93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4494

 

Introduced 02/03/04, by Joseph M. Lyons

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/15-111   from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a truck, not used in combination with another vehicle and used exclusively for the delivery of propane fuel, may, when laden, transmit upon a road surface a maximum weight of 22,000 pounds on a single axle or 40,000 on a tandem axle.


LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4494 LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1     AN ACT concerning 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

 

 

HB4494 - 2 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

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 or for the
10     delivery of propane fuel, may, when laden, transmit upon
11     the road surface the following maximum weights: 22,000
12     pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a 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
 
28With TandemWith or
29  AxlesWithout
30Tandem Axles
31MinimumMinimum
32distance toMaximumdistance toMaximum
33nearest footGrossnearest footGross
34betweenWeightbetweenWeight

 

 

 

HB4494 - 4 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1extreme axles(pounds)extreme axles(pounds)
210 feet41,00016 feet46,000
31142,0001747,000
41243,0001847,500
51344,0001948,000
61444,5002049,000
71545,00021 feet or more50,000
8VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS HAVING 4 AXLES
9MinimumMinimum
10distance toMaximumdistance toMaximum
11nearest footGrossnearest footGross
12betweenWeightbetweenWeight
13extreme axles(pounds)extreme axles(pounds)
1415 feet50,00026 feet57,500
151650,5002758,000
161751,5002858,500
171852,0002959,500
181952,5003060,000
192053,5003160,500
202154,0003261,500
212254,5003362,000
222355,5003462,500
232456,0003563,500
242556,50036 feet or more64,000
25    A vehicle not in a combination having more than 4 axles may
26not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (b) for 4
27axles measured between the extreme axles of the vehicle.
28COMBINATIONS HAVING 5 OR MORE AXLES
29Minimum distance toMaximum
30nearest foot betweenGross Weight
31extreme axles(pounds)
3242 feet or less72,000
334373,000
3444 feet or more73,280
35 VEHICLES OPERATING ON CRAWLER TYPE TRACKS ..... 40,000 pounds
 

 

 

HB4494 - 5 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1
TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SELFCOMPACTORS
2 OR ROLL-OFF HOISTS AND ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS FOR GARBAGE
3 OR REFUSE HAULS ONLY AND TRUCKS USED FOR
4 THE COLLECTION OF RENDERING MATERIALS
5 On Highway Not Part of National System
6 of Interstate and Defense Highways
7 with 2 axles                                    36,000 pounds
8 with 3 axles                                    54,000 pounds
 
9
TWO AXLE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH
10 A FRONT LOADING COMPACTOR USED EXCLUSIVELY
11 FOR THE COLLECTION OF GARBAGE, REFUSE, OR RECYCLING
12 with 2 axles                                    40,000 pounds
 
13     (c) Cities having a population of more than 50,000 may
14 permit by ordinance axle loads on 2 axle motor vehicles 33 1/2%
15 above those provided for herein, but the increase shall not
16 become effective until the city has officially notified the
17 Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall not apply
18 to those vehicles when outside of the limits of the city, nor
19 shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor vehicle operating
20 over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
21     (d) Weight limitations shall not apply to vehicles
22 (including loads) operated by a public utility when
23 transporting equipment required for emergency repair of public
24 utility facilities or properties or water wells.
25     A combination of vehicles, including a tow truck and a
26 disabled vehicle or disabled combination of vehicles, that
27 exceeds the weight restriction imposed by this Code, may be
28 operated on a public highway in this State provided that
29 neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor
30 the tow truck itself shall exceed the weight limitations
31 permitted under this Chapter. During the towing operation,
32 neither the tow truck nor the vehicle combination shall exceed
33 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle and 44,000 pounds on a

 

 

HB4494 - 6 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1 tandem rear axle, provided the towing vehicle:
2         (1) is specifically designed as a tow truck having a
3     gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000 pounds and
4     is equipped with air brakes, provided that air brakes are
5     required only if the towing vehicle is towing a vehicle,
6     semitrailer, or tractor-trailer combination that is
7     equipped with air brakes;
8         (2) is equipped with flashing, rotating, or
9     oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet in
10     all directions;
11         (3) is capable of utilizing the lighting and braking
12     systems of the disabled vehicle or combination of vehicles;
13     and
14         (4) does not engage in a tow exceeding 20 miles from
15     the initial point of wreck or disablement. Any additional
16     movement of the vehicles may occur only upon issuance of
17     authorization for that movement under the provisions of
18     Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this Code.
19     Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of
20 the tow truck and vehicles being towed. The tow truck license
21 plate must cover the operating empty weight of the tow truck
22 only. The weight of each vehicle being towed shall be covered
23 by a valid license plate issued to the owner or operator of the
24 vehicle being towed and displayed on that vehicle. If no valid
25 plate issued to the owner or operator of that vehicle is
26 displayed on that vehicle, or the plate displayed on that
27 vehicle does not cover the weight of the vehicle, the weight of
28 the vehicle shall be covered by the third tow truck plate
29 issued to the owner or operator of the tow truck and
30 temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed.
31     The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
32 additional requirements. However, nothing in this Code shall
33 prohibit a tow truck under instructions of a police officer
34 from legally clearing a disabled vehicle, that may be in
35 violation of weight limitations of this Chapter, from the
36 roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway. If in the

 

 

HB4494 - 7 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1 opinion of the police officer that location is unsafe, the
2 officer is authorized to have the disabled vehicle towed to the
3 nearest place of safety.
4     For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
5 rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
6 manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
7     (e) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with
8 pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
9 the highways of this State in violation of the provisions of
10 any permit issued under the provisions of Sections 15-301
11 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
12     (f) On designated Class I, II, or III highways and the
13 National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, no vehicle
14 or combination of vehicles with pneumatic tires may be
15 operated, unladen or with load, when the total weight on the
16 road surface exceeds the following: 20,000 pounds on a single
17 axle; 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle within the
18 tandem exceeding 20,000 pounds; 80,000 pounds gross weight for
19 vehicle combinations of 5 or more axles; or a total weight on a
20 group of 2 or more consecutive axles in excess of that weight
21 produced by the application of the following formula: W = 500
22 times the sum of (LN divided by N-1) + 12N + 36, where "W"
23 equals overall total weight on any group of 2 or more
24 consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds, "L" equals the
25 distance measured to the nearest foot between extremes of any
26 group of 2 or more consecutive axles, and "N" equals the number
27 of axles in the group under consideration.
28     The above formula when expressed in tabular form results in
29 allowable loads as follows:
 
30 Distance measured
31 to the nearest
32 foot between the
33 extremes of any         Maximum weight in pounds
34 group of 2 or           of any group of
35 more consecutive        2 or more consecutive axles

 

 

HB4494 - 8 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1 axles
2feet2 axles3 axles4 axles5 axles6 axles
3434,000
4534,000
5634,000
6734,000
7838,000*42,000
8939,00042,500
91040,00043,500
101144,000
111245,00050,000
121345,50050,500
131446,50051,500
141547,00052,000
151648,00052,50058,000
161748,50053,50058,500
171849,50054,00059,000
181950,00054,50060,000
192051,00055,50060,50066,000
202151,50056,00061,00066,500
212252,50056,50061,50067,000
222353,00057,50062,50068,000
232454,00058,00063,00068,500
242554,50058,50063,50069,000
252655,50059,50064,00069,500
262756,00060,00065,00070,000
272857,00060,50065,50071,000
282957,50061,50066,00071,500
293058,50062,00066,50072,000
303159,00062,50067,50072,500
313260,00063,50068,00073,000
323364,00068,50074,000
333464,50069,00074,500
343565,50070,00075,000
353666,00070,50075,500
363766,50071,00076,000
373867,50072,00077,000
383968,00072,50077,500
394068,50073,00078,000
404169,50073,50078,500
414270,00074,00079,000
424370,50075,00080,000
434471,50075,500
444572,00076,000
454672,50076,500
464773,50077,500
474874,00078,000
484974,50078,500
495075,50079,000
505176,00080,000
515276,500
525377,500
535478,000
545578,500
555679,500
565780,000
21 *If the distance between 2 axles is 96 inches or less, the 2
22 axles are tandem axles and the maximum total weight may not
23 exceed 34,000 pounds, notwithstanding the higher limit
24 resulting from the application of the formula.
25     Vehicles not in a combination having more than 4 axles may
26 not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f) for 4
27 axles measured between the extreme axles of the vehicle.
28     Vehicles in a combination having more than 6 axles may not
29 exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f) for 6
30 axles measured between the extreme axles of the combination.
31     Local authorities, with respect to streets and highways
32 under their jurisdiction, without additional fees, may also by
33 ordinance or resolution allow the weight limitations of this
34 subsection, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle
35 shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum total weight on
36 any tandem axle shall not exceed 34,000 pounds, on designated

 

 

HB4494 - 10 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1 highways when appropriate regulatory signs giving notice are
2 erected upon the street or highway or portion of any street or
3 highway affected by the ordinance or resolution.
4     The following are exceptions to the above formula:
5         (1) Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a
6     total weight of 34,000 pounds each if the overall distance
7     between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of
8     tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
9         (2) Vehicles for which a different limit is established
10     and posted in accordance with Section 15-316 of this Code.
11         (3) Vehicles for which the Department of
12     Transportation and local authorities issue overweight
13     permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this Code.
14     These vehicles are not subject to the bridge formula.
15         (4) Tow trucks subject to the conditions provided in
16     subsection (d) may not exceed 24,000 pounds on a single
17     rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle.
18         (5) A tandem axle on a 3-axle truck registered as a
19     Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the
20     model year of 2014, and registered in Illinois prior to
21     January 1, 2015, with a distance between 2 axles in a
22     series greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches
23     may not exceed a total weight of 36,000 pounds and neither
24     axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds.
25         (6) A truck not in combination, equipped with a self
26     compactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off
27     container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse
28     operations, may, when laden, transmit upon the road
29     surface, except when on part of the National System of
30     Interstate and Defense Highways, the following maximum
31     weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a
32     tandem axle; 36,000 pounds gross weight on a 2-axle
33     vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a 3-axle vehicle.
34     This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
35         (7) Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special
36     Hauling Vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured

 

 

HB4494 - 11 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1     prior to or in the model year of 2014, and registered in
2     Illinois prior to January 1, 2015, having 5 axles with a
3     distance of 42 feet or less between extreme axles, may not
4     exceed the following maximum weights: 18,000 pounds on a
5     single axle; 32,000 pounds on a tandem axle; and 72,000
6     pounds gross weight. This combination of vehicles is not
7     subject to the bridge formula. For all those combinations
8     of vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured after
9     the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd
10     General Assembly, the overall distance between the first
11     and last axles of the 2 sets of tandems must be 18 feet 6
12     inches or more. Any combination of vehicles that has had
13     its cargo container replaced in its entirety after December
14     31, 2014 may not exceed the weights allowed by the bridge
15     formula.
16     No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
17 than pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
18 upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
19 road surface through any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch
20 width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road
21 surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
22     (f-1) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds is
23 allowed access as follows:
24         (1) From any State designated highway onto any county,
25     township, or municipal highway for a distance of 5 highway
26     miles for the purpose of loading and unloading, provided:
27             (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 8 feet 6
28         inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
29             (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
30             (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
31         between State designated highways.
32         (2) From any State designated highway onto any county
33     or township highway for a distance of 5 highway miles, or
34     any municipal highway for a distance of one highway mile
35     for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs, and rest, provided:
36             (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 8 feet 6

 

 

HB4494 - 12 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1         inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
2             (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
3             (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
4         between State designated highways.
5     (f-2) A vehicle and load greater than 73,280 pounds in
6 weight but not exceeding 80,000 pounds is allowed access as
7 follows:
8         (1) From a Class I highway onto any street or highway
9     for a distance of one highway mile for the purpose of
10     loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest,
11     provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
12         (2) From a Class I, II, or III highway onto any State
13     highway or any local designated highway for a distance of 5
14     highway miles for the purpose of loading, unloading, food,
15     fuel, repairs, and rest.
16     Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
17 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
18 designation of highways under this subsection.
19     (g) No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of
20 vehicles over a bridge or other elevated structure constituting
21 part of a highway with a gross weight that is greater than the
22 maximum weight permitted by the Department, when the structure
23 is sign posted as provided in this Section.
24     (h) The Department upon request from any local authority
25 shall, or upon its own initiative may, conduct an investigation
26 of any bridge or other elevated structure constituting a part
27 of a highway, and if it finds that the structure cannot with
28 safety to itself withstand the weight of vehicles otherwise
29 permissible under this Code the Department shall determine and
30 declare the maximum weight of vehicles that the structures can
31 withstand, and shall cause or permit suitable signs stating
32 maximum weight to be erected and maintained before each end of
33 the structure. No person shall operate a vehicle or combination
34 of vehicles over any structure with a gross weight that is
35 greater than the posted maximum weight.
36     (i) Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation

 

 

HB4494 - 13 - LRB093 19535 DRH 45275 b

1 of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of the
2 determination of the maximum allowable weight by the Department
3 and the existence of the signs, constitutes conclusive evidence
4 of the maximum weight that can be maintained with safety to the
5 bridge or structure.
6 (Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02; 93-177, eff. 7-11-03;
7 93-186, eff. 1-1-04; revised 8-12-03.)