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92_SB0324
LRB9204275DHmb
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 Sections 15-107 and 15-111 as follows:
6 (625 ILCS 5/15-107) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-107)
7 Sec. 15-107. Length of vehicles.
8 (a) Unless otherwise provided for in this Code, no
9 single vehicle, with or without load, other than a
10 semitrailer that is not a housetrailer, shall exceed an
11 overall length of 42 feet.
12 (b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (f) and
13 unless otherwise provided in this Code, no truck tractor and
14 semitrailer, unladen or with load, except a semitrailer other
15 than a house trailer, shall exceed a length of 55 feet
16 extreme overall dimension, except that the combination when
17 specially designed to transport motor vehicles may have a
18 length of 60 feet extreme overall dimension, subject to those
19 exceptions and special rules otherwise stated in this Code.
20 No other combination of vehicles, unladen or with load, shall
21 exceed a length of 60 feet extreme overall dimension.
22 (c) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one trailer, or
23 a converter dolly, or a vehicle that is special mobile
24 equipment if the extreme length of the combination does not
25 exceed 60 feet, and a truck in transit may draw 3 trucks in
26 transit coupled together by the triple saddlemount method.
27 Except as otherwise provided, no other combinations of
28 vehicles coupled together shall consist of more than 2
29 vehicles. For the purposes of this paragraph, a tow-dolly
30 that merely serves as substitute wheels for another legally
31 licensed vehicle will be considered part of the vehicle and
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1 not as a separate vehicle.
2 Vehicles in combination, whether being operated
3 intrastate or interstate, shall be operated and towed in
4 compliance with all requirements of Federal Highway
5 Administration, Title 49, C. F. R., Motor Carrier Safety
6 Regulations, pertaining to coupling devices and towing
7 methods and all other equipment safety requirements set forth
8 in the regulations.
9 (d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code,
10 there is no overall length limitation on motor vehicles
11 operating in truck tractor-semitrailer or truck
12 tractor-semitrailer-trailer combinations, except that
13 maxi-cube combinations as defined in this Section, and a
14 combination of vehicles specifically designed to transport
15 motor vehicles or boats, shall not exceed 65 feet overall
16 length, and provided that a stinger steered combination of
17 vehicles specifically designed to transport motor vehicles or
18 boats and a truck in transit transporting 3 trucks coupled
19 together by the triple saddlemount method shall not exceed 75
20 feet overall length, with the length limitations inclusive of
21 front and rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the
22 transported vehicles as provided for in paragraph (i) of this
23 Section, upon the National System of Interstate and Defense
24 Highways or any other highways in the system of State
25 highways that have been designated Class I highways by the
26 Department or any street or highway designated by local
27 authorities or road district commissioners; provided that the
28 length of the semitrailer unit, unladen or with load,
29 operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination shall not
30 exceed 53 feet and the distance between the kingpin and the
31 center of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet
32 shall not exceed 45 feet, 6 inches; and provided that the
33 length of any semitrailer or trailer, unladen or with load,
34 operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination
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1 shall not exceed 28 feet 6 inches.
2 The length limitations described in this paragraph (d)
3 shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
4 such as rear view mirrors, turn signals, marker lamps, steps
5 and handholds for entry and egress, flexible fender
6 extensions, bumpers, mudflaps and splash and spray
7 suppressant devices, load-induced tire bulge, refrigeration
8 units or air compressors and other devices, that the
9 Department may interpret as necessary for safe and efficient
10 operation; except that no device excluded under this
11 paragraph shall have by its design or use the capability to
12 carry cargo.
13 Vehicles operating under this paragraph (d) shall have
14 access for a distance of one highway mile to or from a Class
15 I highway on any street or highway, unless there is a sign
16 prohibiting the access, or 5 highway miles on a street or
17 highway in the system of State highways, and upon any street
18 or highway designated, without additional fees, by local
19 authorities or road district commissioners, to points of
20 loading and unloading and facilities for food, fuel, repairs
21 and rest. Household goods carriers shall have access to
22 points of loading and unloading.
23 Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
24 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
25 designation of highways under this paragraph (d).
26 (e) In addition to the designation of highways under
27 paragraph (d) the Department may designate other streets or
28 highways in the system of State highways as Class II
29 highways. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code,
30 effective June 1, 1996 there is no overall length limitation
31 on motor vehicles operating in truck tractor-semitrailer
32 combinations operating upon designated Class II highways,
33 provided the length of the semitrailer unit, unladen or with
34 load, operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination
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1 shall not exceed 53 feet and the distance between the kingpin
2 and the center of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than
3 48 feet shall not exceed 45 feet, 6 inches. A truck
4 tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination may be operated
5 provided that the wheelbase between the front axle and rear
6 axle shall not exceed 65 feet and the length of any
7 semitrailer or trailer, unladen or with load, in a
8 combination shall not exceed 28 feet 6 inches. Local
9 authorities and road district commissioners with respect to
10 streets and highways under their jurisdiction, may also by
11 ordinance or resolution allow the length limitations of this
12 paragraph (e).
13 A maxi-cube combination, a truck in transit transporting
14 3 trucks coupled together by the triple saddlemount method,
15 and a combination of vehicles specifically designed to
16 transport motor vehicles or boats may operate on the
17 designated streets or highways provided the overall length
18 shall not exceed 65 feet, and provided that a stinger steered
19 combination of vehicles specifically designed to transport
20 motor vehicles or boats shall not exceed 75 feet overall
21 length, with the length limitations inclusive of front and
22 rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the transported
23 vehicles as provided for in paragraph (i) of this Section.
24 The length limitations described in this paragraph (e)
25 shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
26 such as rear view mirrors, turn signals, marker lamps, steps
27 and handholds for entry and egress, flexible fender
28 extensions, bumpers, mudflaps and splash and spray
29 suppressant devices, load-induced tire bulge, refrigeration
30 units or air compressors and other devices, that the
31 Department may interpret as necessary for safe and efficient
32 operation; except that no device excluded under this
33 paragraph shall have by its design or use the capability to
34 carry cargo.
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1 Vehicles operating under this paragraph (e) shall have
2 access for a distance of 5 highway miles on a street or
3 highway in the system of State highways, and upon any street
4 or highway designated by local authorities or road district
5 commissioners, to points of loading and unloading and to
6 facilities for food, fuel, repairs and rest. Household goods
7 carriers shall have access to points of loading and
8 unloading.
9 Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
10 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
11 designation of highways under this paragraph (e).
12 (f) On any street or highway in the system of State
13 highways that has not been designated by the Department under
14 paragraph (d) or (e), the wheelbase between the front axle
15 and the rear axle in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination
16 shall not exceed 55 feet or, effective June 1, 1996, no truck
17 tractor and semitrailer, unladen or with load, except a
18 semitrailer other than a house trailer, shall exceed a length
19 of 65 feet between extreme overall dimensions, the length of
20 the semitrailer, unladen or with load, shall not exceed 53
21 feet and the distance between the kingpin and the center of
22 the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet shall not
23 exceed 42 feet, 6 inches. On any street or highway in the
24 State system of highways that has not been designated by the
25 Department under paragraph (d) or (e), no truck
26 tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination shall exceed a length
27 of 60 feet extreme overall dimension.
28 (g) Length limitations in the preceding subsections of
29 this Section 15-107 shall not apply to vehicles operated in
30 the daytime, except on Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays,
31 when transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of
32 a structural nature that cannot readily be dismembered, nor
33 to vehicles transporting those objects operated on Saturdays,
34 Sundays or legal holidays or at nighttime by a public utility
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1 when required for emergency repair of public service
2 facilities or properties, but in respect to the night
3 operation every vehicle and the load thereon shall be
4 equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both
5 sides and marker lamps upon the extreme ends of any
6 projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load,
7 provided that the overall length of vehicle and load shall
8 not exceed 100 feet and no object exceeding 80 feet in length
9 shall be transported, except by a public utility when
10 required for emergency repairs, unless a permit has first
11 been obtained as authorized in Section 15-301. A combination
12 of vehicles, including a tow truck and a disabled vehicle or
13 disabled combination of vehicles, that exceeds the length
14 restriction imposed by this Code, may be operated on a public
15 highway in this State upon the following conditions:
16 (1) The towing vehicle must be:
17 a. specifically designed as a tow truck having
18 a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000
19 lbs. and equipped with air brakes;
20 b. equipped with flashing, rotating or
21 oscillating amber lights, visible for a 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 vehicles on the highways of this
27 State shall not exceed 50 miles from the initial point of
28 wreck or disablement. Any additional movement of the
29 vehicles shall only occur upon issuance of authorization
30 for that movement under the provisions of Section 15-301
31 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
32 The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
33 additional requirements regarding length limitations for a
34 tow truck towing another vehicle. Notwithstanding any rule or
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1 regulation or any other provision of this Code, however, a
2 towing vehicle that meets the requirements of subparagraph
3 (1) of this paragraph (g) may tow any disabled vehicle or
4 combination of vehicles from the initial point of wreck or
5 disablement to a point where repairs are actually to occur.
6 For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
7 rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
8 manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck. Legal
9 holidays referred to in this Section shall be specified as
10 the day on which the following traditional holidays are
11 celebrated:
12 New Year's Day;
13 Memorial Day;
14 Independence Day;
15 Labor Day;
16 Thanksgiving Day; and
17 Christmas Day.
18 (h) The load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the
19 load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles,
20 shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the front wheels of
21 the vehicle or the front bumper of the vehicle if it is
22 equipped with a front bumper. The provisions of this
23 subsection (h) shall not apply to any vehicle or combination
24 of vehicles specifically designed for the collection and
25 transportation of waste, garbage, or recyclable materials
26 during the vehicle's operation in the course of collecting
27 garbage, waste, or recyclable materials if the vehicle is
28 traveling at a speed not in excess of 15 miles per hour
29 during the vehicle's operation and in the course of
30 collecting garbage, waste, or recyclable materials. However,
31 in no instance shall the load extend more than 7 feet beyond
32 the front wheels of the vehicle or the front bumper of the
33 vehicle if it is equipped with a front bumper.
34 (i) The load upon the front vehicle of a combination of
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1 vehicles specifically designed to transport motor vehicles
2 shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the foremost part of
3 the transporting vehicle and the load upon the rear
4 transporting vehicle shall not extend more than 4 feet beyond
5 the rear of the bed or body of the vehicle. This paragraph
6 shall only be applicable upon highways designated in
7 paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section.
8 (j) Articulated vehicles comprised of 2 sections,
9 neither of which exceeds a length of 42 feet, designed for
10 the carrying of more than 10 persons, may be up to 60 feet in
11 length, not including energy absorbing bumpers, provided that
12 the vehicles are:
13 1. operated by or for any public body or motor
14 carrier authorized by law to provide public
15 transportation services; or
16 2. operated in local public transportation service
17 by any other person and the municipality in which the
18 service is to be provided approved the operation of the
19 vehicle.
20 (j-1) Charter or regulated route buses may be up to 45
21 feet in length, not including energy absorbing bumpers.
22 (k) Any person who is convicted of violating this
23 Section is subject to the penalty as provided in paragraph
24 (b) of Section 15-113.
25 (l) A combination of 3 vehicles not to exceed 60 feet
26 overall length may be operated on the highways of the State,
27 provided that the vehicles meet the following requirements:
28 (1) The towing vehicle is a properly registered
29 vehicle capable of towing another vehicle using a
30 fifth-wheel type assembly.
31 (2) The second vehicle in the combination of
32 vehicles shall be a recreational vehicle that is towed by
33 a fifth-wheel assembly. This vehicle shall be properly
34 registered and be equipped with brakes regardless of
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1 weight.
2 (3) The third vehicle shall be the lightest of the
3 3 vehicles and be a trailer or semi-trailer designed or
4 used for transporting a boat, all-terrain vehicle,
5 personal watercraft, or motorcycle.
6 (4) The towed vehicles may only be for the use of
7 the operator of the towing vehicle.
8 (5) All vehicles shall be properly equipped with
9 operating brakes and safety equipment required by this
10 Code, except the additional brake requirement in
11 paragraph (2) above.
12 (Source: P.A. 89-219, eff. 1-1-96; 89-434, eff. 6-1-96;
13 89-626, eff. 8-9-96; 90-89, eff. 1-1-98; 90-147, eff.
14 7-23-97; 90-407, eff. 8-15-97; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)
15 (625 ILCS 5/15-111) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111)
16 Sec. 15-111. Wheel and axle loads and gross weights.
17 (a) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with
18 pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
19 the highways of this State when the gross weight on the road
20 surface through any single axle thereof exceeds 18,000
21 pounds, except when a different limit is established and
22 posted in accordance with Section 15-316 and except any
23 single axle of a 2 axle motor vehicle weighing 36,000 pounds
24 or less and not a part of a combination of vehicles, shall
25 not exceed 20,000 pounds. Provided, however, that any single
26 axle of a 2 axle motor vehicle equipped with a personnel lift
27 or digger derrick, weighing 36,000 pounds or less, owned and
28 operated by a public utility, shall not exceed 20,000 pounds.
29 No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
30 than pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load,
31 upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
32 road surface through any wheel thereof exceeds 800 pounds per
33 inch width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road
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1 surface through any axle thereof exceeds 16,000 pounds. The
2 gross weight transmitted to the road surface through tandem
3 axles shall not exceed 32,000 pounds and no axle of the
4 series shall exceed the maximum weight permitted under this
5 Section for a single axle. Provided that on a 4 axle vehicle
6 or on a 5 or more axle combination of vehicles the weight on
7 a series of 3 axles whose centers are more than 96 inches
8 apart, measured between extreme axles in the series, shall
9 not exceed those allowed on 3 axles in the table contained in
10 subsection (f) of this Section and no axle or tandem axle of
11 the series shall exceed the maximum weight permitted under
12 this Section for a single or tandem axle. Provided also that
13 a 3 axle vehicle or 3 axle truck mixer registered as a
14 Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for the mixing and
15 transportation of concrete, specially equipped with a road
16 surface engaging mixer trailing 4th axle, manufactured
17 prior to or in the model year of 2004 and first registered in
18 Illinois prior to January 1, 2005, with a distance greater
19 than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches between any series
20 of 2 axles may transmit to the road surface a maximum weight
21 of 18,000 pounds on each of these axles with a gross weight
22 on these 2 axles not to exceed 36,000 pounds. Any such
23 vehicle manufactured in the model year of 2004 or thereafter
24 or first registered in Illinois after December 31, 2004 may
25 transmit to the road surface a maximum of 32,000 pounds
26 through these 2 axles and none of the axles shall exceed
27 18,000 pounds.
28 A truck, not in combination and specially equipped with a
29 selfcompactor, or an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off
30 container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse operations,
31 and a truck used exclusively for the collection of rendering
32 materials may, however, when laden, transmit upon the road
33 surface of any highway except when part of the National
34 System of Interstate and Defense Highways, a gross weight
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1 upon a single axle not more than 22,000 pounds, and upon a
2 tandem axle not more than 40,000 pounds. When unladen,
3 however, those trucks shall comply with the axle limitations
4 applicable to all other trucks.
5 A 2 axle truck specially equipped with a front loading
6 compactor used exclusively for garbage, refuse, or recycling
7 may transmit 20,000 pounds per axle provided that the gross
8 weight of the vehicle does not exceed 40,000 pounds.
9 (b) The gross weight of vehicles and combination of
10 vehicles including the weight of the vehicle or combination
11 and its maximum load shall be subject to the foregoing
12 limitations and further shall not exceed the following gross
13 weights dependent upon the number of axles and distance
14 between extreme axles of the vehicle or combination measured
15 longitudinally to the nearest foot.
16 VEHICLES HAVING 2 AXLES ....................... 36,000 pounds
17 VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
18 HAVING 3 AXLES
19 With Tandem With or
20 Axles Without
21 Tandem Axles
22 Minimum Minimum
23 distance to Maximum distance to Maximum
24 nearest foot Gross nearest foot Gross
25 between Weight between Weight
26 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
27 10 feet 41,000 16 feet 46,000
28 11 42,000 17 47,000
29 12 43,000 18 47,500
30 13 44,000 19 48,000
31 14 44,500 20 49,000
32 15 45,000 21 feet or more 50,000
33 VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
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1 HAVING 4 AXLES
2 Minimum Minimum
3 distance to Maximum distance to Maximum
4 nearest foot Gross nearest foot Gross
5 between Weight between Weight
6 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
7 15 feet 50,000 26 feet 57,500
8 16 50,500 27 58,000
9 17 51,500 28 58,500
10 18 52,000 29 59,500
11 19 52,500 30 60,000
12 20 53,500 31 60,500
13 21 54,000 32 61,500
14 22 54,500 33 62,000
15 23 55,500 34 62,500
16 24 56,000 35 63,500
17 25 56,500 36 feet or more 64,000
18 In applying the above table to a vehicle having more than
19 4 axles that is not in combination, only 4 axles shall be
20 considered in determining the maximum gross weights.
21 COMBINATIONS HAVING 5 OR MORE AXLES
22 Minimum distance to Maximum
23 nearest foot between Gross Weight
24 extreme axles (pounds)
25 42 feet or less 72,000
26 43 73,000
27 44 feet or more 73,280
28 VEHICLES OPERATING ON CRAWLER TYPE TRACKS ..... 40,000 pounds
29 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SELFCOMPACTORS
30 OR ROLL-OFF HOISTS AND ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS FOR GARBAGE
31 OR REFUSE HAULS ONLY AND TRUCKS USED FOR
32 THE COLLECTION OF RENDERING MATERIALS
33 On Highway Not Part of National System
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1 of Interstate and Defense Highways
2 with 2 axles 36,000 pounds
3 with 3 axles 54,000 pounds
4 TWO AXLE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH
5 A FRONT LOADING COMPACTOR USED EXCLUSIVELY
6 FOR THE COLLECTION OF GARBAGE, REFUSE, OR RECYCLING
7 with 2 axles 40,000 pounds
8 (c) Cities having a population of more than 50,000 may
9 permit by ordinance axle loads on 2 axle motor vehicles 33
10 1/2% above those provided for herein, but the increase shall
11 not become effective until the city has officially notified
12 the Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall not
13 apply to those vehicles when outside of the limits of the
14 city, nor shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor vehicle
15 operating over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
16 (d) Weight limitations shall not apply to vehicles
17 (including loads) operated by a public utility when
18 transporting equipment required for emergency repair of
19 public utility facilities or properties or water wells.
20 A combination of vehicles, including a tow truck and a
21 disabled vehicle or disabled combination of vehicles, that
22 exceeds the weight restriction imposed by this Code, may be
23 operated on a public highway in this State provided that
24 neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor
25 the tow truck itself shall exceed the weight limitations
26 permitted under this Chapter. During the towing operation,
27 neither the tow truck nor the vehicle combination shall
28 exceed the following axle weight limitations:
29 A. 24,000 pounds - Single rear axle;
30 B. 44,000 pounds - Tandem rear axle;
31 Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of
32 the tow truck and vehicles being towed. The tow truck
33 license plate must cover the operating empty weight of the
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1 tow truck only. The weight of each vehicle being towed shall
2 be covered by a valid license plate issued to the owner or
3 operator of the vehicle being towed and displayed on that
4 vehicle. If no valid plate issued to the owner or operator of
5 that vehicle is displayed on that vehicle, or the plate
6 displayed on that vehicle does not cover the weight of the
7 vehicle, the weight of the vehicle shall be covered by the
8 third tow truck plate issued to the owner or operator of the
9 tow truck and temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed.
10 In addition, the following conditions must be met:
11 (1) the towing vehicle must be:
12 a. specifically designed as a tow truck having
13 a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000
14 lbs. and equipped with air brakes provided that air
15 brakes shall be required only if the towing vehicle
16 is towing a vehicle, semitrailer, or tractor-trailer
17 combination that is equipped with airbrakes;
18 b. equipped with flashing, rotating or
19 oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500
20 feet in all directions; and
21 c. capable of utilizing the lighting and
22 braking systems of the disabled vehicle or
23 combination of vehicles.
24 (2) The towing of the vehicles on the highways of
25 this State shall not exceed 20 miles from the initial
26 point of wreck or disablement. Any additional movement of
27 the vehicles shall only occur upon issuance of
28 authorization for that movement under the provisions of
29 Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
30 The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
31 additional requirements. However, nothing in this Code shall
32 prohibit a tow truck under instructions of a police officer
33 from legally clearing a disabled vehicle, that may be in
34 violation of weight limitations of this Chapter, from the
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1 roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway. Furthermore,
2 nothing in this Code nor any rule or regulation prohibits a
3 towing vehicle that meets the requirements of paragraph (1)
4 of this subsection (d) from towing any disabled vehicle or
5 combination of vehicles from the initial point of wreck or
6 disablement to a point where repairs are actually to occur.
7 For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
8 rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
9 manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
10 (e) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with
11 pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
12 the highways of this State in violation of the provisions of
13 any permit issued under the provisions of Sections 15-301
14 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
15 (f) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Code,
16 except for those provisions of subsection (d) of this Section
17 relating to emergency operations of public utilities and tow
18 trucks while actually engaged in the towing of a disabled
19 vehicle, and those vehicles for which the Department issues
20 overweight permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this
21 Code, the weight limitations contained in this subsection
22 shall apply to the National System of Interstate and Defense
23 Highways and other highways in the system of State highways
24 that have been designated by the Department as Class I, II,
25 or III. No vehicle shall be operated on the highways with a
26 weight in excess of 20,000 pounds carried on any one axle or
27 with a tandem axle weight in excess of 34,000 pounds, or a
28 gross weight in excess of 80,000 pounds for vehicle
29 combinations of 5 axles or more, or a gross weight on a group
30 of 2 or more consecutive axles in excess of that weight
31 produced by the application of the following formula:
32 W = 500 times the sum of (LN divided by N-1) + 12N + 36
33 Where "W" equals overall gross weight on any group of 2 or
34 more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds; "L" equals
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1 the distance measured to the nearest foot between extremes of
2 any group of 2 or more consecutive axles; and "N" equals the
3 number of axles in the group under consideration, except that
4 2 consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of
5 34,000 pounds each, provided the overall distance between the
6 first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles
7 is 36 feet or more. Provided also that a 3-axle vehicle
8 registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle manufactured prior to
9 or in the model year of 2004, and first registered in
10 Illinois prior to January 1, 2005, with a distance greater
11 than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches between the 2 rear
12 axles may transmit to the road surface a maximum weight of
13 18,000 pounds on each of the 2 rear axles with a gross weight
14 on these 2 axles not to exceed 36,000 pounds. Any vehicle
15 registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle manufactured prior to
16 or in the model year of 2004 or thereafter or first
17 registered in Illinois after December 31, 2004, may transmit
18 to the road surface a maximum of 34,000 pounds through the 2
19 rear axles and neither of the rear axles shall exceed 20,000
20 pounds.
21 The above formula when expressed in tabular form results
22 in allowable loads as follows:
23 Distance measured
24 to the nearest
25 foot between the
26 extremes of any Maximum load in pounds
27 group of 2 or carried on any group of
28 more consecutive 2 or more consecutive axles
29 axles
30 feet 2 axles 3 axles 4 axles 5 axles 6 axles
31 4 34,000
32 5 34,000
33 6 34,000
34 7 34,000
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1 8 38,000* 42,000
2 9 39,000 42,500
3 10 40,000 43,500
4 11 44,000
5 12 45,000 50,000
6 13 45,500 50,500
7 14 46,500 51,500
8 15 47,000 52,000
9 16 48,000 52,500 58,000
10 17 48,500 53,500 58,500
11 18 49,500 54,000 59,000
12 19 50,000 54,500 60,000
13 20 51,000 55,500 60,500 66,000
14 21 51,500 56,000 61,000 66,500
15 22 52,500 56,500 61,500 67,000
16 23 53,000 57,500 62,500 68,000
17 24 54,000 58,000 63,000 68,500
18 25 54,500 58,500 63,500 69,000
19 26 55,500 59,500 64,000 69,500
20 27 56,000 60,000 65,000 70,000
21 28 57,000 60,500 65,500 71,000
22 29 57,500 61,500 66,000 71,500
23 30 58,500 62,000 66,500 72,000
24 31 59,000 62,500 67,500 72,500
25 32 60,000 63,500 68,000 73,000
26 33 64,000 68,500 74,000
27 34 64,500 69,000 74,500
28 35 65,500 70,000 75,000
29 36 66,000 70,500 75,500
30 37 66,500 71,000 76,000
31 38 67,500 72,000 77,000
32 39 68,000 72,500 77,500
33 40 68,500 73,000 78,000
34 41 69,500 73,500 78,500
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1 42 70,000 74,000 79,000
2 43 70,500 75,000 80,000
3 44 71,500 75,500
4 45 72,000 76,000
5 46 72,500 76,500
6 47 73,500 77,500
7 48 74,000 78,000
8 49 74,500 78,500
9 50 75,500 79,000
10 51 76,000 80,000
11 52 76,500
12 53 77,500
13 54 78,000
14 55 78,500
15 56 79,500
16 57 80,000
17 *If the distance between 2 axles is 96 inches or less, the 2
18 axles are tandem axles and the maximum load permitted is
19 34,000 pounds, notwithstanding the higher limit resulting
20 from the application of the formula.
21 In applying the above formula to a vehicle having more
22 than 4 axles that is not a combination, only 4 axles shall be
23 considered in determining the maximum gross weight, and for a
24 combination of vehicles having more than 6 axles, only 6
25 axles shall be considered in determining the maximum gross
26 weight.
27 Notwithstanding the above table, 2 consecutive sets of
28 tandem axles may carry a gross weight of 34,000 pounds each
29 if the overall distance between the first and last axles of
30 the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
31 Local authorities and road district highway
32 commissioners, with respect to streets and highways under
33 their jurisdiction, without additional fees, may also by
34 ordinance or resolution allow the weight limitations of this
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1 subsection, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle
2 shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum gross weight
3 on any tandem axle shall not exceed 34,000 pounds, on
4 designated highways when appropriate regulatory signs giving
5 notice are erected upon the street or highway or portion of
6 any street or highway affected by the ordinance or
7 resolution.
8 Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special Hauling
9 Vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured prior to or
10 in the model year of 2004, and first registered in Illinois
11 prior to January 1, 2005, having 5 axles with a distance of
12 42 feet or less between extreme axles shall be limited to the
13 weights prescribed in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section
14 and not subject to the bridge formula on the National System
15 of Interstate and Defense Highways and other highways in the
16 system of State highways designated by the Department. For
17 all those combinations of vehicles, that include a
18 semitrailer manufactured after the effective date of this
19 amendatory Act of 1986, the overall distance between the
20 first and last axles of the 2 sets of tandems must be 18 feet
21 6 inches or more. All combinations of vehicles registered as
22 Special Hauling Vehicles that include a semitrailer
23 manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2004 or
24 thereafter or first registered in Illinois after December 31,
25 2004, or that has had its cargo container replaced in its
26 entirety after December 31, 2004, are limited to the gross
27 weight allowed by the above formula.
28 A truck not in combination, equipped with a self
29 compactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off
30 container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse operations,
31 shall be allowed the weights as prescribed in subsections (a)
32 and (b) of this Section and not subject to the bridge
33 formula, provided they are not operated on a highway that is
34 part of the Interstate and Defense Highway System.
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1 Vehicles operating under this subsection shall have
2 access for a distance of one highway mile to or from a Class
3 I highway on any street or highway, unless there is a sign
4 prohibiting the access, or 5 highway miles to or from either
5 a Class I, II, or III highway on a street or highway included
6 in the system of State highways and upon any street or
7 highway designated by local authorities or road district
8 commissioners to points of loading and unloading and to
9 facilities for food, fuel, repairs and rest.
10 Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
11 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
12 designation of highways under this subsection.
13 (g) No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of
14 vehicles over a bridge or other elevated structure
15 constituting part of a highway with a gross weight that is
16 greater than the maximum weight permitted by the Department,
17 when the structure is sign posted as provided in this
18 Section.
19 (h) The Department upon request from any local authority
20 shall, or upon its own initiative may, conduct an
21 investigation of any bridge or other elevated structure
22 constituting a part of a highway, and if it finds that the
23 structure cannot with safety to itself withstand the weight
24 of vehicles otherwise permissible under this Code the
25 Department shall determine and declare the maximum weight of
26 vehicles that the structures can withstand, and shall cause
27 or permit suitable signs stating maximum weight to be erected
28 and maintained before each end of the structure. No person
29 shall operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles over any
30 structure with a gross weight that is greater than the posted
31 maximum weight.
32 (i) Upon the trial of any person charged with a
33 violation of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of
34 the determination of the maximum allowable weight by the
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1 Department and the existence of the signs, constitutes
2 conclusive evidence of the maximum weight that can be
3 maintained with safety to the bridge or structure.
4 (Source: P.A. 89-117, eff. 7-7-95; 89-433, eff. 12-15-95;
5 90-89, eff. 1-1-98; 90-330, eff. 8-8-97; 90-655, eff.
6 7-30-98.)