093_SB0330
LRB093 08254 DRH 08467 b
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) The maximum length of a single vehicle on any
9 highway of this State may not exceed 42 feet except the
10 following:
11 (1) Semitrailers.
12 (2) Charter or regulated route buses may be up to
13 45 feet in length, not including energy absorbing
14 bumpers.
15 (a-1) A motor home as defined in Section 1-145.01 may be
16 up to 45 feet in length, not including energy absorbing
17 bumpers. The length limitations described in this subsection
18 (a-1) shall be exclusive of energy-absorbing bumpers and rear
19 view mirrors.
20 (b) On all non-State highways, the maximum length of
21 vehicles in combinations is as follows:
22 (1) A truck tractor in combination with a
23 semitrailer may not exceed 55 feet overall dimension.
24 (2) A truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer may not
25 exceed 60 feet overall dimension.
26 (3) Combinations specially designed to transport
27 motor vehicles or boats may not exceed 60 feet overall
28 dimension.
29 Vehicles operating during daylight hours when
30 transporting poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects of a
31 structural nature that cannot readily be dismembered are
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1 exempt from length limitations, provided that no object may
2 exceed 80 feet in length and the overall dimension of the
3 vehicle including the load may not exceed 100 feet. This
4 exemption does not apply to operation on a Saturday, Sunday,
5 or legal holiday. Legal holidays referred to in this Section
6 are the days on which the following traditional holidays are
7 celebrated: New Year's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day;
8 Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
9 Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while en
10 route to make emergency repairs to public service facilities
11 or properties are exempt from length limitations, provided
12 that during night operations every vehicle and its load must
13 be equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on
14 both sides and marker lamps on the extreme ends of any
15 projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
16 A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle or
17 combination of disabled vehicles, as provided in paragraph
18 (6) of subsection (c) of this Section, is exempt from length
19 limitations.
20 All other combinations not listed in this subsection (b)
21 may not exceed 60 feet overall dimension.
22 (c) Combinations of vehicles may not exceed a total of 2
23 vehicles except the following:
24 (1) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one
25 trailer.
26 (2) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one
27 converter dolly.
28 (3) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one
29 vehicle that is defined in Chapter 1 as special mobile
30 equipment, provided the overall dimension does not exceed
31 60 feet.
32 (4) A truck in transit may draw 3 trucks in transit
33 coupled together by the triple saddlemount method.
34 (5) Recreational vehicles consisting of 3 vehicles,
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1 provided the following:
2 (A) The total overall dimension does not
3 exceed 60 feet.
4 (B) The towing vehicle is a properly
5 registered vehicle capable of towing another vehicle
6 using a fifth-wheel type assembly.
7 (C) The second vehicle in the combination of
8 vehicles is a recreational vehicle that is towed by
9 a fifth-wheel assembly. This vehicle must be
10 properly registered and must be equipped with
11 brakes, regardless of weight.
12 (D) The third vehicle must be the lightest of
13 the 3 vehicles and be a trailer or semitrailer
14 designed or used for transporting a boat,
15 all-terrain vehicle, personal watercraft, or
16 motorcycle.
17 (E) The towed vehicles may be only for the use
18 of the operator of the towing vehicle.
19 (F) All vehicles must be properly equipped
20 with operating brakes and safety equipment required
21 by this Code, except the additional brake
22 requirement in subdivision (C) of this subparagraph
23 (5).
24 (6) A tow truck in combination with a disabled
25 vehicle or combination of disabled vehicles, provided the
26 towing vehicle:
27 (A) Is specifically designed as a tow truck
28 having a gross vehicle weight rating of at least
29 18,000 pounds and equipped with air brakes, provided
30 that air brakes are required only if the towing
31 vehicle is towing a vehicle, semitrailer, or
32 tractor-trailer combination that is equipped with
33 air brakes. For the purpose of this subsection,
34 gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR, means the
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1 value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded
2 weight of the tow truck.
3 (B) Is equipped with flashing, rotating, or
4 oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500
5 feet in all directions.
6 (C) Is capable of utilizing the lighting and
7 braking systems of the disabled vehicle or
8 combination of vehicles.
9 (D) Does not engage a tow exceeding 50 highway
10 miles from the initial point of wreck or disablement
11 to a place of repair. Any additional movement of the
12 vehicles may occur only upon issuance of
13 authorization for that movement under the provisions
14 of Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this Code.
15 The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
16 additional requirements regarding length limitations for a
17 tow truck towing another vehicle.
18 For purposes of this Section, a tow-dolly that merely
19 serves as substitute wheels for another legally licensed
20 vehicle is considered part of the licensed vehicle and not a
21 separate vehicle.
22 (d) On Class I highways there are no overall length
23 limitations on motor vehicles operating in combinations
24 provided:
25 (1) The length of a semitrailer, unladen or with
26 load, in combination with a truck tractor may not exceed
27 53 feet.
28 (2) The distance between the kingpin and the center
29 of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in
30 combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed 45 feet
31 6 inches.
32 (3) The length of a semitrailer or trailer, unladen
33 or with load, operated in a truck
34 tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination, may not exceed
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1 28 feet 6 inches.
2 (4) Maxi-cube combinations, as defined in Chapter
3 1, may not exceed 65 feet overall dimension.
4 (5) Combinations of vehicles specifically designed
5 to transport motor vehicles or boats may not exceed 65
6 feet overall dimension. The length limitation is
7 inclusive of front and rear bumpers but exclusive of the
8 overhang of the transported vehicles, as provided in
9 paragraph (i) of this Section.
10 (6) Stinger steered semitrailer vehicles as defined
11 in Chapter 1, specifically designed to transport motor
12 vehicles or boats, may not exceed 75 feet overall
13 dimension. The length limitation is inclusive of front
14 and rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the
15 transported vehicles, as provided in paragraph (i) of
16 this Section.
17 (7) A truck in transit transporting 3 trucks
18 coupled together by the triple saddlemount method may not
19 exceed 75 feet overall dimension.
20 Vehicles operating during daylight hours when
21 transporting poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects of a
22 structural nature that cannot readily be dismembered are
23 exempt from length limitations, provided that no object may
24 exceed 80 feet in length and the overall dimension of the
25 vehicle including the load may not exceed 100 feet. This
26 exemption does not apply to operation on a Saturday, Sunday,
27 or legal holiday. Legal holidays referred to in this Section
28 are the days on which the following traditional holidays are
29 celebrated: New Year's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day;
30 Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
31 Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while en
32 route to make emergency repairs to public service facilities
33 or properties are exempt from length limitations, provided
34 that during night operations every vehicle and its load must
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1 be equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on
2 both sides and marker lamps on the extreme ends of any
3 projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
4 A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle or
5 combination of disabled vehicles, as provided in paragraph
6 (6) of subsection (c) of this Section, is exempt from length
7 limitations.
8 The length limitations described in this paragraph (d)
9 shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
10 such as bumpers, refrigeration units or air compressors and
11 other devices, that the Department may interpret as necessary
12 for safe and efficient operation; except that no device
13 excluded under this paragraph shall have by its design or use
14 the capability to carry cargo.
15 Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
16 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
17 designation of highways under this paragraph (d).
18 (e) On Class II highways there are no overall length
19 limitations on motor vehicles operating in combinations,
20 provided:
21 (1) The length of a semitrailer, unladen or with
22 load, in combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed
23 53 feet overall dimension.
24 (2) The distance between the kingpin and the center
25 of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in
26 combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed 45 feet
27 6 inches.
28 (3) A truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination
29 may not exceed 65 feet in dimension from front axle to
30 rear axle.
31 (4) The length of a semitrailer or trailer, unladen
32 or with load, operated in a truck
33 tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination, may not exceed
34 28 feet 6 inches.
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1 (5) Maxi-cube combinations, as defined in Chapter
2 1, may not exceed 65 feet overall dimension.
3 (6) A combination of vehicles, specifically
4 designed to transport motor vehicles or boats, may not
5 exceed 65 feet overall dimension. The length limitation
6 is inclusive of front and rear bumpers but exclusive of
7 the overhang of the transported vehicles, as provided in
8 paragraph (i) of this Section.
9 (7) Stinger steered semitrailer vehicles, as
10 defined in Chapter 1, specifically designed to transport
11 motor vehicles or boats, may not exceed 75 feet overall
12 dimension. The length limitation is inclusive of front
13 and rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the
14 transported vehicles, as provided in paragraph (i) of
15 this Section.
16 (8) A truck in transit transporting 3 trucks
17 coupled together by the triple saddlemount method may not
18 exceed 75 feet overall dimension.
19 Vehicles operating during daylight hours when
20 transporting poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects of a
21 structural nature that cannot readily be dismembered are
22 exempt from length limitations, provided that no object may
23 exceed 80 feet in length and the overall dimension of the
24 vehicle including the load may not exceed 100 feet. This
25 exemption does not apply to operation on a Saturday, Sunday,
26 or legal holiday. Legal holidays referred to in this Section
27 are the days on which the following traditional holidays are
28 celebrated: New Year's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day;
29 Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
30 Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while en
31 route to make emergency repairs to public service facilities
32 or properties are exempt from length limitations, provided
33 that during night operations every vehicle and its load must
34 be equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on
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1 both sides and marker lamps on the extreme ends of any
2 projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
3 A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle or
4 combination of disabled vehicles, as provided in paragraph
5 (6) of subsection (c) of this Section, is exempt from length
6 limitations.
7 Local authorities and road district commissioners, with
8 respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction, may
9 also by ordinance or resolution allow length limitations of
10 this subsection (e).
11 The length limitations described in this paragraph (e)
12 shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
13 such as bumpers, refrigeration units or air compressors and
14 other devices, that the Department may interpret as necessary
15 for safe and efficient operation; except that no device
16 excluded under this paragraph shall have by its design or use
17 the capability to carry cargo.
18 (e-1) Combinations of vehicles not exceeding 65 feet
19 overall length are allowed access as follows:
20 (1) From any State designated highway onto any
21 county, township, or municipal highway for a distance of
22 5 highway miles for the purpose of loading and unloading,
23 provided:
24 (A) The vehicle does not exceed 73,280 pounds
25 in gross weight and 8 feet 6 inches in width.
26 (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
27 (C) The route is not being used as a
28 thoroughfare between State designated highways.
29 (2) From any State designated highway onto any
30 county or township highway for a distance of 5 highway
31 miles or onto any municipal highway for a distance of one
32 highway mile for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs, and
33 rest, provided:
34 (A) The vehicle does not exceed 73,280 pounds
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1 in gross weight and 8 feet 6 inches in width.
2 (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
3 (C) The route is not being used as a
4 thoroughfare between State designated highways.
5 (e-2) Except as provided in subsection (e-3),
6 combinations of vehicles over 65 feet in length, with no
7 overall length limitation except as provided in subsections
8 (d) and (e) of this Section, are allowed access as follows:
9 (1) From a Class I highway onto any street or
10 highway for a distance of one highway mile for the
11 purpose of loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and
12 rest, provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
13 (2) From a Class I or Class II highway onto any
14 State highway or any locally designated highway for a
15 distance of 5 highway miles for the purpose of loading,
16 unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest.
17 (e-3) Combinations of vehicles over 65 feet in length
18 operated by household goods carriers, with no overall length
19 limitations except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of
20 this Section, have unlimited access to points of loading and
21 unloading.
22 Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
23 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
24 designation of highways under this paragraph (e).
25 (f) On Class III and other non-designated State
26 highways, the length limitations for vehicles in combination
27 are as follows:
28 (1) Truck tractor-semitrailer combinations, must
29 comply with either a maximum 55 feet overall wheel base
30 or a maximum 65 feet extreme overall dimension.
31 (2) Semitrailers, unladen or with load, may not
32 exceed 53 feet overall dimension.
33 (3) No truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer
34 combination may exceed 60 feet extreme overall dimension.
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1 (4) The distance between the kingpin and the center
2 axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in combination
3 with a truck tractor, may not exceed 42 feet 6 inches.
4 (g) Length limitations in the preceding subsections of
5 this Section 15-107 do not apply to the following:
6 (1) Vehicles operated in the daytime, except on
7 Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, when transporting
8 poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of a structural
9 nature that cannot readily be dismembered, provided the
10 overall length of vehicle and load may not exceed 100
11 feet and no object exceeding 80 feet in length may be
12 transported unless a permit has been obtained as
13 authorized in Section 15-301.
14 (2) Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility
15 while en route to make emergency repairs to public
16 service facilities or properties, but during night
17 operation every vehicle and its load must be equipped
18 with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both sides
19 and marker lamps upon the extreme ends of any projecting
20 load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
21 (3) A tow truck in combination with a disabled
22 vehicle or combination of disabled vehicles, provided the
23 towing vehicle meets the following conditions:
24 (A) It is specifically designed as a tow truck
25 having a gross vehicle weight rating of at least
26 18,000 pounds and equipped with air brakes, provided
27 that air brakes are required only if the towing
28 vehicle is towing a vehicle, semitrailer, or
29 tractor-trailer combination that is equipped with
30 air brakes.
31 (B) It is equipped with flashing, rotating, or
32 oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500
33 feet in all directions.
34 (C) It is capable of utilizing the lighting
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1 and braking systems of the disabled vehicle or
2 combination of vehicles.
3 (D) It does not engage in a tow exceeding 50
4 miles from the initial point of wreck or
5 disablement.
6 The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
7 additional requirements regarding length limitations for a
8 tow truck towing another vehicle. Notwithstanding any rule or
9 regulation or any other provision of this Code, however, a
10 towing vehicle that meets the requirements of paragraph (1),
11 (2), or (3) of this subsection (g) may tow any disabled
12 vehicle or combination of vehicles from the initial point of
13 wreck or disablement to a point where repairs are actually to
14 occur.
15 For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
16 rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
17 manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck. Legal
18 holidays referred to in this Section shall be specified as
19 the day on which the following traditional holidays are
20 celebrated:
21 New Year's Day;
22 Memorial Day;
23 Independence Day;
24 Labor Day;
25 Thanksgiving Day; and
26 Christmas Day.
27 (h) The load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the
28 load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles,
29 shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the front wheels of
30 the vehicle or the front bumper of the vehicle if it is
31 equipped with a front bumper. The provisions of this
32 subsection (h) shall not apply to any vehicle or combination
33 of vehicles specifically designed for the collection and
34 transportation of waste, garbage, or recyclable materials
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1 during the vehicle's operation in the course of collecting
2 garbage, waste, or recyclable materials if the vehicle is
3 traveling at a speed not in excess of 15 miles per hour
4 during the vehicle's operation and in the course of
5 collecting garbage, waste, or recyclable materials. However,
6 in no instance shall the load extend more than 7 feet beyond
7 the front wheels of the vehicle or the front bumper of the
8 vehicle if it is equipped with a front bumper.
9 (i) The load upon the front vehicle of a combination of
10 vehicles specifically designed to transport motor vehicles
11 shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the foremost part of
12 the transporting vehicle and the load upon the rear
13 transporting vehicle shall not extend more than 4 feet beyond
14 the rear of the bed or body of the vehicle. This paragraph
15 shall only be applicable upon highways designated in
16 paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section.
17 (j) Articulated vehicles comprised of 2 sections,
18 neither of which exceeds a length of 42 feet, designed for
19 the carrying of more than 10 persons, may be up to 60 feet in
20 length, not including energy absorbing bumpers, provided that
21 the vehicles are:
22 1. operated by or for any public body or motor
23 carrier authorized by law to provide public
24 transportation services; or
25 2. operated in local public transportation service
26 by any other person and the municipality in which the
27 service is to be provided approved the operation of the
28 vehicle.
29 (j-1) (Blank).
30 (k) Any person who is convicted of violating this
31 Section is subject to the penalty as provided in paragraph
32 (b) of Section 15-113.
33 (l) (Blank).
34 (Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02; 92-766, eff. 1-1-03;
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1 92-883, eff. 1-13-03.)
2 (625 ILCS 5/15-111) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111)
3 Sec. 15-111. Wheel and axle loads and gross weights.
4 (a) On non-designated highways, no vehicle or
5 combination of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires may be
6 operated, unladen or with load, when the total weight
7 transmitted to the road surface exceeds 18,000 pounds on a
8 single axle or 32,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle
9 within the tandem exceeding 18,000 pounds except:
10 (1) when a different limit is established and
11 posted in accordance with Section 15-316 of this Code;
12 (2) vehicles for which the Department of
13 Transportation and local authorities issue overweight
14 permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this Code;
15 (3) tow trucks subject to the conditions provided
16 in subsection (d) may not exceed 24,000 pounds on a
17 single rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle;
18 (4) any single axle of a 2-axle truck weighing
19 36,000 pounds or less and not a part of a combination of
20 vehicles, shall not exceed 20,000 pounds;
21 (5) any single axle of a 2-axle truck equipped with
22 a personnel lift or digger derrick, weighing 36,000
23 pounds or less, owned and operated by a public utility,
24 shall not exceed 20,000 pounds;
25 (6) any single axle of a 2-axle truck specially
26 equipped with a front loading compactor used exclusively
27 for garbage, refuse, or recycling may not exceed 20,000
28 pounds per axle, provided that the gross weight of the
29 vehicle does not exceed 40,000 pounds;
30 (7) a truck, not in combination and specially
31 equipped with a selfcompactor or an industrial roll-off
32 hoist and roll-off container, used exclusively for
33 garbage or refuse operations may, when laden, transmit
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1 upon the road surface the following maximum weights:
2 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem
3 axle;
4 (8) a truck, not in combination and used
5 exclusively for the collection of rendering materials,
6 may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface the
7 following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single
8 axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle;
9 (9) tandem axles on a 3-axle truck registered as a
10 Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the
11 model year of 2004 and first registered in Illinois prior
12 to January 1, 2005, with a distance greater than 72
13 inches but not more than 96 inches between any series of
14 2 axles, is allowed a combined weight on the series not
15 to exceed 36,000 pounds and neither axle of the series
16 may exceed 18,000 pounds. Any vehicle of this type
17 manufactured after the model year of 2004 or first
18 registered in Illinois after December 31, 2004 may not
19 exceed a combined weight of 32,000 pounds through the
20 series of 2 axles and neither axle of the series may
21 exceed 18,000 pounds;
22 (10) tandem axles on a 4-axle truck mixer, whose
23 fourth axle is a road surface engaging mixer trailing
24 axle, registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, used
25 exclusively for the mixing and transportation of concrete
26 and manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2004
27 and first registered in Illinois prior to January 1,
28 2005, with a distance greater than 72 inches but not more
29 than 96 inches between any series of 2 axles, is allowed
30 a combined weight on the series not to exceed 36,000
31 pounds and neither axle of the series may exceed 18,000
32 pounds. Any vehicle of this type manufactured after the
33 model year of 2004 or first registered in Illinois after
34 December 31, 2004 may not exceed a combined weight of
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1 32,000 pounds through the series of 2 axles and neither
2 axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds;
3 (11) 4-axle vehicles or a 5 or more axle
4 combination of vehicles: The weight transmitted upon the
5 road surface through any series of 3 axles whose centers
6 are more than 96 inches apart, measured between extreme
7 axles in the series, may not exceed those allowed in the
8 table contained in subsection (f) of this Section. No
9 axle or tandem axle of the series may exceed the maximum
10 weight permitted under this Section for a single or
11 tandem axle.
12 No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
13 than pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
14 upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
15 road surface through any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch
16 width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road
17 surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
18 (b) On non-designated highways, the gross weight of
19 vehicles and combination of vehicles including the weight of
20 the vehicle or combination and its maximum load shall be
21 subject to the foregoing limitations and further shall not
22 exceed the following gross weights dependent upon the number
23 of axles and distance between extreme axles of the vehicle or
24 combination measured longitudinally to the nearest foot.
25 VEHICLES HAVING 2 AXLES ....................... 36,000 pounds
26 VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
27 HAVING 3 AXLES
28 With Tandem With or
29 Axles Without
30 Tandem Axles
31 Minimum Minimum
32 distance to Maximum distance to Maximum
33 nearest foot Gross nearest foot Gross
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1 between Weight between Weight
2 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
3 10 feet 41,000 16 feet 46,000
4 11 42,000 17 47,000
5 12 43,000 18 47,500
6 13 44,000 19 48,000
7 14 44,500 20 49,000
8 15 45,000 21 feet or more 50,000
9 VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
10 HAVING 4 AXLES
11 Minimum Minimum
12 distance to Maximum distance to Maximum
13 nearest foot Gross nearest foot Gross
14 between Weight between Weight
15 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
16 15 feet 50,000 26 feet 57,500
17 16 50,500 27 58,000
18 17 51,500 28 58,500
19 18 52,000 29 59,500
20 19 52,500 30 60,000
21 20 53,500 31 60,500
22 21 54,000 32 61,500
23 22 54,500 33 62,000
24 23 55,500 34 62,500
25 24 56,000 35 63,500
26 25 56,500 36 feet or more 64,000
27 A vehicle not in a combination having more than 4 axles
28 may not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (b)
29 for 4 axles measured between the extreme axles of the
30 vehicle.
31 COMBINATIONS HAVING 5 OR MORE AXLES
32 Minimum distance to Maximum
33 nearest foot between Gross Weight
34 extreme axles (pounds)
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1 42 feet or less 72,000
2 43 73,000
3 44 feet or more 73,280
4 VEHICLES OPERATING ON CRAWLER TYPE TRACKS ..... 40,000 pounds
5 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SELFCOMPACTORS
6 OR ROLL-OFF HOISTS AND ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS FOR GARBAGE
7 OR REFUSE HAULS ONLY AND TRUCKS USED FOR
8 THE COLLECTION OF RENDERING MATERIALS
9 On Highway Not Part of National System
10 of Interstate and Defense Highways
11 with 2 axles 36,000 pounds
12 with 3 axles 54,000 pounds
13 TWO AXLE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH
14 A FRONT LOADING COMPACTOR USED EXCLUSIVELY
15 FOR THE COLLECTION OF GARBAGE, REFUSE, OR RECYCLING
16 with 2 axles 40,000 pounds
17 (c) Cities having a population of more than 50,000 may
18 permit by ordinance axle loads on 2 axle motor vehicles 33
19 1/2% above those provided for herein, but the increase shall
20 not become effective until the city has officially notified
21 the Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall not
22 apply to those vehicles when outside of the limits of the
23 city, nor shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor vehicle
24 operating over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
25 (d) Weight limitations shall not apply to vehicles
26 (including loads) operated by a public utility when
27 transporting equipment required for emergency repair of
28 public utility facilities or properties or water wells.
29 A combination of vehicles, including a tow truck and a
30 disabled vehicle or disabled combination of vehicles, that
31 exceeds the weight restriction imposed by this Code, may be
32 operated on a public highway in this State provided that
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1 neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor
2 the tow truck itself shall exceed the weight limitations
3 permitted under this Chapter. During the towing operation,
4 neither the tow truck nor the vehicle combination shall
5 exceed 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle and 44,000 pounds
6 on a tandem rear axle, provided the towing vehicle:
7 (1) is specifically designed as a tow truck having
8 a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000 pounds
9 and is equipped with air brakes, provided that air brakes
10 are required only if the towing vehicle is towing a
11 vehicle, semitrailer, or tractor-trailer combination that
12 is equipped with air brakes;
13 (2) is equipped with flashing, rotating, or
14 oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet
15 in all directions;
16 (3) is capable of utilizing the lighting and
17 braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination of
18 vehicles; and
19 (4) does not engage in a tow exceeding 20 miles
20 from the initial point of wreck or disablement. Any
21 additional movement of the vehicles may occur only upon
22 issuance of authorization for that movement under the
23 provisions of Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this
24 Code.
25 Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of
26 the tow truck and vehicles being towed. The tow truck
27 license plate must cover the operating empty weight of the
28 tow truck only. The weight of each vehicle being towed shall
29 be covered by a valid license plate issued to the owner or
30 operator of the vehicle being towed and displayed on that
31 vehicle. If no valid plate issued to the owner or operator of
32 that vehicle is displayed on that vehicle, or the plate
33 displayed on that vehicle does not cover the weight of the
34 vehicle, the weight of the vehicle shall be covered by the
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1 third tow truck plate issued to the owner or operator of the
2 tow truck and temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed.
3 The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
4 additional requirements. However, nothing in this Code shall
5 prohibit a tow truck under instructions of a police officer
6 from legally clearing a disabled vehicle, that may be in
7 violation of weight limitations of this Chapter, from the
8 roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway. If in the
9 opinion of the police officer that location is unsafe, the
10 officer is authorized to have the disabled vehicle towed to
11 the nearest place of safety. Furthermore, nothing in this
12 Code nor any rule or regulation prohibits a towing vehicle
13 that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) of this
14 subsection (d) from towing any disabled vehicle or
15 combination of vehicles from the initial point of wreck or
16 disablement to a point where repairs are actually to occur.
17 For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
18 rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
19 manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
20 (e) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with
21 pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
22 the highways of this State in violation of the provisions of
23 any permit issued under the provisions of Sections 15-301
24 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
25 (f) On designated Class I, II, or III highways and the
26 National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, no
27 vehicle or combination of vehicles with pneumatic tires may
28 be operated, unladen or with load, when the total weight on
29 the road surface exceeds the following: 20,000 pounds on a
30 single axle; 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle
31 within the tandem exceeding 20,000 pounds; 80,000 pounds
32 gross weight for vehicle combinations of 5 or more axles; or
33 a total weight on a group of 2 or more consecutive axles in
34 excess of that weight produced by the application of the
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1 following formula: W = 500 times the sum of (LN divided by
2 N-1) + 12N + 36, where "W" equals overall total weight on any
3 group of 2 or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500
4 pounds, "L" equals the distance measured to the nearest foot
5 between extremes of any group of 2 or more consecutive axles,
6 and "N" equals the number of axles in the group under
7 consideration.
8 The above formula when expressed in tabular form results
9 in allowable loads as follows:
10 Distance measured
11 to the nearest
12 foot between the
13 extremes of any Maximum weight in pounds
14 group of 2 or of any group of
15 more consecutive 2 or more consecutive axles
16 axles
17 feet 2 axles 3 axles 4 axles 5 axles 6 axles
18 4 34,000
19 5 34,000
20 6 34,000
21 7 34,000
22 8 38,000* 42,000
23 9 39,000 42,500
24 10 40,000 43,500
25 11 44,000
26 12 45,000 50,000
27 13 45,500 50,500
28 14 46,500 51,500
29 15 47,000 52,000
30 16 48,000 52,500 58,000
31 17 48,500 53,500 58,500
32 18 49,500 54,000 59,000
33 19 50,000 54,500 60,000
34 20 51,000 55,500 60,500 66,000
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1 21 51,500 56,000 61,000 66,500
2 22 52,500 56,500 61,500 67,000
3 23 53,000 57,500 62,500 68,000
4 24 54,000 58,000 63,000 68,500
5 25 54,500 58,500 63,500 69,000
6 26 55,500 59,500 64,000 69,500
7 27 56,000 60,000 65,000 70,000
8 28 57,000 60,500 65,500 71,000
9 29 57,500 61,500 66,000 71,500
10 30 58,500 62,000 66,500 72,000
11 31 59,000 62,500 67,500 72,500
12 32 60,000 63,500 68,000 73,000
13 33 64,000 68,500 74,000
14 34 64,500 69,000 74,500
15 35 65,500 70,000 75,000
16 36 66,000 70,500 75,500
17 37 66,500 71,000 76,000
18 38 67,500 72,000 77,000
19 39 68,000 72,500 77,500
20 40 68,500 73,000 78,000
21 41 69,500 73,500 78,500
22 42 70,000 74,000 79,000
23 43 70,500 75,000 80,000
24 44 71,500 75,500
25 45 72,000 76,000
26 46 72,500 76,500
27 47 73,500 77,500
28 48 74,000 78,000
29 49 74,500 78,500
30 50 75,500 79,000
31 51 76,000 80,000
32 52 76,500
33 53 77,500
34 54 78,000
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1 55 78,500
2 56 79,500
3 57 80,000
4 *If the distance between 2 axles is 96 inches or less, the 2
5 axles are tandem axles and the maximum total weight may not
6 exceed 34,000 pounds, notwithstanding the higher limit
7 resulting from the application of the formula.
8 Vehicles not in a combination having more than 4 axles
9 may not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f)
10 for 4 axles measured between the extreme axles of the
11 vehicle.
12 Vehicles in a combination having more than 6 axles may
13 not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f) for
14 6 axles measured between the extreme axles of the
15 combination.
16 Local authorities and road district highway
17 commissioners, with respect to streets and highways under
18 their jurisdiction, without additional fees, may also by
19 ordinance or resolution allow the weight limitations of this
20 subsection, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle
21 shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum total weight
22 on any tandem axle shall not exceed 34,000 pounds, on
23 designated highways when appropriate regulatory signs giving
24 notice are erected upon the street or highway or portion of
25 any street or highway affected by the ordinance or
26 resolution.
27 The following are exceptions to the above formula:
28 (1) Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry
29 a total weight of 34,000 pounds each if the overall
30 distance between the first and last axles of the
31 consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
32 (2) Vehicles for which a different limit is
33 established and posted in accordance with Section 15-316
34 of this Code.
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1 (3) Vehicles for which the Department of
2 Transportation and local authorities issue overweight
3 permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this Code.
4 These vehicles are not subject to the bridge formula.
5 (4) Tow trucks subject to the conditions provided
6 in subsection (d) may not exceed 24,000 pounds on a
7 single rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle.
8 (5) A tandem axle on a 3-axle truck registered as a
9 Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the
10 model year of 2004, and registered in Illinois prior to
11 January 1, 2005, with a distance between 2 axles in a
12 series greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches
13 may not exceed a total weight of 36,000 pounds and
14 neither axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds.
15 (6) A truck not in combination, equipped with a
16 self compactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and
17 roll-off container, used exclusively for garbage or
18 refuse operations, may, when laden, transmit upon the
19 road surface, except when on part of the National System
20 of Interstate and Defense Highways, the following maximum
21 weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on
22 a tandem axle; 36,000 pounds gross weight on a 2-axle
23 vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a 3-axle vehicle.
24 This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
25 (7) Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special
26 Hauling Vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured
27 prior to or in the model year of 2004, and registered in
28 Illinois prior to January 1, 2005, having 5 axles with a
29 distance of 42 feet or less between extreme axles, may
30 not exceed the following maximum weights: 18,000 pounds
31 on a single axle; 32,000 pounds on a tandem axle; and
32 72,000 pounds gross weight. This combination of vehicles
33 is not subject to the bridge formula. For all those
34 combinations of vehicles that include a semitrailer
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1 manufactured after the effective date of this amendatory
2 Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the overall distance
3 between the first and last axles of the 2 sets of tandems
4 must be 18 feet 6 inches or more. Any combination of
5 vehicles that has had its cargo container replaced in its
6 entirety after December 31, 2004 may not exceed the
7 weights allowed by the bridge formula.
8 No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
9 than pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
10 upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
11 road surface through any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch
12 width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road
13 surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
14 (f-1) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds is
15 allowed access as follows:
16 (1) From any State designated highway onto any
17 county, township, or municipal highway for a distance of
18 5 highway miles for the purpose of loading and unloading,
19 provided:
20 (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 8
21 feet 6 inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
22 (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
23 (C) The route is not being used as a
24 thoroughfare between State designated highways.
25 (2) From any State designated highway onto any
26 county or township highway for a distance of 5 highway
27 miles, or any municipal highway for a distance of one
28 highway mile for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs, and
29 rest, provided:
30 (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 8
31 feet 6 inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
32 (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
33 (C) The route is not being used as a
34 thoroughfare between State designated highways.
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1 (f-2) A vehicle and load greater than 73,280 pounds in
2 weight but not exceeding 80,000 pounds is allowed access as
3 follows:
4 (1) From a Class I highway onto any street or
5 highway for a distance of one highway mile for the
6 purpose of loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and
7 rest, provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
8 (2) From a Class I, II, or III highway onto any
9 State highway or any local designated highway for a
10 distance of 5 highway miles for the purpose of loading,
11 unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest.
12 Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
13 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
14 designation of highways under this subsection.
15 (g) No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of
16 vehicles over a bridge or other elevated structure
17 constituting part of a highway with a gross weight that is
18 greater than the maximum weight permitted by the Department,
19 when the structure is sign posted as provided in this
20 Section.
21 (h) The Department upon request from any local authority
22 shall, or upon its own initiative may, conduct an
23 investigation of any bridge or other elevated structure
24 constituting a part of a highway, and if it finds that the
25 structure cannot with safety to itself withstand the weight
26 of vehicles otherwise permissible under this Code the
27 Department shall determine and declare the maximum weight of
28 vehicles that the structures can withstand, and shall cause
29 or permit suitable signs stating maximum weight to be erected
30 and maintained before each end of the structure. No person
31 shall operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles over any
32 structure with a gross weight that is greater than the posted
33 maximum weight.
34 (i) Upon the trial of any person charged with a
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1 violation of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of
2 the determination of the maximum allowable weight by the
3 Department and the existence of the signs, constitutes
4 conclusive evidence of the maximum weight that can be
5 maintained with safety to the bridge or structure.
6 (Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02.)