(A) On non-designated highways, no vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load, when the total weight transmitted to the road surface exceeds 20,000 pounds on a single axle or 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle within the tandem exceeding 20,000 pounds except:
(1) When a different limit is established and posted in accordance with ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 15-316;
(2) Vehicles for which the Department of Transportation and local authorities issue overweight permits under authority of ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 15-301;
(3) Tow trucks subject to the conditions provided in division (C) may not exceed 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle;
(4) Any single axle of a two-axle truck weighing 36,000 pounds or less and not a part of a combination of vehicles, shall not exceed 20,000 pounds;
(5) Any single axle of a two-axle truck equipped with a personnel lift or digger derrick, weighing 36,000 pounds or less, owned and operated by a public utility, shall not exceed 20,000 pounds;
(6) Any single axle of a two-axle truck specially equipped with a front loading compactor used exclusively for garbage, refuse, or re-cycling may not exceed 20,000 pounds per axle, provided that the gross weight of the vehicle does not exceed 40,000 pounds;
(7) A truck, not in combination and specially equipped with a self-compactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse operations may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle;
(8) A truck, not in combination and used exclusively for the collection of rendering materials, may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; or 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle;
(9) Tandem axles on a three-axle truck registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2014 and first registered in Illinois prior to January 1, 2015, with a distance greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches between any series of two axles, is allowed a combined weight on the series not to exceed 36,000 pounds and neither axle of the series may exceed 20,000 pounds. Any vehicle of this type manufactured after the model year of 2014 or first registered in Illinois after December 31, 2014, may not exceed a combined weight of 34,000 pounds through the series of two axles and neither axle of the series may exceed 20,000 pounds;
(10) A four-axle truck mixer registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for the mixing and transportation of concrete in the plastic state and manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2014 and first registered in Illinois prior to January 1, 2015, is allowed the following maximum weights: 20,000 pounds on any single axle; 36,000 pounds on any series of two axles greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches; and 34,000 pounds on any series of two axles greater than 40 inches but not more than 72 inches;
(11) Four-axle vehicles or a five or more axle combination of vehicles. The weight transmitted upon the road surface through any series of three axles whose centers are more than 96 inches apart, measured between extreme axles in the series, may not exceed those allowed in the table contained in division (F). No axle or tandem axle of the series may exceed the maximum weight permitted under this section for a single or tandem axle.
(B) (1) On non-designated highways, the gross weight of vehicles and combination of vehicles, including the weight of the vehicle or combination and its maximum load, shall be subject to the federal bridge formula provided in subsection (F) of this section.
Vehicles Operating on Crawler Type Tracks | 40,000 pounds |
Trucks Equipped with Self-compactors or Roll-off Hoists and Roll-off Containers for Garbage, Refuse, or Recycling Hauls Only and, beginning July 1, 1989, Vehicles used for the Collection of Rendering Materials on highway not part of national system of interstate and defense highways
with 2 axles 36,000 pounds
with 3 axles 54,000 pounds
Two-axle Trucks Equipped with a Front Loading Compactor Used Exclusively for the Collection of Garbage, Refuse, or Recycling
with 2 axles 40,000 pounds
(2) A four-axle truck mixer registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for mixing and transportation of concrete in the plastic state, manufactured before or in the model year of 2014, and first registered in Illinois before January 1, 2015, is allowed a maximum gross weight listed in the table of division (F) of this section for four axles. This vehicle, while loaded with concrete in the plastic state, is not subject to the series of three axles requirement provided for in division (A)(11) of this section, but no axle or tandem axle of the series may exceed the maximum weight permitted under division (A)(10) of this section.
(3) As used in this section, a "recycling haul" or "recycling operation" means the hauling of segregated, non-hazardous, non-special, homogeneous non-putrescible materials, such as paper, glass, cans, or plastic, for subsequent use in the secondary materials market.
(C) The city, with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, may permit by ordinance, and beginning July 1, 1989 for vehicles used exclusively for the collection of rendering materials, axle loads and gross weights for trucks used exclusively for garbage or refuse disposal equipped with self-compactors or industrial roll-off hoists and roll-off containers 33% above those provided for herein with the following limitations:
Maximum
(1) Axles weight (pounds)
(1) Axles weight (pounds)
Single Axles: 22,000
Tandem Axles: 40,000
Gross Weight: 54,000
(2) Any such ordinance shall limit the speed of such trucks to 45 miles per hour unless a lower limit is posted, and no such ordinance shall be effective until the local authority has officially notified the Department of Transportation thereof. However, where state law provides for such higher limits, no ordinance is required to permit operations on local highways.
(D) Weight limitations shall not apply to vehicles (including loads) operated by a public utility when transporting equipment required for the emergency repair of public utility facilities or properties or water wells.
(1) A combination of vehicles, including a tow truck and a disabled vehicle or disabled combination of vehicles, which exceeds the weight restriction imposed by this chapter, may be operated on a public highway in this city provided that neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor the tow truck itself shall exceed the weight limitations permitted under this chapter. During the towing operation, neither the tow truck nor the vehicle combination shall exceed the weight limitations permitted under this chapter.
(a) During the towing operation, neither the tow truck nor the vehicle combination shall exceed 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle and 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle, provided the towing vehicle;
1. Is specifically designed as a tow truck having a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000 pounds and is equipped with air brakes, provided that air brakes are required only if the towing vehicle is towing a vehicle, semitrailer, or tractor-trailer combination that is equipped with air brakes;
2. Is equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet in all directions;
3. Is capable of utilizing the lighting and braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination of vehicles; and
4. Does not engage in a tow exceeding 20 miles from the initial point of wreck or disablement. Any additional movement of the vehicles may occur only upon issuance of authorization for that movement under the provisions of ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, §§ 15-301 et seq. The towing vehicle, however, may tow any disabled vehicle from the initial point of wreck or disablement to a point where repairs are actually to occur. This movement shall be valid only on state routes. The tower must abide by posted bridge weight limits.
(2) Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of the tow truck and vehicles being towed. The tow truck license plate must cover the operating empty weight of the tow truck only. The weight of each vehicle being towed shall be covered by a valid license plate issued to the owner or operator of the vehicle being towed and displayed on that vehicle. If no valid plate issued to the owner or operator of that vehicle is displayed on that vehicle, or the plate displayed on that vehicle does not cover the weight of the vehicle, the weight of the vehicle shall be covered by the third tow truck plate issued to the owner or operator of the tow truck and temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed. If a roll-back carrier is registered and being used as a tow truck, however, the license plate or plates for the tow truck must cover the gross vehicle weight, including any load carried on the bed of the roll-back carrier.
(3) The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe additional requirements. However, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a tow-truck under instructions of a police officer from legally clearing a disabled vehicle, that may be in violation of weight limitations of this chapter, from the roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway. If in the opinion of the police officer that location is unsafe, the officer is authorized to have the disabled vehicle towed to the nearest place of safety.
(4) For the purpose of this division (D) gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
(F) No vehicle or combination of vehicles with pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load, when the total weight on the road surface exceeds the following: 20,000 pounds on a single axle; 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle within the tandem exceeding 20,000 pounds; 80,000 pounds gross weight for vehicle combinations of five or more axles; or a total weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles in excess of that weight produced by the application of the following formula:
W = 500 times the sum of (LN divided by N-1) + 12N + 36
Where "W" equals overall total weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds, "L" equals the distance measured to the nearest foot between extremes of any group of two or more consecutive axles, and "N" equals the number of axles in the group under consideration.
(1) The above formula when expressed in tabular form results in allowable loads as follows:
Distance measured to the nearest foot between the extremes of any group of 2 or more consecutive axles | Maximum load in pounds carried on any group of 2 or more consecutive axles | ||||
Feet | Two axles | Three axles | Four axles | Five axles | Six axles |
Distance measured to the nearest foot between the extremes of any group of 2 or more consecutive axles | Maximum load in pounds carried on any group of 2 or more consecutive axles | ||||
Feet | Two axles | Three axles | Four axles | Five axles | Six axles |
4 | 34,000 | ||||
5 | 34,000 | ||||
6 | 34,000 | ||||
7 | 34,000 | ||||
8 | 38,000* | 42,000 | |||
9 | 39,000 | 42,500 | |||
10 | 40,000 | 43,500 | |||
11 | 44,000 | ||||
12 | 45,000 | 50,000 | |||
13 | 45,500 | 50,500 | |||
14 | 46,500 | 51,500 | |||
15 | 47,000 | 52,000 | |||
16 | 48,000 | 52,500 | 58,000 | ||
17 | 48,500 | 53,500 | 58,500 | ||
18 | 49,500 | 54,000 | 59,000 | ||
19 | 50,000 | 54,500 | 60,000 | ||
20 | 51,000 | 55,500 | 60,500 | 66,000 | |
21 | 51,500 | 56,000 | 61,000 | 66,500 | |
22 | 52,500 | 56,500 | 61,500 | 67,000 | |
23 | 53,000 | 57,500 | 62,500 | 68,000 | |
24 | 54,000 | 58,000 | 63,000 | 68,500 | |
25 | 54,500 | 58,500 | 63,500 | 69,000 | |
26 | 55,500 | 59,500 | 64,000 | 69,500 | |
27 | 56,000 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 70,000 | |
28 | 57,000 | 60,500 | 65,500 | 71,000 | |
29 | 57,500 | 61,500 | 66,000 | 71,500 | |
30 | 58,500 | 62,000 | 66,500 | 72,000 | |
31 | 59,000 | 62,500 | 67,500 | 72,500 | |
32 | 60,000 | 63,500 | 68,000 | 73,000 | |
33 | 64,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | ||
34 | 64,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | ||
35 | 65,500 | 70,000 | 75,000 | ||
36 | 66,000 | 70,500 | 75,500 | ||
37 | 66,500 | 71,000 | 76,000 | ||
38 | 67,500 | 72,000 | 77,000 | ||
39 | 68,000 | 72,500 | 77,500 | ||
40 | 68,500 | 73,000 | 78,000 | ||
41 | 69,500 | 73,500 | 78,500 | ||
42 | 70,000 | 74,000 | 79,000 | ||
43 | 70,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | ||
44 | 71,500 | 75,500 | |||
45 | 72,000 | 76,000 | |||
46 | 72,500 | 76,500 | |||
47 | 73,500 | 77,500 | |||
48 | 74,000 | 78,000 | |||
49 | 74,500 | 78,500 | |||
50 | 75,500 | 79,000 | |||
51 | 76,000 | 80,000 | |||
52 | 76,500 | ||||
53 | 77,500 | ||||
54 | 78,000 | ||||
55 | 78,500 | ||||
56 | 79,500 | ||||
57 | 80,000 | ||||
* If the distance between two axles is 96 inches or less, the two axles are tandem axles and the maximum total weight may not exceed 34,000 pounds, notwithstanding the higher limit resulting from the application of the formula.
(2) Vehicles not in a combination having more than four axles may not exceed the weight in the table in division (F) for four axles measured between the extreme axles of the vehicle.
(3) Vehicles in combination having more than six axles may not exceed the weight in the table in division (F) for six axles measured between the extreme axles of the combination.
(4) The city, with respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction, may also by ordinance or resolution allow the weight limitations of this division, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum gross weight on any tandem axle shall not exceed 34,000 pounds, on designated highways when appropriate regulatory signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the street or highway or portion of any street or highway affected by that ordinance or resolution.
(5) The following are exceptions to the above formula:
(a) Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a total weight of 34,000 pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
(b) Vehicles for which a different limit is established and posted in accordance with ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 15-316.
(c) Vehicles for which the Department of Transportation and local authorities issue overweight permits under authority of ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 15-301. These vehicles are not subject to the bridge formula.
(d) Tow trucks subject to the conditions provided in division (D) may not exceed 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle.
(e) 1. Except as provided in division (F)(5)(i) of this section, tandem axles on a three-axle truck registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2024, and registered in Illinois prior to January 1, 2025, with a distance greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches between any series of two axles, is allowed a combined weight on the series not to exceed 36,000 pounds and neither axle of the series may exceed 20,000 pounds. Any vehicle of this type manufactured after the model year of 2024 or first registered in Illinois after December 31, 2014 may not exceed a combined weight of 34,000 pounds through the series of two axles and neither axle of the series may exceed 20,000 pounds.
2. A three-axle combination sewer cleaning jetting vacuum truck registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for the transportation of non-hazardous solid waste, manufactured before or in the model year of 2014, first registered in Illinois before January 1, 2015, may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a three-axle vehicle. This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
(f) A truck not in combination, equipped with a self-compactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse operations, may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 36,000 pounds gross weight on a two-axle vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a three-axle vehicle. This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
(g) Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special Hauling Vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2024, and registered in Illinois prior to January 1, 2025, having five axles with a distance of 42 feet or less between extreme axles, may not exceed the following maximum weights: 20,000 pounds on a single axle; 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle; and 72,000 pounds gross weight. This combination of vehicles is not subject to the bridge formula. For all those combinations of vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured after January 1, 2004, the overall distance between the first and last axles of the two sets of tandems must be 18 feet 6 inches or more. Any combination of vehicles that has had its cargo container replaced in its entirety after December 31, 2024, may not exceed the weights allowed by the bridge formula.
(h) A four-axle truck mixer registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for the mixing and transportation of concrete in the plastic state, and not operated on a highway that is part of the National System of Interstate Highways, is allowed the following maximum weights: 20,000 pounds on any single axle; 36,000 pounds on a series of axles greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches; and 34,000 pounds on any series of two axles greater than 40 inches but nor more than 72 inches. The gross weight of this vehicle may not exceed the weights allowed by the bridge formula for four axles. The bridge formula does not apply to any series of three axles while the vehicle is transporting concrete in the plastic state, but no axle or tandem axle of the series may exceed the maximum weight permitted under this division (F).
(i) A three-axle rear discharge truck mixer registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for the mixing and transportation of concrete in the plastic state, may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a three-axle vehicle. This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
(6) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other than pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load, upon the highways of this state when the gross weight on the road surface through any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
(G) A vehicle and load not exceeding 80,000 pounds is allowed travel on non- designated highways so long as there is no sign prohibiting that access.
(H) No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles over a bridge or other elevated structure constituting part of a highway with a gross weight which is greater than the maximum weight permitted by the Department, when that structure is sign- posted as provided in this section.
(I) The Illinois department of transportation, upon request from the city, shall, or upon its own initiative may, conduct an investigation of any bridge or other elevated structure constituting a part of a highway, and if it finds that the structure cannot with safety to itself withstand the weight of vehicles otherwise permissible under this chapter the Department shall determine and declare the maximum weight of vehicles which those structures can withstand, and shall cause or permit suitable signs stating maximum weight to be erected and maintained before each end of the structure. No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles over any such structure with a gross weight which is greater than the posted maximum weight.
(J) Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation of divisions (H) or (I) above, proof of the determination of the maximum allowable weight by the Illinois department of transportation and the existence of the signs, constitutes conclusive evidence of the maximum weight which can be maintained with safety to the bridge or structure.
(Ord. 7140, passed 8-20-85) Penalty, see § 70.999
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 15-111