99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1390

 

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Karen McConnaughay

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/15-107  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-107

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the maximum length of a truck tractor in combination with a semitrailer may not exceed 65 feet (rather than 55 feet) overall dimension on all non-State highways. Removes the requirement that truck tractor-semitrailer combinations must have no more than a maximum 55 feet overall wheel base on Class III roadways and other non-designated State highways. Increases kingpin to rear axle length of semitrailers longer than 48 feet, in combination with a truck tractor, to 45 feet 6 inches (rather than 42 feet 6 inches) on Class III roadways and other non-designated State highways.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB1390LRB099 07081 RJF 27165 b

1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5Section 15-107 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/15-107)   (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-107)
7    Sec. 15-107. Length of vehicles.
8    (a) The maximum length of a single vehicle on any highway
9of this State may not exceed 42 feet except the following:
10        (1) Semitrailers.
11        (2) Charter or regulated route buses may be up to 45
12    feet in length, not including energy absorbing bumpers.
13    (a-1) A motor home as defined in Section 1-145.01 may be up
14to 45 feet in length, not including energy absorbing bumpers.
15The length limitations described in this subsection (a-1) shall
16be exclusive of energy-absorbing bumpers and rear view mirrors.
17    (b) On all non-State highways, the maximum length of
18vehicles in combinations is as follows:
19        (1) A truck tractor in combination with a semitrailer
20    may not exceed 65 55 feet overall dimension.
21        (2) A truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer or truck
22    tractor semitrailer-semitrailer may not exceed 60 feet
23    overall dimension.

 

 

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1        (3) Combinations specially designed to transport motor
2    vehicles or boats may not exceed 60 feet overall dimension.
3    Vehicles operating during daylight hours when transporting
4poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects of a structural
5nature that cannot readily be dismembered are exempt from
6length limitations, provided that no object may exceed 80 feet
7in length and the overall dimension of the vehicle including
8the load may not exceed 100 feet. This exemption does not apply
9to operation on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Legal
10holidays referred to in this Section are the days on which the
11following traditional holidays are celebrated: New Year's Day;
12Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day;
13and Christmas Day.
14    Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while en
15route to make emergency repairs to public service facilities or
16properties are exempt from length limitations, provided that
17during night operations every vehicle and its load must be
18equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both
19sides and marker lamps on the extreme ends of any projecting
20load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
21    A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle or
22combination of disabled vehicles, as provided in paragraph (6)
23of subsection (c) of this Section, is exempt from length
24limitations.
25    All other combinations not listed in this subsection (b)
26may not exceed 60 feet overall dimension.

 

 

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1    (c) Except as provided in subsections (c-1) and (c-2),
2combinations of vehicles may not exceed a total of 2 vehicles
3except the following:
4        (1) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one trailer.
5        (2) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one converter
6    dolly or one semitrailer.
7        (3) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one vehicle
8    that is defined in Chapter 1 as special mobile equipment,
9    provided the overall dimension does not exceed 60 feet.
10        (4) A truck in transit may draw 3 trucks in transit
11    coupled together by the triple saddlemount method.
12        (5) Recreational vehicles consisting of 3 vehicles,
13    provided the following:
14            (A) The total overall dimension does not exceed 60
15        feet.
16            (B) The towing vehicle is a properly registered
17        vehicle capable of towing another vehicle using a
18        fifth-wheel type assembly.
19            (C) The second vehicle in the combination of
20        vehicles is a recreational vehicle that is towed by a
21        fifth-wheel assembly. This vehicle must be properly
22        registered and must be equipped with brakes,
23        regardless of weight.
24            (D) The third vehicle must be the lightest of the 3
25        vehicles and be a trailer or semitrailer designed or
26        used for transporting a boat, all-terrain vehicle,

 

 

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1        personal watercraft, or motorcycle.
2            (E) The towed vehicles may be only for the use of
3        the operator of the towing vehicle.
4            (F) All vehicles must be properly equipped with
5        operating brakes and safety equipment required by this
6        Code, except the additional brake requirement in
7        subdivision (C) of this subparagraph (5).
8        (6) A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle
9    or combination of disabled vehicles, provided the towing
10    vehicle:
11            (A) Is specifically designed as a tow truck having
12        a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000 pounds
13        and equipped with air brakes, provided that air brakes
14        are required only if the towing vehicle is towing a
15        vehicle, semitrailer, or tractor-trailer combination
16        that is equipped with air brakes. For the purpose of
17        this subsection, gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR,
18        means the value specified by the manufacturer as the
19        loaded weight of the tow truck.
20            (B) Is equipped with flashing, rotating, or
21        oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet
22        in all directions.
23            (C) Is capable of utilizing the lighting and
24        braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination
25        of vehicles.
26            (D) Does not engage a tow exceeding 50 highway

 

 

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1        miles from the initial point of wreck or disablement to
2        a place of repair. Any additional movement of the
3        vehicles may occur only upon issuance of authorization
4        for that movement under the provisions of Sections
5        15-301 through 15-319 of this Code.
6        The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
7    additional requirements regarding length limitations for a
8    tow truck towing another vehicle.
9        For purposes of this Section, a tow-dolly that merely
10    serves as substitute wheels for another legally licensed
11    vehicle is considered part of the licensed vehicle and not
12    a separate vehicle.
13        (7) Commercial vehicles consisting of 3 vehicles,
14    provided the following:
15            (A) The total overall dimension does not exceed 65
16        feet.
17            (B) The towing vehicle is a properly registered
18        vehicle capable of towing another vehicle using a
19        fifth-wheel type assembly or a goose-neck hitch ball.
20            (C) The third vehicle must be the lightest of the 3
21        vehicles and be a trailer or semitrailer.
22            (D) All vehicles must be properly equipped with
23        operating brakes and safety equipment required by this
24        Code.
25            (E) The combination of vehicles must be operated by
26        a person who holds a commercial driver's license (CDL).

 

 

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1            (F) The combination of vehicles must be en route to
2        a location where new or used trailers are sold by an
3        Illinois or out-of-state licensed new or used trailer
4        dealer.
5    (c-1) A combination of 3 vehicles is allowed access to any
6State designated highway if:
7        (1) the length of neither towed vehicle exceeds 28.5
8    feet;
9        (2) the overall wheel base of the combination of
10    vehicles does not exceed 62 feet; and
11        (3) the combination of vehicles is en route to a
12    location where new or used trailers are sold by an Illinois
13    or out-of-state licensed new or used trailer dealer.
14    (c-2) A combination of 3 vehicles is allowed access from
15any State designated highway onto any county, township, or
16municipal highway for a distance of 5 highway miles for the
17purpose of delivery or collection of one or both of the towed
18vehicles if:
19        (1) the length of neither towed vehicle exceeds 28.5
20    feet;
21        (2) the combination of vehicles does not exceed 40,000
22    pounds in gross weight and 8 feet 6 inches in width;
23        (3) there is no sign prohibiting that access;
24        (4) the route is not being used as a thoroughfare
25    between State designated highways; and
26        (5) the combination of vehicles is en route to a

 

 

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1    location where new or used trailers are sold by an Illinois
2    or out-of-state licensed new or used trailer dealer.
3    (d) On Class I highways there are no overall length
4limitations on motor vehicles operating in combinations
5provided:
6        (1) The length of a semitrailer, unladen or with load,
7    in combination with a truck tractor may not exceed 53 feet.
8        (2) The distance between the kingpin and the center of
9    the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in
10    combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed 45 feet 6
11    inches. The limit contained in this paragraph (2) shall not
12    apply to trailers or semi-trailers used for the transport
13    of livestock as defined by Section 18b-101.
14        (3) The length of a semitrailer or trailer, unladen or
15    with load, operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer
16    or truck tractor semitrailer-semitrailer combination, may
17    not exceed 28 feet 6 inches.
18        (4) Maxi-cube combinations, as defined in Chapter 1,
19    may not exceed 65 feet overall dimension.
20        (5) Combinations of vehicles specifically designed to
21    transport motor vehicles or boats may not exceed 65 feet
22    overall dimension. The length limitation is inclusive of
23    front and rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the
24    transported vehicles, as provided in paragraph (i) of this
25    Section.
26        (6) Stinger steered semitrailer vehicles as defined in

 

 

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1    Chapter 1, specifically designed to transport motor
2    vehicles or boats, may not exceed 75 feet overall
3    dimension. The length limitation is inclusive of front and
4    rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the
5    transported vehicles, as provided in paragraph (i) of this
6    Section.
7        (7) A truck in transit transporting 3 trucks coupled
8    together by the triple saddlemount method may not exceed 75
9    feet overall dimension.
10    Vehicles operating during daylight hours when transporting
11poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects of a structural
12nature that cannot readily be dismembered are exempt from
13length limitations, provided that no object may exceed 80 feet
14in length and the overall dimension of the vehicle including
15the load may not exceed 100 feet. This exemption does not apply
16to operation on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Legal
17holidays referred to in this Section are the days on which the
18following traditional holidays are celebrated: New Year's Day;
19Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day;
20and Christmas Day.
21    Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while en
22route to make emergency repairs to public service facilities or
23properties are exempt from length limitations, provided that
24during night operations every vehicle and its load must be
25equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both
26sides and marker lamps on the extreme ends of any projecting

 

 

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1load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
2    A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle or
3combination of disabled vehicles, as provided in paragraph (6)
4of subsection (c) of this Section, is exempt from length
5limitations.
6    The length limitations described in this paragraph (d)
7shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
8such as bumpers, refrigeration units or air compressors and
9other devices, that the Department may interpret as necessary
10for safe and efficient operation; except that no device
11excluded under this paragraph shall have by its design or use
12the capability to carry cargo.
13    Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
14relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
15designation of highways under this paragraph (d).
16    (e) On Class II highways there are no overall length
17limitations on motor vehicles operating in combinations,
18provided:
19        (1) The length of a semitrailer, unladen or with load,
20    in combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed 53 feet
21    overall dimension.
22        (2) The distance between the kingpin and the center of
23    the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in
24    combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed 45 feet 6
25    inches. The limit contained in this paragraph (2) shall not
26    apply to trailers or semi-trailers used for the transport

 

 

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1    of livestock as defined by Section 18b-101.
2        (3) A truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer or truck
3    tractor semitrailer-semitrailer combination may not exceed
4    65 feet in dimension from front axle to rear axle.
5        (4) The length of a semitrailer or trailer, unladen or
6    with load, operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer
7    or truck tractor semitrailer-semitrailer combination, may
8    not exceed 28 feet 6 inches.
9        (5) Maxi-cube combinations, as defined in Chapter 1,
10    may not exceed 65 feet overall dimension.
11        (6) A combination of vehicles, specifically designed
12    to transport motor vehicles or boats, may not exceed 65
13    feet overall dimension. The length limitation is inclusive
14    of front and rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of
15    the transported vehicles, as provided in paragraph (i) of
16    this Section.
17        (7) Stinger steered semitrailer vehicles, as defined
18    in Chapter 1, specifically designed to transport motor
19    vehicles or boats, may not exceed 75 feet overall
20    dimension. The length limitation is inclusive of front and
21    rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the
22    transported vehicles, as provided in paragraph (i) of this
23    Section.
24        (8) A truck in transit transporting 3 trucks coupled
25    together by the triple saddlemount method may not exceed 75
26    feet overall dimension.

 

 

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1    Vehicles operating during daylight hours when transporting
2poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects of a structural
3nature that cannot readily be dismembered are exempt from
4length limitations, provided that no object may exceed 80 feet
5in length and the overall dimension of the vehicle including
6the load may not exceed 100 feet. This exemption does not apply
7to operation on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Legal
8holidays referred to in this Section are the days on which the
9following traditional holidays are celebrated: New Year's Day;
10Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day;
11and Christmas Day.
12    Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while en
13route to make emergency repairs to public service facilities or
14properties are exempt from length limitations, provided that
15during night operations every vehicle and its load must be
16equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both
17sides and marker lamps on the extreme ends of any projecting
18load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
19    A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle or
20combination of disabled vehicles, as provided in paragraph (6)
21of subsection (c) of this Section, is exempt from length
22limitations.
23    Local authorities, with respect to streets and highways
24under their jurisdiction, may also by ordinance or resolution
25allow length limitations of this subsection (e).
26    The length limitations described in this paragraph (e)

 

 

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1shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
2such as bumpers, refrigeration units or air compressors and
3other devices, that the Department may interpret as necessary
4for safe and efficient operation; except that no device
5excluded under this paragraph shall have by its design or use
6the capability to carry cargo.
7    Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
8relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
9designation of highways under this paragraph (e).
10    (e-1) Combinations of vehicles not exceeding 65 feet
11overall length are allowed access as follows:
12        (1) From any State designated highway onto any county,
13    township, or municipal highway for a distance of 5 highway
14    miles for the purpose of loading and unloading, provided:
15            (A) The vehicle does not exceed 80,000 pounds in
16        gross weight and 8 feet 6 inches in width.
17            (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
18            (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
19        between State designated highways.
20        (2) From any State designated highway onto any county
21    or township highway for a distance of 5 highway miles or
22    onto any municipal highway for a distance of one highway
23    mile for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs, and rest,
24    provided:
25            (A) The vehicle does not exceed 80,000 pounds in
26        gross weight and 8 feet 6 inches in width.

 

 

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1            (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
2            (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
3        between State designated highways.
4    (e-2) Except as provided in subsection (e-3), combinations
5of vehicles over 65 feet in length, with no overall length
6limitation except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of
7this Section, are allowed access as 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 or Class II highway onto any State
13    highway or any locally designated highway for a distance of
14    5 highway miles for the purpose of loading, unloading,
15    food, fuel, repairs, and rest.
16    (e-3) Combinations of vehicles over 65 feet in length
17operated by household goods carriers, with no overall length
18limitations except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of
19this Section, have unlimited access to points of loading and
20unloading.
21    (f) On Class III and other non-designated State highways,
22the length limitations for vehicles in combination are as
23follows:
24        (1) Truck tractor-semitrailer combinations, must
25    comply with either a maximum 55 feet overall wheel base or
26    a maximum 65 feet extreme overall dimension.

 

 

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1        (2) Semitrailers, unladen or with load, may not exceed
2    53 feet overall dimension.
3        (3) No truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer or truck
4    tractor semitrailer-semitrailer combination may exceed 60
5    feet extreme overall dimension.
6        (4) The distance between the kingpin and the center
7    axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in combination
8    with a truck tractor, may not exceed 45 42 feet 6 inches.
9    The limit contained in this paragraph (4) shall not apply
10    to trailers or semi-trailers used for the transport of
11    livestock as defined by Section 18b-101.
12    (g) Length limitations in the preceding subsections of this
13Section 15-107 do not apply to the following:
14        (1) Vehicles operated in the daytime, except on
15    Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, when transporting
16    poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of a structural
17    nature that cannot readily be dismembered, provided the
18    overall length of vehicle and load may not exceed 100 feet
19    and no object exceeding 80 feet in length may be
20    transported unless a permit has been obtained as authorized
21    in Section 15-301.
22        (2) Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility
23    while en route to make emergency repairs to public service
24    facilities or properties, but during night operation every
25    vehicle and its load must be equipped with a sufficient
26    number of clearance lamps on both sides and marker lamps

 

 

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1    upon the extreme ends of any projecting load to clearly
2    mark the dimensions of the load.
3        (3) A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle
4    or combination of disabled vehicles, provided the towing
5    vehicle meets the following conditions:
6            (A) It is specifically designed as a tow truck
7        having a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000
8        pounds and equipped with air brakes, provided that air
9        brakes are required only if the towing vehicle is
10        towing a vehicle, semitrailer, or tractor-trailer
11        combination that is equipped with air brakes.
12            (B) It is equipped with flashing, rotating, or
13        oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet
14        in all directions.
15            (C) It is capable of utilizing the lighting and
16        braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination
17        of vehicles.
18            (D) It does not engage in a tow exceeding 50 miles
19        from the initial point of wreck or disablement.
20    The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
21additional requirements regarding length limitations for a tow
22truck towing another vehicle. The towing vehicle, however, may
23tow any disabled vehicle from the initial point of wreck or
24disablement to a point where repairs are actually to occur.
25This movement shall be valid only on State routes. The tower
26must abide by posted bridge weight limits.

 

 

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1    For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
2rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
3manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck. Legal
4holidays referred to in this Section shall be specified as the
5day on which the following traditional holidays are celebrated:
6    New Year's Day;
7    Memorial Day;
8    Independence Day;
9    Labor Day;
10    Thanksgiving Day; and
11    Christmas Day.
12    (h) The load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the load
13upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles, shall not
14extend more than 3 feet beyond the front wheels of the vehicle
15or the front bumper of the vehicle if it is equipped with a
16front bumper. The provisions of this subsection (h) shall not
17apply to any vehicle or combination of vehicles specifically
18designed for the collection and transportation of waste,
19garbage, or recyclable materials during the vehicle's
20operation in the course of collecting garbage, waste, or
21recyclable materials if the vehicle is traveling at a speed not
22in excess of 15 miles per hour during the vehicle's operation
23and in the course of collecting garbage, waste, or recyclable
24materials. However, in no instance shall the load extend more
25than 7 feet beyond the front wheels of the vehicle or the front
26bumper of the vehicle if it is equipped with a front bumper.

 

 

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1    (i) The load upon the front vehicle of a combination of
2vehicles specifically designed to transport motor vehicles
3shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the foremost part of
4the transporting vehicle and the load upon the rear
5transporting vehicle shall not extend more than 4 feet beyond
6the rear of the bed or body of the vehicle. This paragraph
7shall only be applicable upon highways designated in paragraphs
8(d) and (e) of this Section.
9    (j) Articulated vehicles comprised of 2 sections, neither
10of which exceeds a length of 42 feet, designed for the carrying
11of more than 10 persons, may be up to 60 feet in length, not
12including energy absorbing bumpers, provided that the vehicles
13are:
14        1. operated by or for any public body or motor carrier
15    authorized by law to provide public transportation
16    services; or
17        2. operated in local public transportation service by
18    any other person and the municipality in which the service
19    is to be provided approved the operation of the vehicle.
20    (j-1) (Blank).
21    (k) Any person who is convicted of violating this Section
22is subject to the penalty as provided in paragraph (b) of
23Section 15-113.
24    (l) (Blank).
25(Source: P.A. 96-34, eff. 1-1-10; 96-37, eff. 7-13-09; 96-1352,
26eff. 7-28-10; 97-200, eff. 7-27-11; 97-883, eff. 1-1-13.)