Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB2578
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Full Text of HB2578  93rd General Assembly

HB2578 93rd General Assembly


093_HB2578

 
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 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 07900 DRH 08090 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 07900 DRH 08090 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
 
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 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)
 
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 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, OR RECYCLING 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    with 4 axles                                    62,000 pounds

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

24        (c)  Cities  having  a population of more than 50,000 may
25    permit by ordinance axle loads on 2 axle  motor  vehicles  33
26    1/2%  above those provided for herein, but the increase shall
27    not become effective until the city has  officially  notified
28    the  Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall not
29    apply to those vehicles when outside of  the  limits  of  the
30    city,  nor shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor vehicle
31    operating over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
32        (d)  Weight  limitations  shall  not  apply  to  vehicles
 
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 1    (including  loads)  operated  by  a   public   utility   when
 2    transporting  equipment  required  for  emergency  repair  of
 3    public utility facilities or properties or water wells.
 4        A  combination  of  vehicles, including a tow truck and a
 5    disabled vehicle or disabled combination  of  vehicles,  that
 6    exceeds  the  weight restriction imposed by this Code, may be
 7    operated on a public highway  in  this  State  provided  that
 8    neither  the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor
 9    the tow truck itself  shall  exceed  the  weight  limitations
10    permitted  under  this  Chapter. During the towing operation,
11    neither the tow  truck  nor  the  vehicle  combination  shall
12    exceed  24,000 pounds on a single rear axle and 44,000 pounds
13    on a tandem rear 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 07900 DRH 08090 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 07900 DRH 08090 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 07900 DRH 08090 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 07900 DRH 08090 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 07900 DRH 08090 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,  or  recycling  operations,  may,   when   laden,
21        transmit  upon  the  road surface, except when on part of
22        the National System of Interstate and  Defense  Highways,
23        the  following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single
24        axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 36,000 pounds gross
25        weight on a 2-axle vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on
26        a 3-axle vehicle; 62,000 pounds gross weight on a  4-axle
27        vehicle.  This  vehicle  is  not  subject  to  the bridge
28        formula.
29             (7)  Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special
30        Hauling Vehicles that include a semitrailer  manufactured
31        prior  to or in the model year of 2004, and registered in
32        Illinois prior to January 1, 2005, having 5 axles with  a
33        distance  of  42  feet or less between extreme axles, may
34        not exceed the following maximum weights:  18,000  pounds
 
                            -12-     LRB093 07900 DRH 08090 b
 1        on  a  single  axle;  32,000 pounds on a tandem axle; and
 2        72,000 pounds gross weight. This combination of  vehicles
 3        is  not  subject  to  the  bridge formula.  For all those
 4        combinations  of  vehicles  that  include  a  semitrailer
 5        manufactured after the effective date of this  amendatory
 6        Act  of  the  92nd General Assembly, the overall distance
 7        between the first and last axles of the 2 sets of tandems
 8        must be 18 feet 6 inches  or  more.  Any  combination  of
 9        vehicles that has had its cargo container replaced in its
10        entirety  after  December  31,  2004  may  not exceed the
11        weights allowed by the bridge formula.
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        (f-1)  A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds  is
19    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  and  load  does not exceed 8
25             feet 6 inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
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  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  and  load  does not exceed 8
 
                            -13-     LRB093 07900 DRH 08090 b
 1             feet 6 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
 4             thoroughfare 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
 9        highway for a  distance  of  one  highway  mile  for  the
10        purpose  of  loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and
11        rest, provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
12             (2)  From a Class I, II, or  III  highway  onto  any
13        State  highway  or  any  local  designated  highway for a
14        distance of 5 highway miles for the purpose  of  loading,
15        unloading, food, 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
21    constituting part of a highway with a gross  weight  that  is
22    greater  than the maximum weight permitted by the Department,
23    when the  structure  is  sign  posted  as  provided  in  this
24    Section.
25        (h)  The Department upon request from any local authority
26    shall,   or   upon   its   own  initiative  may,  conduct  an
27    investigation of  any  bridge  or  other  elevated  structure
28    constituting  a  part  of a highway, and if it finds that the
29    structure cannot with safety to itself withstand  the  weight
30    of   vehicles  otherwise  permissible  under  this  Code  the
31    Department shall determine and declare the maximum weight  of
32    vehicles  that  the structures can withstand, and shall cause
33    or permit suitable signs stating maximum weight to be erected
34    and maintained before each end of the structure.   No  person
 
                            -14-     LRB093 07900 DRH 08090 b
 1    shall  operate  a vehicle or combination of vehicles over any
 2    structure with a gross weight that is greater than the posted
 3    maximum weight.
 4        (i)  Upon  the  trial  of  any  person  charged  with   a
 5    violation of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of
 6    the  determination  of  the  maximum  allowable weight by the
 7    Department  and  the  existence  of  the  signs,  constitutes
 8    conclusive  evidence  of  the  maximum  weight  that  can  be
 9    maintained with safety to the bridge or structure.
10    (Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02.)