Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB0563
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Full Text of SB0563  93rd General Assembly

SB0563 93rd General Assembly


093_SB0563

 
                                     LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 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 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
 9    combination of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires may  be
10    operated,  unladen  or  with  load,  when  the  total  weight
11    transmitted  to  the  road surface exceeds 18,000 pounds on a
12    single axle or 32,000 pounds on a tandem axle  with  no  axle
13    within the tandem exceeding 18,000 pounds except:
14             (1)  when  a  different  limit  is  established  and
15        posted in 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
20        in subsection (d) may  not  exceed  24,000  pounds  on  a
21        single rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle;
22             (4)  any  single  axle  of  a  2-axle truck weighing
23        36,000 pounds or less and not a part of a combination  of
24        vehicles, shall not exceed 20,000 pounds;
25             (5)  any single axle of a 2-axle truck equipped with
26        a  personnel  lift  or  digger  derrick,  weighing 36,000
27        pounds or less, owned and operated by a  public  utility,
28        shall not 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
 
                            -2-      LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1        pounds per axle, provided that the gross  weight  of  the
 2        vehicle does not exceed 40,000 pounds;
 3             (7)  a  truck,  not  in  combination  and  specially
 4        equipped  with  a selfcompactor or an industrial roll-off
 5        hoist  and  roll-off  container,  used  exclusively   for
 6        garbage  or  refuse  operations may, when laden, transmit
 7        upon the road  surface  the  following  maximum  weights:
 8        22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem
 9        axle;
10             (8)  a   truck,   not   in   combination   and  used
11        exclusively for the collection  of  rendering  materials,
12        may,  when  laden,  transmit  upon  the  road surface the
13        following maximum weights:  22,000  pounds  on  a  single
14        axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle;
15             (9)  tandem  axles on a 3-axle truck registered as a
16        Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in  the
17        model year of 2004 and first registered in Illinois prior
18        to  January  1,  2005,  with  a  distance greater than 72
19        inches but not more than 96 inches between any series  of
20        2  axles,  is allowed a combined weight on the series not
21        to exceed 36,000 pounds and neither axle  of  the  series
22        may  exceed  18,000  pounds.   Any  vehicle  of this type
23        manufactured after  the  model  year  of  2004  or  first
24        registered  in  Illinois  after December 31, 2004 may not
25        exceed a combined weight of  32,000  pounds  through  the
26        series  of  2  axles  and  neither axle of the series may
27        exceed 18,000 pounds;
28             (10)  tandem axles on a 4-axle  truck  mixer,  whose
29        fourth  axle  is  a  road surface engaging mixer trailing
30        axle, registered  as  a  Special  Hauling  Vehicle,  used
31        exclusively for the mixing and transportation of concrete
32        and  manufactured  prior  to or in the model year of 2004
33        and first registered in  Illinois  prior  to  January  1,
34        2005, with a distance greater than 72 inches but not more
 
                            -3-      LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1        than  96 inches between any series of 2 axles, is allowed
 2        a combined weight on the  series  not  to  exceed  36,000
 3        pounds  and  neither axle of the series may exceed 18,000
 4        pounds.  Any vehicle of this type manufactured after  the
 5        model  year of 2004 or first registered in Illinois after
 6        December 31, 2004 may not exceed  a  combined  weight  of
 7        32,000  pounds  through the series of 2 axles and neither
 8        axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds;
 9             (11)  4-axle  vehicles  or  a   5   or   more   axle
10        combination  of vehicles: The weight transmitted upon the
11        road surface through any series of 3 axles whose  centers
12        are  more  than 96 inches apart, measured between extreme
13        axles in the series, may not exceed those allowed in  the
14        table  contained  in  subsection (f) of this Section.  No
15        axle or tandem axle of the series may exceed the  maximum
16        weight  permitted  under  this  Section  for  a single or
17        tandem axle.
18        No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
19    than pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or  with  load,
20    upon  the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
21    road surface through any wheel exceeds 800  pounds  per  inch
22    width  of  tire  tread  or  when the gross weight on the road
23    surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
24        (b)  On non-designated  highways,  the  gross  weight  of
25    vehicles  and combination of vehicles including the weight of
26    the vehicle or combination and  its  maximum  load  shall  be
27    subject  to  the  foregoing limitations and further shall not
28    exceed the following gross weights dependent upon the  number
29    of axles and distance between extreme axles of the vehicle or
30    combination measured longitudinally to the nearest foot.

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

32                      VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
33                           HAVING 3 AXLES
 
                            -4-      LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1    With Tandem                     With or
 2       Axles                        Without
 3                                    Tandem Axles
 4    Minimum                         Minimum
 5    distance to        Maximum      distance to         Maximum
 6    nearest foot       Gross        nearest foot        Gross
 7    between            Weight       between             Weight
 8    extreme axles      (pounds)     extreme axles       (pounds)
 9    10 feet            41,000       16 feet             46,000
10    11                 42,000       17                  47,000
11    12                 43,000       18                  47,500
12    13                 44,000       19                  48,000
13    14                 44,500       20                  49,000
14    15                 45,000       21 feet or more     50,000
15                      VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
16                           HAVING 4 AXLES
17    Minimum                         Minimum
18    distance to        Maximum      distance to         Maximum
19    nearest foot       Gross        nearest foot        Gross
20    between            Weight       between             Weight
21    extreme axles      (pounds)     extreme axles       (pounds)
22    15 feet            50,000       26 feet             57,500
23    16                 50,500       27                  58,000
24    17                 51,500       28                  58,500
25    18                 52,000       29                  59,500
26    19                 52,500       30                  60,000
27    20                 53,500       31                  60,500
28    21                 54,000       32                  61,500
29    22                 54,500       33                  62,000
30    23                 55,500       34                  62,500
31    24                 56,000       35                  63,500
32    25                 56,500       36 feet or more     64,000
33        A  vehicle  not in a combination having more than 4 axles
34    may not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (b)
 
                            -5-      LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1    for 4  axles  measured  between  the  extreme  axles  of  the
 2    vehicle.
 3                 COMBINATIONS HAVING 5 OR MORE AXLES
 4    Minimum distance to           Maximum
 5    nearest foot between          Gross Weight
 6    extreme axles                 (pounds)
 7    42 feet or less               72,000
 8    43                            73,000
 9    44 feet or more               73,280

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

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

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

23        (c)  Cities  having  a population of more than 50,000 may
24    permit by ordinance axle loads on 2 axle  motor  vehicles  33
25    1/2%  above those provided for herein, but the increase shall
26    not become effective until the city has  officially  notified
27    the  Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall not
28    apply to those vehicles when outside of  the  limits  of  the
29    city,  nor shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor vehicle
30    operating over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
31        (d)  Weight  limitations  shall  not  apply  to  vehicles
32    (including  loads)  operated  by  a   public   utility   when
 
                            -6-      LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1    transporting  equipment  required  for  emergency  repair  of
 2    public utility facilities or properties or water wells.
 3        A  combination  of  vehicles, including a tow truck and a
 4    disabled vehicle or disabled combination  of  vehicles,  that
 5    exceeds  the  weight restriction imposed by this Code, may be
 6    operated on a public highway  in  this  State  provided  that
 7    neither  the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor
 8    the tow truck itself  shall  exceed  the  weight  limitations
 9    permitted  under  this  Chapter. During the towing operation,
10    neither the tow  truck  nor  the  vehicle  combination  shall
11    exceed 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle, and 44,000 pounds
12    on  a  tandem  rear  axle,  or 64,000 pounds on a triple rear
13    axle, provided the towing vehicle:
14             (1)  is specifically designed as a tow truck  having
15        a  gross  vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000 pounds
16        and is equipped with air brakes, provided that air brakes
17        are required only if  the  towing  vehicle  is  towing  a
18        vehicle, semitrailer, or tractor-trailer combination that
19        is equipped with air brakes;
20             (2)  is   equipped   with   flashing,  rotating,  or
21        oscillating amber lights, visible for at least  500  feet
22        in all directions;
23             (3)  is   capable  of  utilizing  the  lighting  and
24        braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination of
25        vehicles; and
26             (4)  does not engage in a  tow  exceeding  20  miles
27        from  the  initial  point  of  wreck  or disablement. Any
28        additional movement of the vehicles may occur  only  upon
29        issuance  of  authorization  for  that movement under the
30        provisions of Sections  15-301  through  15-319  of  this
31        Code.
32        Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of
33    the  tow  truck  and  vehicles  being  towed.   The tow truck
34    license plate must cover the operating empty  weight  of  the
 
                            -7-      LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 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        The  Department  may  by  rule  or  regulation  prescribe
11    additional requirements. However, nothing in this Code  shall
12    prohibit  a  tow truck under instructions of a police officer
13    from legally clearing a disabled  vehicle,  that  may  be  in
14    violation  of  weight  limitations  of this Chapter, from the
15    roadway to the berm or shoulder of the  highway.  If  in  the
16    opinion  of  the  police officer that location is unsafe, the
17    officer is authorized to have the disabled vehicle  towed  to
18    the nearest place of safety.
19        For  the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
20    rating, or GVWR,  shall  mean  the  value  specified  by  the
21    manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
22        (e)  No  vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with
23    pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
24    the highways of this State in violation of the provisions  of
25    any  permit  issued  under  the provisions of Sections 15-301
26    through 15-319 of this Chapter.
27        (f)  On designated Class I, II, or III highways  and  the
28    National  System  of  Interstate  and  Defense  Highways,  no
29    vehicle  or  combination of vehicles with pneumatic tires may
30    be operated, unladen or with load, when the total  weight  on
31    the  road  surface  exceeds the following: 20,000 pounds on a
32    single axle; 34,000 pounds on a  tandem  axle  with  no  axle
33    within  the  tandem  exceeding  20,000  pounds; 80,000 pounds
34    gross weight for vehicle combinations of 5 or more axles;  or
 
                            -8-      LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1    a  total  weight on a group of 2 or more consecutive axles in
 2    excess of that weight produced  by  the  application  of  the
 3    following  formula:   W = 500 times the sum of (LN divided by
 4    N-1) + 12N + 36, where "W" equals overall total weight on any
 5    group of 2 or more  consecutive  axles  to  the  nearest  500
 6    pounds,  "L" equals the distance measured to the nearest foot
 7    between extremes of any group of 2 or more consecutive axles,
 8    and "N" equals  the  number  of  axles  in  the  group  under
 9    consideration.
10        The  above formula when expressed in tabular form results
11    in allowable loads as follows:

12    Distance measured
13    to the nearest
14    foot between the
15    extremes of any         Maximum weight in pounds
16    group of 2 or           of any group of
17    more consecutive        2 or more consecutive axles
18    axles
19          feet        2 axles  3 axles  4 axles  5 axles  6 axles
20            4         34,000
21            5         34,000
22            6         34,000
23            7         34,000
24            8         38,000*   42,000
25            9         39,000    42,500
26           10         40,000    43,500
27           11                   44,000
28           12                   45,000   50,000
29           13                   45,500   50,500
30           14                   46,500   51,500
31           15                   47,000   52,000
32           16                   48,000   52,500   58,000
33           17                   48,500   53,500   58,500
34           18                   49,500   54,000   59,000
 
                            -9-      LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1           19                   50,000   54,500   60,000
 2           20                   51,000   55,500   60,500   66,000
 3           21                   51,500   56,000   61,000   66,500
 4           22                   52,500   56,500   61,500   67,000
 5           23                   53,000   57,500   62,500   68,000
 6           24                   54,000   58,000   63,000   68,500
 7           25                   54,500   58,500   63,500   69,000
 8           26                   55,500   59,500   64,000   69,500
 9           27                   56,000   60,000   65,000   70,000
10           28                   57,000   60,500   65,500   71,000
11           29                   57,500   61,500   66,000   71,500
12           30                   58,500   62,000   66,500   72,000
13           31                   59,000   62,500   67,500   72,500
14           32                   60,000   63,500   68,000   73,000
15           33                            64,000   68,500   74,000
16           34                            64,500   69,000   74,500
17           35                            65,500   70,000   75,000
18           36                            66,000   70,500   75,500
19           37                            66,500   71,000   76,000
20           38                            67,500   72,000   77,000
21           39                            68,000   72,500   77,500
22           40                            68,500   73,000   78,000
23           41                            69,500   73,500   78,500
24           42                            70,000   74,000   79,000
25           43                            70,500   75,000   80,000
26           44                            71,500   75,500
27           45                            72,000   76,000
28           46                            72,500   76,500
29           47                            73,500   77,500
30           48                            74,000   78,000
31           49                            74,500   78,500
32           50                            75,500   79,000
33           51                            76,000   80,000
34           52                            76,500
 
                            -10-     LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1           53                            77,500
 2           54                            78,000
 3           55                            78,500
 4           56                            79,500
 5           57                            80,000
 6    *If the distance between 2 axles is 96 inches or less, the  2
 7    axles  are  tandem axles and the maximum total weight may not
 8    exceed  34,000  pounds,  notwithstanding  the  higher   limit
 9    resulting from the application of the formula.
10        Vehicles  not  in  a combination having more than 4 axles
11    may not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f)
12    for 4  axles  measured  between  the  extreme  axles  of  the
13    vehicle.
14        Vehicles  in  a  combination having more than 6 axles may
15    not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f) for
16    6  axles  measured  between  the   extreme   axles   of   the
17    combination.
18        Local    authorities    and    road    district   highway
19    commissioners, with respect to  streets  and  highways  under
20    their  jurisdiction,  without  additional  fees,  may also by
21    ordinance or resolution allow the weight limitations of  this
22    subsection, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle
23    shall  not  exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum total weight
24    on any  tandem  axle  shall  not  exceed  34,000  pounds,  on
25    designated  highways when appropriate regulatory signs giving
26    notice are erected upon the street or highway or  portion  of
27    any   street   or   highway  affected  by  the  ordinance  or
28    resolution.
29        The following are exceptions to the above formula:
30             (1)  Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may  carry
31        a  total  weight  of  34,000  pounds  each if the overall
32        distance  between  the  first  and  last  axles  of   the
33        consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
34             (2)  Vehicles   for   which  a  different  limit  is
 
                            -11-     LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1        established and posted in accordance with Section  15-316
 2        of this Code.
 3             (3)  Vehicles    for   which   the   Department   of
 4        Transportation and  local  authorities  issue  overweight
 5        permits  under  authority of Section 15-301 of this Code.
 6        These vehicles are not subject to the bridge formula.
 7             (4)  Tow trucks subject to the  conditions  provided
 8        in  subsection  (d)  may  not  exceed  24,000 pounds on a
 9        single rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle.
10             (5)  A tandem axle on a 3-axle truck registered as a
11        Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in  the
12        model  year  of 2004, and registered in Illinois prior to
13        January 1, 2005, with a distance between  2  axles  in  a
14        series greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches
15        may  not  exceed  a  total  weight  of  36,000 pounds and
16        neither axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds.
17             (6)  A truck not in  combination,  equipped  with  a
18        self  compactor  or  an  industrial  roll-off  hoist  and
19        roll-off  container,  used  exclusively  for  garbage  or
20        refuse  operations,  may,  when  laden, transmit upon the
21        road surface, except when on part of the National  System
22        of Interstate and Defense Highways, the following maximum
23        weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on
24        a  tandem  axle;  36,000  pounds gross weight on a 2-axle
25        vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a 3-axle  vehicle.
26        This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
27             (7)  Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special
28        Hauling  Vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured
29        prior to or in the model year of 2004, and registered  in
30        Illinois  prior to January 1, 2005, having 5 axles with a
31        distance of 42 feet or less between  extreme  axles,  may
32        not  exceed  the following maximum weights: 18,000 pounds
33        on a single axle; 32,000 pounds on  a  tandem  axle;  and
34        72,000  pounds gross weight. This combination of vehicles
 
                            -12-     LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1        is not subject to the  bridge  formula.   For  all  those
 2        combinations  of  vehicles  that  include  a  semitrailer
 3        manufactured  after the effective date of this amendatory
 4        Act of the 92nd General Assembly,  the  overall  distance
 5        between the first and last axles of the 2 sets of tandems
 6        must  be  18  feet  6  inches or more. Any combination of
 7        vehicles that has had its cargo container replaced in its
 8        entirety after December  31,  2004  may  not  exceed  the
 9        weights allowed by the bridge formula.
10        No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
11    than  pneumatic  tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
12    upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on  the
13    road  surface  through  any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch
14    width of tire tread or when the  gross  weight  on  the  road
15    surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
16        (f-1)  A  vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds is
17    allowed access as follows:
18             (1)  From any  State  designated  highway  onto  any
19        county,  township, or municipal highway for a distance of
20        5 highway miles for the purpose of loading and unloading,
21        provided:
22                  (A)  The vehicle and load  does  not  exceed  8
23             feet 6 inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
24                  (B)  There is no sign prohibiting that access.
25                  (C)  The   route   is   not  being  used  as  a
26             thoroughfare between State  designated highways.
27             (2)  From any  State  designated  highway  onto  any
28        county  or  township  highway for a distance of 5 highway
29        miles, or any municipal highway for  a  distance  of  one
30        highway  mile for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs, and
31        rest, provided:
32                  (A)  The vehicle and load  does  not  exceed  8
33             feet 6 inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
34                  (B)  There is no sign prohibiting that access.
 
                            -13-     LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1                  (C)  The   route   is   not  being  used  as  a
 2             thoroughfare between State designated highways.
 3        (f-2)  A vehicle and load greater than 73,280  pounds  in
 4    weight  but  not exceeding 80,000 pounds is allowed access as
 5    follows:
 6             (1)  From a Class  I  highway  onto  any  street  or
 7        highway  for  a  distance  of  one  highway  mile for the
 8        purpose of loading, unloading, food, fuel,  repairs,  and
 9        rest, provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
10             (2)  From  a  Class  I,  II, or III highway onto any
11        State highway or  any  local  designated  highway  for  a
12        distance  of  5 highway miles for the purpose of loading,
13        unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest.
14        Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
15    relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to  the
16    designation of highways under this subsection.
17        (g)  No  person shall operate a vehicle or combination of
18    vehicles  over  a  bridge   or   other   elevated   structure
19    constituting  part  of  a highway with a gross weight that is
20    greater than the maximum weight permitted by the  Department,
21    when  the  structure  is  sign  posted  as  provided  in this
22    Section.
23        (h)  The Department upon request from any local authority
24    shall,  or  upon  its  own   initiative   may,   conduct   an
25    investigation  of  any  bridge  or  other  elevated structure
26    constituting a part of a highway, and if it  finds  that  the
27    structure  cannot  with safety to itself withstand the weight
28    of  vehicles  otherwise  permissible  under  this  Code   the
29    Department  shall determine and declare the maximum weight of
30    vehicles that the structures can withstand, and  shall  cause
31    or permit suitable signs stating maximum weight to be erected
32    and  maintained  before each end of the structure.  No person
33    shall operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles  over  any
34    structure with a gross weight that is greater than the posted
 
                            -14-     LRB093 02177 DRH 02184 b
 1    maximum weight.
 2        (i)  Upon   the  trial  of  any  person  charged  with  a
 3    violation of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of
 4    the determination of the  maximum  allowable  weight  by  the
 5    Department  and  the  existence  of  the  signs,  constitutes
 6    conclusive  evidence  of  the  maximum  weight  that  can  be
 7    maintained with safety to the bridge or structure.
 8    (Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02.)