(A) As used in this section:
COAL TRUCK. Means a truck transporting coal from the site where it is mined when the truck is operated in accordance with this section.
FARM COMMODITIES. Includes livestock, bulk milk, corn, soybeans, tobacco and wheat.
FARM MACHINERY. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
FARM TRUCK. Means a truck used in the transportation from a farm of farm commodities when the truck is operated in accordance with this section.
LOG TRUCK. Means a truck used in the transportation of timber from the site of its cutting when the truck is operated in accordance with this section.
SOLID WASTE. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 3743.01.
SOLID WASTE HAUL VEHICLE. Means a vehicle hauling solid waste for which a bill of lading has not been issued.
(B) (1) Notwithstanding R.C. §§ 5577.02 and 5577.04, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the following vehicles under the described conditions may exceed by no more than 7.5% the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and no penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, shall be imposed:
(a) A coal truck transporting coal, from the place of production to the first point of delivery where title to the coal is transferred;
(b) A farm truck or farm machinery transporting farm commodities, from the place of production to the first point of delivery where the commodities are weighed and title to the commodities is transferred;
(c) A log truck transporting timber, from the site of its cutting to the first point of delivery where the timber is transferred;
(d) A solid waste haul vehicle hauling solid waste, from the place of production to the first point of delivery where the solid waste is disposed of or title to the solid waste is transferred.
(2) In addition, if any of the vehicles listed in division (B)(1) of this section and operated under the conditions described in that division does not exceed by more than 7.5% the gross vehicle weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and does not exceed the wheel or axle- load limits of those sections by more than 7.5%, no penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, for a wheel or axle overload shall be imposed.
(C) If any of the vehicles listed in division (B)(1) of this section and operated under the conditions described in that division exceeds the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, by more than the percentage allowance of either divisions (B)(1) or (B)(2) of this section, both of the following apply without regard to the allowance provided by this division (B) of this section:
(1) The applicable penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;
(2) The civil liability imposed by R.C. § 5577.12, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(D) (1) Division (B) of this section does not apply to the operation of a farm truck, log truck, or farm machinery transporting farm commodities during the months of February and March.
(2) Regardless of when the operation occurs, division (B) of this section does not apply to the operation of a vehicle on either of the following:
(a) A highway that is part of the interstate system;
(b) A highway, road, or bridge that is subject to reduced maximum weights under R.C. § 4513.33, 5577.07, 5577.071, 5577.08, 5577.09, or 5591.42, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(R.C. § 5577.042) (Rev. 2012)
(E) Notwithstanding R.C. §§ 5577.02 and 5577.04, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the following vehicles under the described conditions may exceed by no more than 7.5% the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and no penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, shall be imposed:
(1) A surface mining truck transporting minerals from the place where the minerals are loaded to any of the following:
(a) The construction site where the minerals are discharged;
(b) The place where title to the minerals is transferred;
(c) The place of processing.
(2) A vehicle transporting hot mix asphalt material from the place where the material is first mixed to the paving site where the material is discharged;
(3) A vehicle transporting concrete from the place where the material is first mixed to the site where the material is discharged;
(4) A vehicle transporting manure, turf, sod, or silage from the site where the material is first produced to the first place of delivery;
(5) A vehicle transporting chips, sawdust, mulch, bark, pulpwood, biomass, or firewood from the site where the product is first produced or harvested to first point where the product is transferred.
(F) In addition, if any of the vehicles listed in division (E) of this section and operated under the conditions described in that division do not exceed by more than 7.5% the gross vehicle weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and do not exceed the wheel or axle-load limits of those sections by more than 7.5%, no penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, for a wheel or axle overload shall be imposed.
(G) If any of the vehicles listed in division (E) of this section and operated under the conditions described in that division exceed the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, by more than the percentage allowance of either divisions (E) or (F) of this section, both of the following apply without regard to the allowance provided by division (E) or (F) of this section:
(1) The applicable penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;
(2) The civil liability imposed by R.C. § 5577.12, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(H) Divisions (E) and (F) of this section do not apply to the operation of a vehicle listed in division (E) of this section on either of the following:
(1) A highway that is part of the interstate system;
(2) A highway, road, or bridge that is subject to reduced maximum weights under R.C. § 4513.33, 5577.07, 5577.071, 5577.08, 5577.09, or 5591.42, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(R.C. § 5577.043) (Rev. 2012)
(I) Notwithstanding R.C. §§ 5577.02 and 5577.04, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, a vehicle fueled solely by compressed natural gas or liquid natural gas or powered primarily by means of an electric battery may exceed by not more than 2,000 pounds the gross vehicle weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, or the axle load limits of those sections.
(J) If a vehicle described in division (I) of this section exceeds the weight provisions of R.C. §§ 5577.01 to 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, by more than the allowance provided for in division (I) of this section, both of the following apply:
(1) The applicable penalty prescribed in R.C. § 5577.99, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;
(2) The civil liability imposed by R.C. § 5577.12, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(K) Division (I) of this section does not apply to the operation of a vehicle on a highway, road, or bridge that is subject to reduced maximum weights under R.C. § 4513.33, 5577.07, 5577.071, 5577.08, 5577.09, or 5591.42, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(R.C. § 5577.044) (Rev. 2024)
(L) Fire engine weight exemptions.
(1) As used in this division (L),
FIRE ENGINE means a fire engine, fire truck, or other vehicle or apparatus belonging to or used by any municipal, township, or volunteer fire department, while in the discharge of its functions.
(2) Notwithstanding R.C. §§ 5577.02 and 5577.04, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, a person may do both of the following without a written permit issued under R.C. § 4513.34, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance:
(a) Operate a two-axle fire engine, with a front axle maximum weight of 24,000 pounds and a rear axle maximum weight of 33,500 pounds and a minimum wheelbase of 15 feet, on all roadways in the state;
(b) Operate a fire engine with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 86,000 pounds on the interstate highway system and within one road mile of an interstate highway system entrance or exit ramp.
(3) Notwithstanding R.C. § 4513.34, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, for any fire engine that requires a permit, the Ohio Director of Transportation or local authority shall do both of the following:
(a) Issue the permit at no cost to the municipal, township, or volunteer fire department;
(b) Issue a permit that expires five years after the date of issuance.
(R.C. § 5577.045) (Rev. 2022)