99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB2987
 
Introduced 2/18/2016, by Sen. John M. Sullivan
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:






625 ILCS 5/15-111 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111

 Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a vehicle or combination of vehicles that uses natural gas or propane gas as a motor fuel may exceed its gross weight limitation by 2,000 pounds on any road except for highways or structures with posted weight limits (previously, no exceeded weights permitted on interstate highways).



LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


 
 
A BILL FOR
 


SB2987LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 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 15-111 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) No vehicle or combination of vehicles
with pneumatic 
9tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
when the total 
10weight on the road surface
exceeds the following: 20,000 pounds 
11on a single axle; 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle with
no axle 
12within the tandem exceeding 20,000 pounds; 80,000
pounds gross 
13weight for vehicle combinations of 5 or more axles;
or a total 
14weight on a group of 2 or more consecutive axles in excess of 
15that
weight produced by the application of the following 
16formula: W = 500 times the
sum of (LN divided by N-1) + 12N + 
1736, where "W" equals overall total weight on
any group of 2 or 
18more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds, "L" equals

19the
distance measured to the nearest foot between extremes of 
20any group of 2 or
more consecutive axles, and "N" equals the 
21number of axles in the group under
consideration.

22 The above formula when expressed in tabular form results in 
23allowable loads
as follows:


 
 
SB2987- 2 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1Distance measured

2to the nearest

3foot between the

4extremes of any Maximum weight in pounds

5group of 2 or of any group of

6more consecutive 2 or more consecutive axles

7axles




















































































































8feet2 axles3 axles4 axles5 axles6 axles
9434,000
10534,000
11634,000
12734,000
13838,000*42,000
14939,00042,500
151040,00043,500
161144,000
171245,00050,000
181345,50050,500
191446,50051,500
201547,00052,000
211648,00052,50058,000
221748,50053,50058,500
231849,50054,00059,000
241950,00054,50060,000
252051,00055,50060,50066,000
 
 
SB2987- 3 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b
















































































































































































































12151,50056,00061,00066,500
22252,50056,50061,50067,000
32353,00057,50062,50068,000
42454,00058,00063,00068,500
52554,50058,50063,50069,000
62655,50059,50064,00069,500
72756,00060,00065,00070,000
82857,00060,50065,50071,000
92957,50061,50066,00071,500
103058,50062,00066,50072,000
113159,00062,50067,50072,500
123260,00063,50068,00073,000
133364,00068,50074,000
143464,50069,00074,500
153565,50070,00075,000
163666,00070,50075,500
173766,50071,00076,000
183867,50072,00077,000
193968,00072,50077,500
204068,50073,00078,000
214169,50073,50078,500
224270,00074,00079,000
234370,50075,00080,000
244471,50075,500
254572,00076,000
264672,50076,500


 
 
SB2987- 4 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b











































































14773,50077,500
24874,00078,000
34974,50078,500
45075,50079,000
55176,00080,000
65276,500
75377,500
85478,000
95578,500
105679,500
115780,000
12*If the distance between 2 axles is 96 inches or less, the 2 
13axles are
tandem axles and the maximum total weight may not 
14exceed 34,000 pounds,
notwithstanding the higher limit 
15resulting from the application of the formula.

16 Vehicles not in a combination having more than 4 axles may 
17not exceed the
weight in the table in this subsection (a) for 4 
18axles measured between the
extreme axles of the
vehicle.

19 Vehicles in a combination having more than 6 axles may not 
20exceed the weight
in the table in this subsection (a) for 6 
21axles measured between the extreme
axles of the
combination.

22 Local authorities, with respect
to streets and highways 
23under their jurisdiction, without additional
fees, may also by 
24ordinance or resolution allow the weight limitations of this

25subsection, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle 
26shall not exceed
20,000 pounds and the maximum total weight on 
 
 
SB2987- 5 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1any tandem axle
shall not exceed
34,000 pounds, on designated 
2highways when appropriate regulatory signs giving
notice are 
3erected upon the street or highway or portion of any street or

4highway affected by the ordinance or resolution.

5 The following are exceptions to the above formula:


6  (1) Vehicles for which a different limit is established 
7 and posted in
accordance with Section 15-316 of this Code.


8  (2) Vehicles for which the Department of 
9 Transportation and local
authorities issue overweight

10 permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this Code. 
11 These vehicles are
not subject
to the bridge formula.


12  (3) Cities having a population of more than 50,000 may 
13 permit by
ordinance axle loads on 2-axle motor vehicles 33 
14 1/2% above those
provided for herein, but the increase 
15 shall not become effective until the
city has officially 
16 notified the Department of the passage of the
ordinance and 
17 shall not apply to those vehicles when outside of the 
18 limits
of the city, nor shall the gross weight of any 
19 2-axle motor vehicle
operating over any street of the city 
20 exceed 40,000 pounds.


21  (4) Weight limitations shall not apply to vehicles 
22 (including loads)
operated by a public utility when 
23 transporting equipment required for
emergency repair of 
24 public utility facilities or properties or water wells.

25  (4.5) A 3-axle or 4-axle vehicle (including when laden) 
26 operated or hired by a municipality within Cook, Lake, 
 
 
SB2987- 6 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1 McHenry, Kane, DuPage, or Will county being operated for 
2 the purpose of performing emergency sewer repair that would 
3 be subject to a weight limitation less than 66,000 pounds 
4 under the formula in this subsection (a) shall have a 
5 weight limitation of 66,000 pounds or the vehicle's gross 
6 vehicle weight rating, whichever is less. This paragraph 
7 (4.5) does not apply to vehicles being operated on the 
8 National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, or to 
9 vehicles being operated on bridges or other elevated 
10 structures constituting a part of a highway. 

11  (5) Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a 
12 total weight of
34,000
pounds each if the overall distance 
13 between the first and last axles of the
consecutive sets of 
14 tandem axles is 36 feet or more, notwithstanding the lower 
15 limit resulting from the application of the above formula.


16  (6) A truck, not in combination and used exclusively 
17 for the collection of
rendering materials,
may, when laden, 
18 transmit upon the road surface,
except when on part of the 
19 National System of Interstate and Defense
Highways, the

20 following maximum weights:
22,000 pounds on a single axle; 
21 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle.


22  (7) A truck not in combination, equipped with a self 
23 compactor or an
industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off 
24 container, used exclusively for garbage,
refuse, or 
25 recycling operations, may, when laden, transmit upon the 
26 road surface,
except when on part of the National System of 
 
 
SB2987- 7 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1 Interstate and Defense
Highways, the following maximum 
2 weights: 22,000 pounds on a
single axle; 40,000 pounds on a 
3 tandem axle; 40,000 pounds gross weight on a
2-axle 
4 vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a 3-axle vehicle.

5 This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.

6  (7.5) A 3-axle rear discharge truck mixer registered as 
7 a Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for the mixing 
8 and transportation of concrete in the plastic state, may, 
9 when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on 
10 part of the National System of Interstate and Defense 
11 Highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on 
12 single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 54,000 pounds 
13 gross weight on a 3-axle vehicle. This vehicle is not 
14 subject to the bridge formula. 
15  (8) Except as provided in paragraph (7.5) of this 
16 subsection (a), tandem axles on a 3-axle truck registered 
17 as a Special Hauling
Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in 
18 the model year of 2024 and
first
registered in Illinois 
19 prior to January 1, 2025, with a distance
greater than
72 
20 inches but not more than 96 inches between any series of 2 
21 axles, is
allowed a combined weight on the series not to 
22 exceed 36,000 pounds and neither
axle of the series may 
23 exceed 20,000 pounds. Any vehicle of this type
manufactured

24 after the model year of 2024 or first registered in 
25 Illinois after
December 31,
2024 may not exceed a combined 
26 weight of 34,000 pounds through the
series of
2 axles and 
 
 
SB2987- 8 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1 neither axle of the series may exceed 20,000 pounds.
2  A 3-axle combination sewer cleaning jetting vacuum 
3 truck registered as a Special Hauling
Vehicle, used 
4 exclusively for the transportation of
non-hazardous solid 
5 waste, manufactured before or in the
model year of 2014, 
6 first registered in Illinois before
January 1, 2015, may, 
7 when laden, transmit upon the road
surface, except when on 
8 part of the National System of
Interstate and Defense 
9 Highways, the following maximum
weights: 22,000 pounds on a 
10 single axle; 40,000 pounds on a
tandem axle; 54,000 pounds 
11 gross weight on a 3-axle
vehicle. This vehicle is not 
12 subject to the bridge formula. 
13  (9) A 4-axle truck mixer registered as a Special 
14 Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for the mixing and 
15 transportation of concrete in the plastic state, and not 
16 operated on a highway that is part of the National System 
17 of Interstate Highways, is allowed the following maximum 
18 weights: 20,000 pounds on any single axle; 36,000 pounds on 
19 a series of axles greater than 72 inches but not more than 
20 96 inches; and 34,000 pounds on any series of 2 axles 
21 greater than 40 inches but not more than 72 inches. The 
22 gross weight of this vehicle may not exceed the weights 
23 allowed by the bridge formula for 4 axles. The bridge 
24 formula does not apply to any series of 3 axles while the 
25 vehicle is transporting concrete in the plastic state, but 
26 no axle or tandem axle of the series may exceed the maximum 
 
 
SB2987- 9 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1 weight permitted under this paragraph (9) of subsection 
2 (a).
3  (10) Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special 
4 Hauling Vehicles that
include a semitrailer manufactured 
5 prior to or in the model year of 2024, and
registered in 
6 Illinois prior to January 1, 2025, having 5 axles
with a

7 distance of 42 feet or less between extreme axles, may not 
8 exceed the
following maximum weights: 20,000 pounds on a 
9 single axle; 34,000 pounds on a
tandem axle; and 72,000 
10 pounds gross weight. This combination of vehicles is
not 
11 subject
to the bridge formula. For all those combinations 
12 of vehicles that include a
semitrailer manufactured after 
13 the effective date of P.A. 92-0417, the overall distance 
14 between the first and last
axles of the 2 sets of
tandems 
15 must be 18 feet 6 inches or
more. Any combination of 
16 vehicles that has had its cargo
container replaced in its 
17 entirety after December 31, 2024 may not
exceed
the weights 
18 allowed by the bridge formula.
19  (11) The maximum weight allowed on a vehicle with 
20 crawler type tracks is 40,000 pounds.
21  (12) A combination of vehicles, including a tow truck 
22 and a disabled vehicle
or disabled combination of vehicles, 
23 that exceeds the weight restriction
imposed by this Code, 
24 may be operated on a public highway in this State
provided 
25 that neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being 
26 towed nor
the tow truck itself shall exceed the weight 
 
 
SB2987- 10 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1 limitations permitted
under this Chapter. During the 
2 towing operation, neither the tow truck nor
the vehicle 
3 combination shall exceed
24,000 pounds on a single
rear 
4 axle and
44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle, provided the 
5 towing vehicle:
6   (i) is specifically designed as a tow truck having 
7 a gross vehicle
weight
rating of at least 18,000 pounds 
8 and is 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   (ii) is equipped with flashing, rotating, or 
13 oscillating amber lights,
visible for at least 500 feet 
14 in all directions;
15   (iii) is capable of utilizing the lighting and 
16 braking systems of the
disabled vehicle or combination 
17 of vehicles; and
18   (iv) does not engage in a tow exceeding 20 miles 
19 from the initial point of
wreck or disablement. Any 
20 additional movement of the vehicles may occur only
upon 
21 issuance of authorization for that movement under the 
22 provisions of
Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this 
23 Code. The towing vehicle, however,
may tow any disabled 
24 vehicle to a point where repairs are actually to
occur. 
25 This movement shall be valid only on State routes.
The 
26 tower must abide by posted bridge weight
limits.
 
 
SB2987- 11 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1  (13) Upon and during a declaration of an emergency 
2 propane supply disaster by the Governor under Section 7 of 
3 the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act:
4   (i) a truck not in combination, equipped with a 
5 cargo tank, used exclusively for the transportation of 
6 propane or liquefied petroleum gas may, when laden, 
7 transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of 
8 the National System of Interstate and Defense 
9 Highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds 
10 on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 
11 40,000 pounds gross weight on a 2-axle vehicle; 54,000 
12 pounds gross weight on a 3-axle vehicle; and
13   (ii) a truck when in combination with a trailer 
14 equipped with a cargo tank used exclusively for the 
15 transportation of propane or liquefied petroleum gas 
16 may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except 
17 when on part of the National System of Interstate and 
18 Defense Highways, the following maximum weights: 
19 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a 
20 tandem axle; 90,000 pounds gross weight on a 5-axle or 
21 6-axle vehicle.
22  Vehicles operating under this paragraph (13) are not 
23 subject to the bridge formula. 
24  (14) A vehicle or combination of vehicles that uses 
25 natural gas or propane gas as a motor fuel may exceed the 
26 above weight limitations by 2,000 pounds, except on 
 
 
SB2987- 12 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1 interstate highways as defined by Section 1-133.1 of this 
2 Code. This paragraph (14) shall not allow a vehicle to 
3 exceed any posted weight limit on a highway or structure. 
4 Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of 
5the tow truck
and vehicles being towed. The tow truck license 
6plate must cover the
operating empty weight of the tow truck 
7only. The weight
of each vehicle being towed shall be covered 
8by a valid license plate issued to
the owner or operator of the 
9vehicle being towed and displayed on that vehicle.
If no valid 
10plate issued to the owner or operator of that vehicle is 
11displayed
on that vehicle, or the plate displayed on that 
12vehicle does not cover the
weight of the vehicle, the weight of 
13the vehicle shall be covered by
the third tow truck plate 
14issued to the owner or operator of the tow truck and

15temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed. If a roll-back 
16carrier is registered and being used as a tow truck, however, 
17the license plate or plates for the tow truck must cover the 
18gross vehicle weight, including any load carried on the bed of 
19the roll-back carrier.
20 The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe 
21additional requirements.
However, nothing in this Code shall 
22prohibit a tow truck under
instructions of a police officer 
23from legally clearing a disabled vehicle,
that may be in 
24violation of weight limitations of this Chapter, from the

25roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway.
If in the 
26opinion of the police officer that location is unsafe, the 
 
 
SB2987- 13 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1officer
is authorized to have the disabled vehicle towed to the 
2nearest place of
safety.
3 For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight 
4rating, or
GVWR, means the value specified by the manufacturer 
5as the loaded
weight of the tow truck.
6 (b) As used in this Section, "recycling haul" or "recycling 
7operation" means the hauling of non-hazardous, non-special, 
8non-putrescible materials, such as paper, glass, cans, or 
9plastic, for subsequent use in the secondary materials market.
10 (c) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with 
11pneumatic tires
shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon 
12the highways of this State in
violation of the provisions of 
13any permit issued under the provisions of
Sections 15-301 
14through 15-319 of this Chapter.
15 (d) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with 
16other than pneumatic
tires may be operated, unladen or with 
17load, upon the highways of this State
when the gross weight on 
18the road surface through any wheel exceeds 800
pounds per inch 
19width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road

20surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.

21 (e) No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of 
22vehicles over
a bridge or other elevated structure constituting 
23part of a highway with a
gross weight that is greater than the 
24maximum weight permitted by the
Department, when the structure 
25is sign posted as provided in this Section.
26 (f) The Department upon request from any local authority 
 
 
SB2987- 14 -LRB099 19610 AXK 44005 b


1shall, or upon
its own initiative may, conduct an investigation 
2of any bridge or other
elevated structure constituting a part 
3of a highway, and if it finds that
the structure cannot with 
4safety to itself withstand the weight of vehicles
otherwise 
5permissible under this Code the Department shall determine and

6declare the maximum weight of vehicles that the structures can 
7withstand,
and shall cause or permit suitable signs stating 
8maximum weight to be
erected and maintained before each end of 
9the structure. No person shall
operate a vehicle or combination 
10of vehicles over any structure with a
gross weight that is 
11greater than the posted maximum weight.

12 (g) Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation 
13of subsection
(e) or (f) of this Section, proof of the 
14determination of the maximum
allowable weight by the Department 
15and the existence of the signs,
constitutes conclusive evidence 
16of the maximum weight that can be
maintained with safety to the 
17bridge or structure.

18(Source: P.A. 98-409, eff. 1-1-14; 98-410, eff. 8-16-13; 
1998-756, eff. 7-16-14; 98-942, eff. 1-1-15; 98-956, eff. 1-1-15; 
2098-1029, eff. 1-1-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)