Public Act 93-0186

SB1453 Enrolled                      LRB093 03407 DRH 03426 b

    AN ACT in relation to vehicles.

    Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

    Section  5.   The  Illinois  Vehicle  Code  is amended by
changing Section 15-111 as follows:

    (625 ILCS 5/15-111) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111)
    Sec. 15-111.  Wheel and axle loads and gross weights.
    (a)  On   non-designated   highways,   no   vehicle    or
combination  of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires may be
operated,  unladen  or  with  load,  when  the  total  weight
transmitted to the road surface exceeds 18,000  pounds  on  a
single  axle  or  32,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle
within the tandem exceeding 18,000 pounds except:
         (1)  when  a  different  limit  is  established  and
    posted in accordance with Section 15-316 of this Code;
         (2)  vehicles   for   which   the   Department    of
    Transportation  and  local  authorities  issue overweight
    permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this Code;
         (3)  tow trucks subject to the  conditions  provided
    in  subsection  (d)  may  not  exceed  24,000 pounds on a
    single rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle;
         (4)  any single axle  of  a  2-axle  truck  weighing
    36,000  pounds or less and not a part of a combination of
    vehicles, shall not exceed 20,000 pounds;
         (5)  any single axle of a 2-axle truck equipped with
    a personnel  lift  or  digger  derrick,  weighing  36,000
    pounds  or  less, owned and operated by a public utility,
    shall not exceed 20,000 pounds;
         (6)  any single axle of  a  2-axle  truck  specially
    equipped  with a front loading compactor used exclusively
    for garbage, refuse, or recycling may not  exceed  20,000
    pounds  per  axle,  provided that the gross weight of the
    vehicle does not exceed 40,000 pounds;
         (7)  a  truck,  not  in  combination  and  specially
    equipped with a selfcompactor or an  industrial  roll-off
    hoist   and  roll-off  container,  used  exclusively  for
    garbage or refuse operations may,  when  laden,  transmit
    upon  the  road  surface  the  following maximum weights:
    22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem
    axle;
         (8)  a  truck,   not   in   combination   and   used
    exclusively  for  the  collection of rendering materials,
    may, when laden,  transmit  upon  the  road  surface  the
    following  maximum  weights:  22,000  pounds  on a single
    axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle;
         (9)  tandem axles on a 3-axle truck registered as  a
    Special  Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the
    model year of 2014 2004 and first registered in  Illinois
    prior  to  January  1, 2015 2005, with a distance greater
    than 72 inches but not more than 96  inches  between  any
    series  of  2  axles, is allowed a combined weight on the
    series not to exceed 36,000 pounds and  neither  axle  of
    the series may exceed 18,000 pounds.  Any vehicle of this
    type  manufactured  after  the model year of 2014 2004 or
    first registered in Illinois after December 31, 2014 2004
    may not exceed a combined weight of 32,000 pounds through
    the series of 2 axles and neither axle of the series  may
    exceed 18,000 pounds;
         (10)  tandem  axles  on  a 4-axle truck mixer, whose
    fourth axle is a road  surface  engaging  mixer  trailing
    axle,  registered  as  a  Special  Hauling  Vehicle, used
    exclusively for the mixing and transportation of concrete
    and manufactured prior to or in the model  year  of  2014
    2004 and first registered in Illinois prior to January 1,
    2015 2005, with a distance greater than 72 inches but not
    more  than  96  inches  between any series of 2 axles, is
    allowed a combined weight on the  series  not  to  exceed
    36,000  pounds  and neither axle of the series may exceed
    18,000 pounds.  Any vehicle  of  this  type  manufactured
    after  the model year of 2014 2004 or first registered in
    Illinois after December 31, 2014 2004 may  not  exceed  a
    combined  weight of 32,000 pounds through the series of 2
    axles and neither axle of the series  may  exceed  18,000
    pounds;
         (11)  4-axle   vehicles   or   a   5  or  more  axle
    combination of vehicles: The weight transmitted upon  the
    road  surface through any series of 3 axles whose centers
    are more than 96 inches apart, measured  between  extreme
    axles  in the series, may not exceed those allowed in the
    table contained in subsection (f) of  this  Section.   No
    axle  or tandem axle of the series may exceed the maximum
    weight permitted under  this  Section  for  a  single  or
    tandem axle.
    No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
than  pneumatic  tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on  the
road  surface  through  any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch
width of tire tread or when the  gross  weight  on  the  road
surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
    (b)  On  non-designated  highways,  the  gross  weight of
vehicles and combination of vehicles including the weight  of
the  vehicle  or  combination  and  its maximum load shall be
subject to the foregoing limitations and  further  shall  not
exceed  the following gross weights dependent upon the number
of axles and distance between extreme axles of the vehicle or
combination measured longitudinally to the nearest foot.

VEHICLES HAVING 2 AXLES ....................... 36,000 pounds

                  VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
                       HAVING 3 AXLES
With Tandem                     With or
   Axles                        Without
                                Tandem Axles
Minimum                         Minimum
distance to        Maximum      distance to         Maximum
nearest foot       Gross        nearest foot        Gross
between            Weight       between             Weight
extreme axles      (pounds)     extreme axles       (pounds)
10 feet            41,000       16 feet             46,000
11                 42,000       17                  47,000
12                 43,000       18                  47,500
13                 44,000       19                  48,000
14                 44,500       20                  49,000
15                 45,000       21 feet or more     50,000
                  VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
                       HAVING 4 AXLES
Minimum                         Minimum
distance to        Maximum      distance to         Maximum
nearest foot       Gross        nearest foot        Gross
between            Weight       between             Weight
extreme axles      (pounds)     extreme axles       (pounds)
15 feet            50,000       26 feet             57,500
16                 50,500       27                  58,000
17                 51,500       28                  58,500
18                 52,000       29                  59,500
19                 52,500       30                  60,000
20                 53,500       31                  60,500
21                 54,000       32                  61,500
22                 54,500       33                  62,000
23                 55,500       34                  62,500
24                 56,000       35                  63,500
25                 56,500       36 feet or more     64,000
    A vehicle not in a combination having more than  4  axles
may not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (b)
for  4  axles  measured  between  the  extreme  axles  of the
vehicle.
             COMBINATIONS HAVING 5 OR MORE AXLES
Minimum distance to           Maximum
nearest foot between          Gross Weight
extreme axles                 (pounds)
42 feet or less               72,000
43                            73,000
44 feet or more               73,280

VEHICLES OPERATING ON CRAWLER TYPE TRACKS ..... 40,000 pounds

             TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SELFCOMPACTORS
   OR ROLL-OFF HOISTS AND ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS FOR GARBAGE
          OR REFUSE HAULS ONLY AND TRUCKS USED FOR
            THE COLLECTION OF RENDERING MATERIALS
           On Highway Not Part of National System
             of Interstate and Defense Highways
with 2 axles                                    36,000 pounds
with 3 axles                                    54,000 pounds

                TWO AXLE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH
         A FRONT LOADING COMPACTOR USED EXCLUSIVELY
     FOR THE COLLECTION OF GARBAGE, REFUSE, OR RECYCLING
with 2 axles                                    40,000 pounds

    (c)  Cities having a population of more than  50,000  may
permit  by  ordinance  axle loads on 2 axle motor vehicles 33
1/2% above those provided for herein, but the increase  shall
not  become  effective until the city has officially notified
the Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall  not
apply  to  those  vehicles  when outside of the limits of the
city, nor shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor  vehicle
operating over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
    (d)  Weight  limitations  shall  not  apply  to  vehicles
(including   loads)   operated   by  a  public  utility  when
transporting  equipment  required  for  emergency  repair  of
public utility facilities or properties or water wells.
    A combination of vehicles, including a tow  truck  and  a
disabled  vehicle  or  disabled combination of vehicles, that
exceeds the weight restriction imposed by this Code,  may  be
operated  on  a  public  highway  in this State provided that
neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed  nor
the  tow  truck  itself  shall  exceed the weight limitations
permitted under this Chapter. During  the  towing  operation,
neither  the  tow  truck  nor  the  vehicle combination shall
exceed 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle and 44,000  pounds
on a tandem rear axle, provided the towing vehicle:
         (1)  is  specifically designed as a tow truck having
    a gross vehicle weight rating of at least  18,000  pounds
    and is equipped with air brakes, provided that air brakes
    are  required  only  if  the  towing  vehicle is towing a
    vehicle, semitrailer, or tractor-trailer combination that
    is equipped with air brakes;
         (2)  is  equipped  with   flashing,   rotating,   or
    oscillating  amber  lights, visible for at least 500 feet
    in all directions;
         (3)  is  capable  of  utilizing  the  lighting   and
    braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination of
    vehicles; and
         (4)  does  not  engage  in  a tow exceeding 20 miles
    from the initial  point  of  wreck  or  disablement.  Any
    additional  movement  of the vehicles may occur only upon
    issuance of authorization for  that  movement  under  the
    provisions  of  Sections  15-301  through  15-319 of this
    Code.
    Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of
the tow truck  and  vehicles  being  towed.   The  tow  truck
license  plate  must  cover the operating empty weight of the
tow truck only. The weight of each vehicle being towed  shall
be  covered  by  a valid license plate issued to the owner or
operator of the vehicle being towed  and  displayed  on  that
vehicle. If no valid plate issued to the owner or operator of
that  vehicle  is  displayed  on  that  vehicle, or the plate
displayed on that vehicle does not cover the  weight  of  the
vehicle,  the  weight  of the vehicle shall be covered by the
third tow truck plate issued to the owner or operator of  the
tow truck and temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed.
    The  Department  may  by  rule  or  regulation  prescribe
additional  requirements. However, nothing in this Code shall
prohibit a tow truck under instructions of a  police  officer
from  legally  clearing  a  disabled  vehicle, that may be in
violation of weight limitations of  this  Chapter,  from  the
roadway  to  the  berm  or shoulder of the highway. If in the
opinion of the police officer that location  is  unsafe,  the
officer  is  authorized to have the disabled vehicle towed to
the nearest place of safety.
    For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle  weight
rating,  or  GVWR,  shall  mean  the  value  specified by the
manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
    (e)  No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped  with
pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
the  highways of this State in violation of the provisions of
any permit issued under the  provisions  of  Sections  15-301
through 15-319 of this Chapter.
    (f)  On  designated  Class I, II, or III highways and the
National  System  of  Interstate  and  Defense  Highways,  no
vehicle or combination of vehicles with pneumatic  tires  may
be  operated,  unladen or with load, when the total weight on
the road surface exceeds the following: 20,000  pounds  on  a
single  axle;  34,000  pounds  on  a tandem axle with no axle
within the tandem  exceeding  20,000  pounds;  80,000  pounds
gross  weight for vehicle combinations of 5 or more axles; or
a total weight on a group of 2 or more consecutive  axles  in
excess  of  that  weight  produced  by the application of the
following formula:  W = 500 times the sum of (LN  divided  by
N-1) + 12N + 36, where "W" equals overall total weight on any
group  of  2  or  more  consecutive  axles to the nearest 500
pounds, "L" equals the distance measured to the nearest  foot
between extremes of any group of 2 or more consecutive axles,
and  "N"  equals  the  number  of  axles  in  the group under
consideration.
    The above formula when expressed in tabular form  results
in allowable loads as follows:

Distance measured
to the nearest
foot between the
extremes of any         Maximum weight in pounds
group of 2 or           of any group of
more consecutive        2 or more consecutive axles
axles
      feet        2 axles  3 axles  4 axles  5 axles  6 axles
        4         34,000
        5         34,000
        6         34,000
        7         34,000
        8         38,000*   42,000
        9         39,000    42,500
       10         40,000    43,500
       11                   44,000
       12                   45,000   50,000
       13                   45,500   50,500
       14                   46,500   51,500
       15                   47,000   52,000
       16                   48,000   52,500   58,000
       17                   48,500   53,500   58,500
       18                   49,500   54,000   59,000
       19                   50,000   54,500   60,000
       20                   51,000   55,500   60,500   66,000
       21                   51,500   56,000   61,000   66,500
       22                   52,500   56,500   61,500   67,000
       23                   53,000   57,500   62,500   68,000
       24                   54,000   58,000   63,000   68,500
       25                   54,500   58,500   63,500   69,000
       26                   55,500   59,500   64,000   69,500
       27                   56,000   60,000   65,000   70,000
       28                   57,000   60,500   65,500   71,000
       29                   57,500   61,500   66,000   71,500
       30                   58,500   62,000   66,500   72,000
       31                   59,000   62,500   67,500   72,500
       32                   60,000   63,500   68,000   73,000
       33                            64,000   68,500   74,000
       34                            64,500   69,000   74,500
       35                            65,500   70,000   75,000
       36                            66,000   70,500   75,500
       37                            66,500   71,000   76,000
       38                            67,500   72,000   77,000
       39                            68,000   72,500   77,500
       40                            68,500   73,000   78,000
       41                            69,500   73,500   78,500
       42                            70,000   74,000   79,000
       43                            70,500   75,000   80,000
       44                            71,500   75,500
       45                            72,000   76,000
       46                            72,500   76,500
       47                            73,500   77,500
       48                            74,000   78,000
       49                            74,500   78,500
       50                            75,500   79,000
       51                            76,000   80,000
       52                            76,500
       53                            77,500
       54                            78,000
       55                            78,500
       56                            79,500
       57                            80,000
*If  the distance between 2 axles is 96 inches or less, the 2
axles are tandem axles and the maximum total weight  may  not
exceed   34,000  pounds,  notwithstanding  the  higher  limit
resulting from the application of the formula.
    Vehicles not in a combination having more  than  4  axles
may not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f)
for  4  axles  measured  between  the  extreme  axles  of the
vehicle.
    Vehicles in a combination having more than  6  axles  may
not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f) for
6   axles   measured   between   the  extreme  axles  of  the
combination.
    Local   authorities    and    road    district    highway
commissioners,  with  respect  to  streets and highways under
their jurisdiction, without  additional  fees,  may  also  by
ordinance  or resolution allow the weight limitations of this
subsection, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle
shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum  total  weight
on  any  tandem  axle  shall  not  exceed  34,000  pounds, on
designated highways when appropriate regulatory signs  giving
notice  are  erected upon the street or highway or portion of
any  street  or  highway  affected  by   the   ordinance   or
resolution.
    The following are exceptions to the above formula:
         (1)  Two  consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry
    a total weight of  34,000  pounds  each  if  the  overall
    distance   between  the  first  and  last  axles  of  the
    consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
         (2)  Vehicles  for  which  a  different   limit   is
    established  and posted in accordance with Section 15-316
    of this Code.
         (3)  Vehicles   for   which   the   Department    of
    Transportation  and  local  authorities  issue overweight
    permits under authority of Section 15-301 of  this  Code.
    These vehicles are not subject to the bridge formula.
         (4)  Tow  trucks  subject to the conditions provided
    in subsection (d) may  not  exceed  24,000  pounds  on  a
    single rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle.
         (5)  A tandem axle on a 3-axle truck registered as a
    Special  Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the
    model year of 2014 2004, and registered in Illinois prior
    to January 1, 2015 2005, with a distance between 2  axles
    in  a  series greater than 72 inches but not more than 96
    inches may not exceed a total weight of 36,000 pounds and
    neither axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds.
         (6)  A truck not in  combination,  equipped  with  a
    self  compactor  or  an  industrial  roll-off  hoist  and
    roll-off  container,  used  exclusively  for  garbage  or
    refuse  operations,  may,  when  laden, transmit upon the
    road surface, except when on part of the National  System
    of Interstate and Defense Highways, the following maximum
    weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on
    a  tandem  axle;  36,000  pounds gross weight on a 2-axle
    vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a 3-axle  vehicle.
    This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
         (7)  Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special
    Hauling  Vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured
    prior  to  or  in  the  model  year  of  2014  2004,  and
    registered in Illinois prior to  January  1,  2015  2005,
    having 5 axles with a distance of 42 feet or less between
    extreme  axles,  may  not  exceed  the  following maximum
    weights: 18,000 pounds on a single axle; 32,000 pounds on
    a tandem axle;  and  72,000  pounds  gross  weight.  This
    combination  of  vehicles  is  not  subject to the bridge
    formula.  For all those  combinations  of  vehicles  that
    include  a  semitrailer  manufactured after the effective
    date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly,
    the overall distance between the first and last axles  of
    the  2  sets of tandems must be 18 feet 6 inches or more.
    Any combination  of  vehicles  that  has  had  its  cargo
    container  replaced  in  its  entirety after December 31,
    2014 2004 may not  exceed  the  weights  allowed  by  the
    bridge formula.
    No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
than  pneumatic  tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on  the
road  surface  through  any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch
width of tire tread or when the  gross  weight  on  the  road
surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
    (f-1)  A  vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds is
allowed access as follows:
         (1)  From any  State  designated  highway  onto  any
    county,  township, or municipal highway for a distance of
    5 highway miles for the purpose of loading and unloading,
    provided:
              (A)  The vehicle and load  does  not  exceed  8
         feet 6 inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
              (B)  There is no sign prohibiting that access.
              (C)  The   route   is   not  being  used  as  a
         thoroughfare between State  designated highways.
         (2)  From any  State  designated  highway  onto  any
    county  or  township  highway for a distance of 5 highway
    miles, or any municipal highway for  a  distance  of  one
    highway  mile for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs, and
    rest, provided:
              (A)  The vehicle and load  does  not  exceed  8
         feet 6 inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
              (B)  There is no sign prohibiting that access.
              (C)  The   route   is   not  being  used  as  a
         thoroughfare between State designated highways.
    (f-2)  A vehicle and load greater than 73,280  pounds  in
weight  but  not exceeding 80,000 pounds is allowed access as
follows:
         (1)  From a Class  I  highway  onto  any  street  or
    highway  for  a  distance  of  one  highway  mile for the
    purpose of loading, unloading, food, fuel,  repairs,  and
    rest, provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
         (2)  From  a  Class  I,  II, or III highway onto any
    State highway or  any  local  designated  highway  for  a
    distance  of  5 highway miles for the purpose of loading,
    unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest.
    Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to  the
designation of highways under this subsection.
    (g)  No  person shall operate a vehicle or combination of
vehicles  over  a  bridge   or   other   elevated   structure
constituting  part  of  a highway with a gross weight that is
greater than the maximum weight permitted by the  Department,
when  the  structure  is  sign  posted  as  provided  in this
Section.
    (h)  The Department upon request from any local authority
shall,  or  upon  its  own   initiative   may,   conduct   an
investigation  of  any  bridge  or  other  elevated structure
constituting a part of a highway, and if it  finds  that  the
structure  cannot  with safety to itself withstand the weight
of  vehicles  otherwise  permissible  under  this  Code   the
Department  shall determine and declare the maximum weight of
vehicles that the structures can withstand, and  shall  cause
or permit suitable signs stating maximum weight to be erected
and  maintained  before each end of the structure.  No person
shall operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles  over  any
structure with a gross weight that is greater than the posted
maximum weight.
    (i)  Upon   the  trial  of  any  person  charged  with  a
violation of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of
the determination of the  maximum  allowable  weight  by  the
Department  and  the  existence  of  the  signs,  constitutes
conclusive  evidence  of  the  maximum  weight  that  can  be
maintained with safety to the bridge or structure.
(Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02.)

    Section  99.   Effective  date.   This  Act  takes effect
January 1, 2004.