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92_HB2203
LRB9207447DHmb
1 AN ACT in relation to vehicles.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
5 changing Section 15-111 as follows:
6 (625 ILCS 5/15-111) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111)
7 Sec. 15-111. Wheel and axle loads and gross weights.
8 (a) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with
9 pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
10 the highways of this State when the gross weight on the road
11 surface through any single axle thereof exceeds 18,000
12 pounds, except when a different limit is established and
13 posted in accordance with Section 15-316 and except any
14 single axle of a 2 axle motor vehicle weighing 36,000 pounds
15 or less and not a part of a combination of vehicles, shall
16 not exceed 20,000 pounds. Provided, however, that any single
17 axle of a 2 axle motor vehicle equipped with a personnel lift
18 or digger derrick, weighing 36,000 pounds or less, owned and
19 operated by a public utility, shall not exceed 20,000 pounds.
20 No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
21 than pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load,
22 upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
23 road surface through any wheel thereof exceeds 800 pounds per
24 inch width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road
25 surface through any axle thereof exceeds 16,000 pounds. The
26 gross weight transmitted to the road surface through tandem
27 axles shall not exceed 32,000 pounds and no axle of the
28 series shall exceed the maximum weight permitted under this
29 Section for a single axle. Provided that on a 4 axle vehicle
30 or on a 5 or more axle combination of vehicles the weight on
31 a series of 3 axles whose centers are more than 96 inches
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1 apart, measured between extreme axles in the series, shall
2 not exceed those allowed on 3 axles in the table contained in
3 subsection (f) of this Section and no axle or tandem axle of
4 the series shall exceed the maximum weight permitted under
5 this Section for a single or tandem axle. Provided also that
6 a 3 axle vehicle or 3 axle truck mixer registered as a
7 Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for the mixing and
8 transportation of concrete, specially equipped with a road
9 surface engaging mixer trailing 4th axle, manufactured
10 prior to or in the model year of 2004 and first registered in
11 Illinois prior to January 1, 2005, with a distance greater
12 than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches between any series
13 of 2 axles may transmit to the road surface a maximum weight
14 of 18,000 pounds on each of these axles with a gross weight
15 on these 2 axles not to exceed 36,000 pounds. Any such
16 vehicle manufactured in the model year of 2004 or thereafter
17 or first registered in Illinois after December 31, 2004 may
18 transmit to the road surface a maximum of 32,000 pounds
19 through these 2 axles and none of the axles shall exceed
20 18,000 pounds.
21 A 4 axle truck, registered as a special hauling vehicle,
22 specially equipped with a road surface engaging mixer
23 trailing 4th axle, used exclusively for the mixing and
24 transportation of concrete, manufactured before or in the
25 model year of 2004 and first registered in Illinois before
26 January 1, 2005, may transmit to the road surface the
27 following maximum weights: 20,000 pounds on any single axle;
28 34,000 pounds on a series of axles whose centers are more
29 than 40 inches and not more than 72 inches; and 36,000 pounds
30 on a series of axles whose centers are more than 72 inches
31 but not more than 96 inches. A vehicle of this type is not
32 subject to the bridge formula on any series of three axles,
33 but only if the gross weight of the vehicle does not exceed
34 63,000 pounds.
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1 A truck, not in combination and specially equipped with a
2 selfcompactor, or an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off
3 container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse operations,
4 and a truck used exclusively for the collection of rendering
5 materials may, however, when laden, transmit upon the road
6 surface of any highway except when part of the National
7 System of Interstate and Defense Highways, a gross weight
8 upon a single axle not more than 22,000 pounds, and upon a
9 tandem axle not more than 40,000 pounds. When unladen,
10 however, those trucks shall comply with the axle limitations
11 applicable to all other trucks.
12 A 2 axle truck specially equipped with a front loading
13 compactor used exclusively for garbage, refuse, or recycling
14 may transmit 20,000 pounds per axle provided that the gross
15 weight of the vehicle does not exceed 40,000 pounds.
16 (b) The gross weight of vehicles and combination of
17 vehicles including the weight of the vehicle or combination
18 and its maximum load shall be subject to the foregoing
19 limitations and further shall not exceed the following gross
20 weights dependent upon the number of axles and distance
21 between extreme axles of the vehicle or combination measured
22 longitudinally to the nearest foot.
23 VEHICLES HAVING 2 AXLES ....................... 36,000 pounds
24 VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
25 HAVING 3 AXLES
26 With Tandem With or
27 Axles Without
28 Tandem Axles
29 Minimum Minimum
30 distance to Maximum distance to Maximum
31 nearest foot Gross nearest foot Gross
32 between Weight between Weight
33 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
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1 10 feet 41,000 16 feet 46,000
2 11 42,000 17 47,000
3 12 43,000 18 47,500
4 13 44,000 19 48,000
5 14 44,500 20 49,000
6 15 45,000 21 feet or more 50,000
7 VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
8 HAVING 4 AXLES
9 Minimum Minimum
10 distance to Maximum distance to Maximum
11 nearest foot Gross nearest foot Gross
12 between Weight between Weight
13 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
14 15 feet 50,000 26 feet 57,500
15 16 50,500 27 58,000
16 17 51,500 28 58,500
17 18 52,000 29 59,500
18 19 52,500 30 60,000
19 20 53,500 31 60,500
20 21 54,000 32 61,500
21 22 54,500 33 62,000
22 23 55,500 34 62,500
23 24 56,000 35 63,500
24 25 56,500 36 feet or more 64,000
25 In applying the above table to a vehicle having more than
26 4 axles that is not in combination, only 4 axles shall be
27 considered in determining the maximum gross weights.
28 COMBINATIONS HAVING 5 OR MORE AXLES
29 Minimum distance to Maximum
30 nearest foot between Gross Weight
31 extreme axles (pounds)
32 42 feet or less 72,000
33 43 73,000
34 44 feet or more 73,280
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1 VEHICLES OPERATING ON CRAWLER TYPE TRACKS ..... 40,000 pounds
2 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SELFCOMPACTORS
3 OR ROLL-OFF HOISTS AND ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS FOR GARBAGE
4 OR REFUSE HAULS ONLY AND TRUCKS USED FOR
5 THE COLLECTION OF RENDERING MATERIALS
6 On Highway Not Part of National System
7 of Interstate and Defense Highways
8 with 2 axles 36,000 pounds
9 with 3 axles 54,000 pounds
10 TWO AXLE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH
11 A FRONT LOADING COMPACTOR USED EXCLUSIVELY
12 FOR THE COLLECTION OF GARBAGE, REFUSE, OR RECYCLING
13 with 2 axles 40,000 pounds
14 (c) Cities having a population of more than 50,000 may
15 permit by ordinance axle loads on 2 axle motor vehicles 33
16 1/2% above those provided for herein, but the increase shall
17 not become effective until the city has officially notified
18 the Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall not
19 apply to those vehicles when outside of the limits of the
20 city, nor shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor vehicle
21 operating over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
22 (d) Weight limitations shall not apply to vehicles
23 (including loads) operated by a public utility when
24 transporting equipment required for emergency repair of
25 public utility facilities or properties or water wells.
26 A combination of vehicles, including a tow truck and a
27 disabled vehicle or disabled combination of vehicles, that
28 exceeds the weight restriction imposed by this Code, may be
29 operated on a public highway in this State provided that
30 neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor
31 the tow truck itself shall exceed the weight limitations
32 permitted under this Chapter. During the towing operation,
33 neither the tow truck nor the vehicle combination shall
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1 exceed the following axle weight limitations:
2 A. 24,000 pounds - Single rear axle;
3 B. 44,000 pounds - Tandem rear axle;
4 Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of
5 the tow truck and vehicles being towed. The tow truck
6 license plate must cover the operating empty weight of the
7 tow truck only. The weight of each vehicle being towed shall
8 be covered by a valid license plate issued to the owner or
9 operator of the vehicle being towed and displayed on that
10 vehicle. If no valid plate issued to the owner or operator of
11 that vehicle is displayed on that vehicle, or the plate
12 displayed on that vehicle does not cover the weight of the
13 vehicle, the weight of the vehicle shall be covered by the
14 third tow truck plate issued to the owner or operator of the
15 tow truck and temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed.
16 In addition, the following conditions must be met:
17 (1) the towing vehicle must be:
18 a. specifically designed as a tow truck having
19 a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000
20 lbs. and equipped with air brakes provided that air
21 brakes shall be required only if the towing vehicle
22 is towing a vehicle, semitrailer, or tractor-trailer
23 combination that is equipped with airbrakes;
24 b. equipped with flashing, rotating or
25 oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500
26 feet in all directions; and
27 c. capable of utilizing the lighting and
28 braking systems of the disabled vehicle or
29 combination of vehicles.
30 (2) The towing of the vehicles on the highways of
31 this State shall not exceed 20 miles from the initial
32 point of wreck or disablement. Any additional movement of
33 the vehicles shall only occur upon issuance of
34 authorization for that movement under the provisions of
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1 Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
2 The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
3 additional requirements. However, nothing in this Code shall
4 prohibit a tow truck under instructions of a police officer
5 from legally clearing a disabled vehicle, that may be in
6 violation of weight limitations of this Chapter, from the
7 roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway.
8 For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
9 rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
10 manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
11 (e) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with
12 pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
13 the highways of this State in violation of the provisions of
14 any permit issued under the provisions of Sections 15-301
15 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
16 (f) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Code,
17 except for those provisions of subsection (d) of this Section
18 relating to emergency operations of public utilities and tow
19 trucks while actually engaged in the towing of a disabled
20 vehicle, and those vehicles for which the Department issues
21 overweight permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this
22 Code, the weight limitations contained in this subsection
23 shall apply to the National System of Interstate and Defense
24 Highways and other highways in the system of State highways
25 that have been designated by the Department as Class I, II,
26 or III. No vehicle shall be operated on the highways with a
27 weight in excess of 20,000 pounds carried on any one axle or
28 with a tandem axle weight in excess of 34,000 pounds, or a
29 gross weight in excess of 80,000 pounds for vehicle
30 combinations of 5 axles or more, or a gross weight on a group
31 of 2 or more consecutive axles in excess of that weight
32 produced by the application of the following formula:
33 W = 500 times the sum of (LN divided by N-1) + 12N + 36
34 Where "W" equals overall gross weight on any group of 2 or
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1 more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds; "L" equals
2 the distance measured to the nearest foot between extremes of
3 any group of 2 or more consecutive axles; and "N" equals the
4 number of axles in the group under consideration, except that
5 2 consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of
6 34,000 pounds each, provided the overall distance between the
7 first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles
8 is 36 feet or more. Provided also that a 3-axle vehicle
9 registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle manufactured prior to
10 or in the model year of 2004, and first registered in
11 Illinois prior to January 1, 2005, with a distance greater
12 than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches between the 2 rear
13 axles may transmit to the road surface a maximum weight of
14 18,000 pounds on each of the 2 rear axles with a gross weight
15 on these 2 axles not to exceed 36,000 pounds. Any vehicle
16 registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle manufactured prior to
17 or in the model year of 2004 or thereafter or first
18 registered in Illinois after December 31, 2004, may transmit
19 to the road surface a maximum of 34,000 pounds through the 2
20 rear axles and neither of the rear axles shall exceed 20,000
21 pounds.
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
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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
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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
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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
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1 part of the Interstate and Defense Highway System.
2 A 4 axle truck, registered as a special hauling vehicle,
3 specially equipped with a road surface engaging mixer
4 trailing 4th axle, used exclusively for the mixing and
5 transportation of concrete, manufactured before or in the
6 model year of 2004 and first registered in Illinois before
7 January 1, 2005, may transmit to the road surface the
8 following maximum weights: 20,000 pounds on any single axle;
9 34,000 pounds on a series of axles whose centers are more
10 than 40 inches and not more than 72 inches; and 36,000 pounds
11 on a series of axles whose centers are more than 72 inches
12 but not more than 96 inches. A vehicle of this type is not
13 subject to the bridge formula on any series of three axles,
14 but only if the gross weight of the vehicle does not exceed
15 63,000 pounds.
16 Vehicles operating under this subsection shall have
17 access for a distance of one highway mile to or from a Class
18 I highway on any street or highway, unless there is a sign
19 prohibiting the access, or 5 highway miles to or from either
20 a Class I, II, or III highway on a street or highway included
21 in the system of State highways and upon any street or
22 highway designated by local authorities or road district
23 commissioners to points of loading and unloading and to
24 facilities for food, fuel, repairs and rest.
25 Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
26 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
27 designation of highways under this subsection.
28 (g) No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of
29 vehicles over a bridge or other elevated structure
30 constituting part of a highway with a gross weight that is
31 greater than the maximum weight permitted by the Department,
32 when the structure is sign posted as provided in this
33 Section.
34 (h) The Department upon request from any local authority
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1 shall, or upon its own initiative may, conduct an
2 investigation of any bridge or other elevated structure
3 constituting a part of a highway, and if it finds that the
4 structure cannot with safety to itself withstand the weight
5 of vehicles otherwise permissible under this Code the
6 Department shall determine and declare the maximum weight of
7 vehicles that the structures can withstand, and shall cause
8 or permit suitable signs stating maximum weight to be erected
9 and maintained before each end of the structure. No person
10 shall operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles over any
11 structure with a gross weight that is greater than the posted
12 maximum weight.
13 (i) Upon the trial of any person charged with a
14 violation of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of
15 the determination of the maximum allowable weight by the
16 Department and the existence of the signs, constitutes
17 conclusive evidence of the maximum weight that can be
18 maintained with safety to the bridge or structure.
19 (Source: P.A. 89-117, eff. 7-7-95; 89-433, eff. 12-15-95;
20 90-89, eff. 1-1-98; 90-330, eff. 8-8-97; 90-655, eff.
21 7-30-98.)