Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1738

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Full Text of SB1738 94th General Assembly

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SB1738eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1738 Engrossed LRB094 09409 DRH 39656 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 changing
5 Section 15-111 as follows:

6     (625 ILCS 5/15-111)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111)
7     Sec. 15-111. Wheel and axle loads and gross weights.
8     (a) On non-designated highways, no vehicle or combination
9 of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires may be operated,
10 unladen or with load, when the total weight transmitted to the
11 road surface exceeds 18,000 pounds on a single axle or 32,000
12 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle within the tandem
13 exceeding 18,000 pounds except:
14         (1) when a different limit is established and posted in
15     accordance with Section 15-316 of this Code;
16         (2) vehicles for which the Department of
17     Transportation and local authorities issue overweight
18     permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this Code;
19         (3) tow trucks subject to the conditions provided in
20     subsection (d) may not exceed 24,000 pounds on a single
21     rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle;
22         (4) any single axle of a 2-axle truck weighing 36,000
23     pounds or less and not a part of a combination of vehicles,
24     shall not exceed 20,000 pounds;
25         (5) any single axle of a 2-axle truck equipped with a
26     personnel lift or digger derrick, weighing 36,000 pounds or
27     less, owned and operated by a public utility, shall not
28     exceed 20,000 pounds;
29         (6) any single axle of a 2-axle truck specially
30     equipped with a front loading compactor used exclusively
31     for garbage, refuse, or recycling may not exceed 20,000
32     pounds per axle, provided that the gross weight of the

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1     vehicle does not exceed 40,000 pounds;
2         (7) a truck, not in combination and specially equipped
3     with a selfcompactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and
4     roll-off container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse
5     operations may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface
6     the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single
7     axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle;
8         (8) a truck, not in combination and used exclusively
9     for the collection of rendering materials, may, when laden,
10     transmit upon the road surface the following maximum
11     weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a
12     tandem axle;
13         (9) tandem axles on a 3-axle truck registered as a
14     Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the
15     model year of 2014 and first registered in Illinois prior
16     to January 1, 2015, with a distance greater than 72 inches
17     but not more than 96 inches between any series of 2 axles,
18     is allowed a combined weight on the series not to exceed
19     36,000 pounds and neither axle of the series may exceed
20     18,000 pounds. Any vehicle of this type manufactured after
21     the model year of 2014 or first registered in Illinois
22     after December 31, 2014 may not exceed a combined weight of
23     32,000 pounds through the series of 2 axles and neither
24     axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds;
25         (10) tandem axles on a 4-axle truck mixer, whose fourth
26     axle is a road surface engaging mixer trailing axle,
27     registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively
28     for the mixing and transportation of concrete and
29     manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2014 and
30     first registered in Illinois prior to January 1, 2015, with
31     a distance greater than 72 inches but not more than 96
32     inches between any series of 2 axles, is allowed a combined
33     weight on the series not to exceed 36,000 pounds and
34     neither axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds. Any
35     vehicle of this type manufactured after the model year of
36     2014 or first registered in Illinois after December 31,

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1     2014 may not exceed a combined weight of 32,000 pounds
2     through the series of 2 axles and neither axle of the
3     series may exceed 18,000 pounds;
4         (11) 4-axle vehicles or a 5 or more axle combination of
5     vehicles: The weight transmitted upon the road surface
6     through any series of 3 axles whose centers are more than
7     96 inches apart, measured between extreme axles in the
8     series, may not exceed those allowed in the table contained
9     in subsection (f) of this Section. No axle or tandem axle
10     of the series may exceed the maximum weight permitted under
11     this Section for a single or 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 of
23 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
34 between Weight between Weight

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1 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
2 10 feet 41,000 16 feet 46,000
3 11 42,000 17 47,000
4 12 43,000 18 47,500
5 13 44,000 19 48,000
6 14 44,500 20 49,000
7 15 45,000 21 feet or more 50,000

8
9 VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS HAVING 4 AXLES
10 Minimum Minimum
11 distance to Maximum distance to Maximum
12 nearest foot Gross nearest foot Gross
13 between Weight between Weight
14 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
15 15 feet 50,000 26 feet 57,500
16 16 50,500 27 58,000
17 17 51,500 28 58,500
18 18 52,000 29 59,500
19 19 52,500 30 60,000
20 20 53,500 31 60,500
21 21 54,000 32 61,500
22 22 54,500 33 62,000
23 23 55,500 34 62,500
24 24 56,000 35 63,500
25 25 56,500 36 feet or more 64,000
26     A vehicle not in a combination having more than 4 axles may
27 not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (b) for 4
28 axles measured between the extreme axles of the vehicle.

29
30 COMBINATIONS HAVING 5 OR MORE AXLES
31 Minimum distance to Maximum
32 nearest foot between Gross Weight
33 extreme axles (pounds)
34 42 feet or less 72,000
35 43 73,000
36 44 feet or more 73,280

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

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

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

14     (b-1) As used in this Section, a "recycling haul" or
15 "recycling operation" means the hauling of segregated,
16 non-hazardous, non-special, homogeneous non-putrescible
17 materials, such as paper, glass, cans, or plastic, for
18 subsequent use in the secondary materials market.
19     (c) Cities having a population of more than 50,000 may
20 permit by ordinance axle loads on 2 axle motor vehicles 33 1/2%
21 above those provided for herein, but the increase shall not
22 become effective until the city has officially notified the
23 Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall not apply
24 to those vehicles when outside of the limits of the city, nor
25 shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor vehicle operating
26 over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
27     (d) Weight limitations shall not apply to vehicles
28 (including loads) operated by a public utility when
29 transporting equipment required for emergency repair of public
30 utility facilities or properties or water wells.
31     A combination of vehicles, including a tow truck and a
32 disabled vehicle or disabled combination of vehicles, that

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1 exceeds the weight restriction imposed by this Code, may be
2 operated on a public highway in this State provided that
3 neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor
4 the tow truck itself shall exceed the weight limitations
5 permitted under this Chapter. During the towing operation,
6 neither the tow truck nor the vehicle combination shall exceed
7 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle and 44,000 pounds on a
8 tandem rear axle, provided the towing vehicle:
9         (1) is specifically designed as a tow truck having a
10     gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000 pounds and
11     is equipped with air brakes, provided that air brakes are
12     required only if the towing vehicle is towing a vehicle,
13     semitrailer, or tractor-trailer combination that is
14     equipped with air brakes;
15         (2) is equipped with flashing, rotating, or
16     oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet in
17     all directions;
18         (3) is capable of utilizing the lighting and braking
19     systems of the disabled vehicle or combination of vehicles;
20     and
21         (4) does not engage in a tow exceeding 20 miles from
22     the initial point of wreck or disablement. Any additional
23     movement of the vehicles may occur only upon issuance of
24     authorization for that movement under the provisions of
25     Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this Code. The towing
26     vehicle, however, may tow any disabled vehicle from the
27     initial point of wreck or disablement to a point where
28     repairs are actually to occur. This movement shall be valid
29     only on State routes. The tower must abide by posted bridge
30     weight limits.
31     Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of
32 the tow truck and vehicles being towed. The tow truck license
33 plate must cover the operating empty weight of the tow truck
34 only. The weight of each vehicle being towed shall be covered
35 by a valid license plate issued to the owner or operator of the
36 vehicle being towed and displayed on that vehicle. If no valid

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1 plate issued to the owner or operator of that vehicle is
2 displayed on that vehicle, or the plate displayed on that
3 vehicle does not cover the weight of the vehicle, the weight of
4 the vehicle shall be covered by the third tow truck plate
5 issued to the owner or operator of the tow truck and
6 temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed.
7     The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
8 additional requirements. However, nothing in this Code shall
9 prohibit a tow truck under instructions of a police officer
10 from legally clearing a disabled vehicle, that may be in
11 violation of weight limitations of this Chapter, from the
12 roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway. If in the
13 opinion of the police officer that location is unsafe, the
14 officer is authorized to have the disabled vehicle towed to the
15 nearest place of safety.
16     For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
17 rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
18 manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
19     (e) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with
20 pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
21 the highways of this State in violation of the provisions of
22 any permit issued under the provisions of Sections 15-301
23 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
24     (f) On designated Class I, II, or III highways and the
25 National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, no vehicle
26 or combination of vehicles with pneumatic tires may be
27 operated, unladen or with load, when the total weight on the
28 road surface exceeds the following: 20,000 pounds on a single
29 axle; 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle within the
30 tandem exceeding 20,000 pounds; 80,000 pounds gross weight for
31 vehicle combinations of 5 or more axles; or a total weight on a
32 group of 2 or more consecutive axles in excess of that weight
33 produced by the application of the following formula: W = 500
34 times the sum of (LN divided by N-1) + 12N + 36, where "W"
35 equals overall total weight on any group of 2 or more
36 consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds, "L" equals the

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1 distance measured to the nearest foot between extremes of any
2 group of 2 or more consecutive axles, and "N" equals the number
3 of axles in the group under consideration.
4     The above formula when expressed in tabular form results in
5 allowable loads as follows:

6 Distance measured
7 to the nearest
8 foot between the
9 extremes of any         Maximum weight in pounds
10 group of 2 or           of any group of
11 more consecutive        2 or more consecutive axles
12 axles
13 feet 2 axles 3 axles 4 axles 5 axles 6 axles
14 4 34,000
15 5 34,000
16 6 34,000
17 7 34,000
18 8 38,000* 42,000
19 9 39,000 42,500
20 10 40,000 43,500
21 11 44,000
22 12 45,000 50,000
23 13 45,500 50,500
24 14 46,500 51,500
25 15 47,000 52,000
26 16 48,000 52,500 58,000
27 17 48,500 53,500 58,500
28 18 49,500 54,000 59,000
29 19 50,000 54,500 60,000
30 20 51,000 55,500 60,500 66,000
31 21 51,500 56,000 61,000 66,500
32 22 52,500 56,500 61,500 67,000
33 23 53,000 57,500 62,500 68,000
34 24 54,000 58,000 63,000 68,500
35 25 54,500 58,500 63,500 69,000
36 26 55,500 59,500 64,000 69,500
37 27 56,000 60,000 65,000 70,000
38 28 57,000 60,500 65,500 71,000
39 29 57,500 61,500 66,000 71,500
40 30 58,500 62,000 66,500 72,000
41 31 59,000 62,500 67,500 72,500
42 32 60,000 63,500 68,000 73,000
43 33 64,000 68,500 74,000
44 34 64,500 69,000 74,500
45 35 65,500 70,000 75,000
46 36 66,000 70,500 75,500
47 37 66,500 71,000 76,000
48 38 67,500 72,000 77,000
49 39 68,000 72,500 77,500
50 40 68,500 73,000 78,000
51 41 69,500 73,500 78,500
52 42 70,000 74,000 79,000
53 43 70,500 75,000 80,000
54 44 71,500 75,500
55 45 72,000 76,000
56 46 72,500 76,500
57 47 73,500 77,500
58 48 74,000 78,000
59 49 74,500 78,500
60 50 75,500 79,000
61 51 76,000 80,000
62 52 76,500
63 53 77,500
64 54 78,000
65 55 78,500
66 56 79,500
67 57 80,000
33 *If the distance between 2 axles is 96 inches or less, the 2
34 axles are tandem axles and the maximum total weight may not
35 exceed 34,000 pounds, notwithstanding the higher limit
36 resulting from the application of the formula.

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1     Vehicles not in a combination having more than 4 axles may
2 not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f) for 4
3 axles measured between the extreme axles of the vehicle.
4     Vehicles in a combination having more than 6 axles may not
5 exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f) for 6
6 axles measured between the extreme axles of the combination.
7     Local authorities, with respect to streets and highways
8 under their jurisdiction, without additional fees, may also by
9 ordinance or resolution allow the weight limitations of this
10 subsection, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle
11 shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum total weight on
12 any tandem axle shall not exceed 34,000 pounds, on designated
13 highways when appropriate regulatory signs giving notice are
14 erected upon the street or highway or portion of any street or
15 highway affected by the ordinance or resolution.
16     The following are exceptions to the above formula:
17         (1) Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a
18     total weight of 34,000 pounds each if the overall distance
19     between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of
20     tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
21         (2) Vehicles for which a different limit is established
22     and posted in accordance with Section 15-316 of this Code.
23         (3) Vehicles for which the Department of
24     Transportation and local authorities issue overweight
25     permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this Code.
26     These vehicles are not subject to the bridge formula.
27         (4) Tow trucks subject to the conditions provided in
28     subsection (d) may not exceed 24,000 pounds on a single
29     rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle.
30         (5) A tandem axle on a 3-axle truck registered as a
31     Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the
32     model year of 2014, and registered in Illinois prior to
33     January 1, 2015, with a distance between 2 axles in a
34     series greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches
35     may not exceed a total weight of 36,000 pounds and neither
36     axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds.

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1         (6) A truck not in combination, equipped with a self
2     compactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off
3     container, used exclusively for garbage,~~or~~ refuse, or
4     recycling operations, may, when laden, transmit upon the
5     road surface, except when on part of the National System of
6     Interstate and Defense Highways, the following maximum
7     weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a
8     tandem axle; 36,000 pounds gross weight on a 2-axle
9     vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a 3-axle vehicle.
10     This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
11         (7) Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special
12     Hauling Vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured
13     prior to or in the model year of 2014, and registered in
14     Illinois prior to January 1, 2015, having 5 axles with a
15     distance of 42 feet or less between extreme axles, may not
16     exceed the following maximum weights: 18,000 pounds on a
17     single axle; 32,000 pounds on a tandem axle; and 72,000
18     pounds gross weight. This combination of vehicles is not
19     subject to the bridge formula. For all those combinations
20     of vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured after
21     the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd
22     General Assembly, the overall distance between the first
23     and last axles of the 2 sets of tandems must be 18 feet 6
24     inches or more. Any combination of vehicles that has had
25     its cargo container replaced in its entirety after December
26     31, 2014 may not exceed the weights allowed by the bridge
27     formula.
28     No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
29 than pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
30 upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
31 road surface through any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch
32 width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road
33 surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
34     (f-1) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds is
35 allowed access as follows:
36         (1) From any State designated highway onto any county,

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1     township, or municipal highway for a distance of 5 highway
2     miles for the purpose of loading and unloading, provided:
3             (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 8 feet 6
4         inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
5             (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
6             (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
7         between State designated highways.
8         (2) From any State designated highway onto any county
9     or township highway for a distance of 5 highway miles, or
10     any municipal highway for a distance of one highway mile
11     for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs, and rest, provided:
12             (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 8 feet 6
13         inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
14             (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
15             (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
16         between State designated highways.
17     (f-2) A vehicle and load greater than 73,280 pounds in
18 weight but not exceeding 80,000 pounds is allowed access as
19 follows:
20         (1) From a Class I highway onto any street or highway
21     for a distance of one highway mile for the purpose of
22     loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest,
23     provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
24         (2) From a Class I, II, or III highway onto any State
25     highway or any local designated highway for a distance of 5
26     highway miles for the purpose of loading, unloading, food,
27     fuel, repairs, and rest.
28     Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
29 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
30 designation of highways under this subsection.
31     (g) No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of
32 vehicles over a bridge or other elevated structure constituting
33 part of a highway with a gross weight that is greater than the
34 maximum weight permitted by the Department, when the structure
35 is sign posted as provided in this Section.
36     (h) The Department upon request from any local authority

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1 shall, or upon its own initiative may, conduct an investigation
2 of any bridge or other elevated structure constituting a part
3 of a highway, and if it finds that the structure cannot with
4 safety to itself withstand the weight of vehicles otherwise
5 permissible under this Code the Department shall determine and
6 declare the maximum weight of vehicles that the structures can
7 withstand, and shall cause or permit suitable signs stating
8 maximum weight to be erected and maintained before each end of
9 the structure. No person shall operate a vehicle or combination
10 of vehicles over any structure with a gross weight that is
11 greater than the posted maximum weight.
12     (i) Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation
13 of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of the
14 determination of the maximum allowable weight by the Department
15 and the existence of the signs, constitutes conclusive evidence
16 of the maximum weight that can be maintained with safety to the
17 bridge or structure.
18 (Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02; 93-177, eff. 7-11-03;
19 93-186, eff. 1-1-04; 93-1023, eff. 8-25-04.)

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