
 3    tow  truck only. The weight of each vehicle being towed shall
 4    be covered by a valid license plate issued to  the  owner  or
 5    operator  of  the  vehicle  being towed and displayed on that
 6    vehicle. If no valid plate issued to the owner or operator of
 7    that vehicle is displayed  on  that  vehicle,  or  the  plate
 8    displayed  on  that  vehicle does not cover the weight of the
 9    vehicle, the weight of the vehicle shall be  covered  by  the
10    third  tow truck plate issued to the owner or operator of the
11    tow truck and temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed.
12    In addition, the following conditions must be met:
13             (1)  the towing vehicle must be:
14                  a.  specifically designed as a tow truck having
15             a gross vehicle weight rating  of  at  least  18,000
16             lbs.  and equipped with air brakes provided that air
17             brakes shall be required only if the towing  vehicle
18             is towing a vehicle, semitrailer, or tractor-trailer
19             combination that is equipped with airbrakes;
20                  b.  equipped   with   flashing,   rotating   or
21             oscillating  amber  lights, visible for at least 500
22             feet in all directions; and
23                  c.  capable  of  utilizing  the  lighting   and
24             braking   systems   of   the   disabled  vehicle  or
25             combination of vehicles.
26             (2)  The towing of the vehicles on the  highways  of
27        this  State  shall  not  exceed 15 miles from the initial
28        point of wreck or disablement. Any additional movement of
29        the  vehicles  shall  only   occur   upon   issuance   of
30        authorization  for  that movement under the provisions of
31        Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
32        The  Department  may  by  rule  or  regulation  prescribe
33    additional requirements. However, nothing in this Code  shall
34    prohibit  a  tow truck under instructions of a police officer
                            -7-                LRB9003171NTsb
 1    from legally clearing a disabled  vehicle,  that  may  be  in
 2    violation  of  weight  limitations  of this Chapter, from the
 3    roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway.
 4        For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle  weight
 5    rating,  or  GVWR,  shall  mean  the  value  specified by the
 6    manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
 7        (e)  No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped  with
 8    pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
 9    the  highways of this State in violation of the provisions of
10    any permit issued under the  provisions  of  Sections  15-301
11    through 15-319 of this Chapter.
12        (f)  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision in this Code,
13    except for those provisions of subsection (d) of this Section
14    relating to emergency operations of public utilities and  tow
15    trucks  while  actually  engaged  in the towing of a disabled
16    vehicle, and those vehicles for which the  Department  issues
17    overweight  permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this
18    Code, the weight limitations  contained  in  this  subsection
19    shall  apply to the National System of Interstate and Defense
20    Highways and other highways in the system of  State  highways
21    that  have  been designated by the Department as Class I, II,
22    or III. No vehicle shall be operated on the highways  with  a
23    weight  in excess of 20,000 pounds carried on any one axle or
24    with a tandem axle weight in excess of 34,000  pounds,  or  a
25    gross   weight   in  excess  of  80,000  pounds  for  vehicle
26    combinations of 5 axles or more, or a gross weight on a group
27    of 2 or more consecutive  axles  in  excess  of  that  weight
28    produced by the application of the following formula:
29        W = 500 times the sum of (LN divided by N-1) + 12N + 36
30    Where  "W"  equals  overall gross weight on any group of 2 or
31    more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds; "L"  equals
32    the distance measured to the nearest foot between extremes of
33    any  group of 2 or more consecutive axles; and "N" equals the
34    number of axles in the group under consideration, except that
                            -8-                LRB9003171NTsb
 1    2 consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load  of
 2    34,000 pounds each, provided the overall distance between the
 3    first  and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles
 4    is 36 feet or more.  Provided  also  that  a  3-axle  vehicle
 5    registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle manufactured prior to
 6    or  in  the  model  year  of  2004,  and  first registered in
 7    Illinois prior to January 1, 2005, with  a  distance  greater
 8    than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches between the 2 rear
 9    axles  may  transmit  to the road surface a maximum weight of
10    18,000 pounds on each of the 2 rear axles with a gross weight
11    on these 2 axles not to exceed  36,000  pounds.  Any  vehicle
12    registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle manufactured prior to
13    or  in  the  model  year  of  2004  or  thereafter  or  first
14    registered  in Illinois after December 31, 2004, may transmit
15    to the road surface a maximum of 34,000 pounds through the  2
16    rear  axles and neither of the rear axles shall exceed 20,000
17    pounds. For purposes of this subsection, tandem  axles  shall
18    be  defined  as  any 2 or more single axles whose centers are
19    more than 40 inches  and  not  more  than  96  inches  apart,
20    measured  to  the  nearest  inch between extreme axles in the
21    series.
22        The above formula when expressed in tabular form  results
23    in allowable loads as follows:
24    Distance measured
25    to the nearest
26    foot between the
27    extremes of any         Maximum load in pounds
28    group of 2 or           carried on any group of
29    more consecutive        2 or more consecutive axles
30    axles
31          feet        2 axles  3 axles  4 axles  5 axles  6 axles
32            4         34,000
33            5         34,000
34            6         34,000
                            -9-                LRB9003171NTsb
 1            7         34,000
 2            8         38,000*   42,000
 3            9         39,000    42,500
 4           10         40,000    43,500
 5           11                   44,000
 6           12                   45,000   50,000
 7           13                   45,500   50,500
 8           14                   46,500   51,500
 9           15                   47,000   52,000
10           16                   48,000   52,500   58,000
11           17                   48,500   53,500   58,500
12           18                   49,500   54,000   59,000
13           19                   50,000   54,500   60,000
14           20                   51,000   55,500   60,500   66,000
15           21                   51,500   56,000   61,000   66,500
16           22                   52,500   56,500   61,500   67,000
17           23                   53,000   57,500   62,500   68,000
18           24                   54,000   58,000   63,000   68,500
19           25                   54,500   58,500   63,500   69,000
20           26                   55,500   59,500   64,000   69,500
21           27                   56,000   60,000   65,000   70,000
22           28                   57,000   60,500   65,500   71,000
23           29                   57,500   61,500   66,000   71,500
24           30                   58,500   62,000   66,500   72,000
25           31                   59,000   62,500   67,500   72,500
26           32                   60,000   63,500   68,000   73,000
27           33                            64,000   68,500   74,000
28           34                            64,500   69,000   74,500
29           35                            65,500   70,000   75,000
30           36                            66,000   70,500   75,500
31           37                            66,500   71,000   76,000
32           38                            67,500   72,000   77,000
33           39                            68,000   72,500   77,500
34           40                            68,500   73,000   78,000
                            -10-               LRB9003171NTsb
 1           41                            69,500   73,500   78,500
 2           42                            70,000   74,000   79,000
 3           43                            70,500   75,000   80,000
 4           44                            71,500   75,500
 5           45                            72,000   76,000
 6           46                            72,500   76,500
 7           47                            73,500   77,500
 8           48                            74,000   78,000
 9           49                            74,500   78,500
10           50                            75,500   79,000
11           51                            76,000   80,000
12           52                            76,500
13           53                            77,500
14           54                            78,000
15           55                            78,500
16           56                            79,500
17           57                            80,000
18    *If  the distance between 2 axles is 96 inches or less, the 2
19    axles are tandem axles and  the  maximum  load  permitted  is
20    34,000  pounds,  notwithstanding  the  higher limit resulting
21    from the application of the formula.
22        In applying the above formula to a  vehicle  having  more
23    than 4 axles that is not a combination, only 4 axles shall be
24    considered in determining the maximum gross weight, and for a
25    combination  of  vehicles  having  more  than 6 axles, only 6
26    axles shall be considered in determining  the  maximum  gross
27    weight.
28        Notwithstanding  the  above  table, 2 consecutive sets of
29    tandem axles may carry a gross weight of 34,000  pounds  each
30    if  the  overall distance between the first and last axles of
31    the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
32        Local   authorities    and    road    district    highway
33    commissioners,  with  respect  to  streets and highways under
34    their jurisdiction, without  additional  fees,  may  also  by
                            -11-               LRB9003171NTsb
 1    ordinance  or resolution allow the weight limitations of this
 2    subsection, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle
 3    shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum  gross  weight
 4    on  any  tandem  axle  shall  not  exceed  34,000  pounds, on
 5    designated highways when appropriate regulatory signs  giving
 6    notice  are  erected upon the street or highway or portion of
 7    any  street  or  highway  affected  by   the   ordinance   or
 8    resolution.
 9        Combinations  of  vehicles, registered as Special Hauling
10    Vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured prior to  or
11    in  the  model year of 2004, and first registered in Illinois
12    prior to January 1, 2005, having 5 axles with a  distance  of
13    42 feet or less between extreme axles shall be limited to the
14    weights prescribed in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section
15    and  not subject to the bridge formula on the National System
16    of Interstate and Defense Highways and other highways in  the
17    system  of  State  highways designated by the Department. For
18    all  those  combinations  of   vehicles,   that   include   a
19    semitrailer  manufactured  after  the  effective date of this
20    amendatory Act of 1986,  the  overall  distance  between  the
21    first and last axles of the 2 sets of tandems must be 18 feet
22    6  inches or more. All combinations of vehicles registered as
23    Special  Hauling  Vehicles   that   include   a   semitrailer
24    manufactured  prior  to  or  in  the  model  year  of 2004 or
25    thereafter or first registered in Illinois after December 31,
26    2004, or that has had its cargo  container  replaced  in  its
27    entirety  after  December  31, 2004, are limited to the gross
28    weight allowed by the above formula.
29        A  truck  not  in  combination,  equipped  with  a   self
30    compactor  or  an  industrial  roll-off  hoist  and  roll-off
31    container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse operations,
32    shall be allowed the weights as prescribed in subsections (a)
33    and  (b)  of  this  Section  and  not  subject  to the bridge
34    formula, provided they are not operated on a highway that  is
                            -12-               LRB9003171NTsb
 1    part of the Interstate and Defense Highway System.
 2        Vehicles  operating  under  this  subsection  shall  have
 3    access  for a distance of one highway mile to or from a Class
 4    I highway on any street or highway, unless there  is  a  sign
 5    prohibiting  the access, or 5 highway miles to or from either
 6    a Class I, II, or III highway on a street or highway included
 7    in the system of  State  highways  and  upon  any  street  or
 8    highway  designated  by  local  authorities  or road district
 9    commissioners to points  of  loading  and  unloading  and  to
10    facilities for food, fuel, repairs and rest.
11        Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
12    relating  to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
13    designation of highways under this subsection.
14        (g)  No person shall operate a vehicle or combination  of
15    vehicles   over   a   bridge   or  other  elevated  structure
16    constituting part of a highway with a gross  weight  that  is
17    greater  than the maximum weight permitted by the Department,
18    when the  structure  is  sign  posted  as  provided  in  this
19    Section.
20        (h)  The Department upon request from any local authority
21    shall,   or   upon   its   own  initiative  may,  conduct  an
22    investigation of  any  bridge  or  other  elevated  structure
23    constituting  a  part  of a highway, and if it finds that the
24    structure cannot with safety to itself withstand  the  weight
25    of   vehicles  otherwise  permissible  under  this  Code  the
26    Department shall determine and declare the maximum weight  of
27    vehicles  that  the structures can withstand, and shall cause
28    or permit suitable signs stating maximum weight to be erected
29    and maintained before each end of the structure.   No  person
30    shall  operate  a vehicle or combination of vehicles over any
31    structure with a gross weight that is greater than the posted
32    maximum weight.
33        (i)  Upon  the  trial  of  any  person  charged  with   a
34    violation of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of
                            -13-               LRB9003171NTsb
 1    the  determination  of  the  maximum  allowable weight by the
 2    Department  and  the  existence  of  the  signs,  constitutes
 3    conclusive  evidence  of  the  maximum  weight  that  can  be
 4    maintained with safety to the bridge or structure.
 5    (Source: P.A. 88-45; 88-385;  88-403;  88-476;  88-670,  eff.
 6    12-2-94; 89-117, eff. 7-7-95; 89-433, eff. 12-15-95.)
 7        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
 8    becoming law.

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