Senate Study Bill 1221 - Introduced
SENATE FILE _____
BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON
TRANSPORTATION BILL BY
CHAIRPERSON BROWN)
A BILL FOR
1 An Act increasing the maximum gross weight allowed for
2 commercial motor vehicles operating on noninterstate
3 highways.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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1 Section 1. Section 321.463, subsection 6, paragraph c,
2 subparagraph (1), Code 2021, is amended to read as follows:
3 (1) The maximum gross weight allowed to be carried on a
4 commercial motor vehicle on noninterstate highways, provided
5 the vehicle is operated by a person with a commercial driver’s
6 license valid for the vehicle operated unless section 321.176A
7 applies, is as follows:
8 NONINTERSTATE HIGHWAYS
9 MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT TABLE
10 COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE
11 Distance in feet 5 Axles 6 Axles 7 Axles
12 _________________________________________________________________
13 44 80,500 80,500
14 45 81,000 81,500
15 46 81,500 82,500
16 47 82,000 83,500
17 48 83,000 84,000
18 49 83,500 85,000
19 50 84,000 86,000
20 51 84,500 87,000
21 52 80,500 85,000 88,000
22 53 81,000 86,000 88,500
23 54 82,000 86,500 89,500
24 55 82,500 87,000 90,500
25 56 83,000 87,500 91,500
26 57 83,500 88,000 92,000
27 58 84,500 89,000 93,000
28 59 85,000 89,500 94,000
29 60 85,500 90,000 95,000
30 61 86,000 95,500
31 62 87,000 96,000
32 63 87,500
33 64 88,000
34 65 88,500
35 66 89,000
36 67 90,000
37 Sec. 2. Section 321.463, subsection 6, paragraph c,
38 subparagraph (2), Code 2021, is amended by striking the
39 subparagraph and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
40 (2) When crossing a bridge, such a vehicle or combination
41 of vehicles shall comply with any weight restriction imposed
42 for the bridge pursuant to section 321.471 or 321.474, provided
43 signs that conform to the manual of uniform traffic-control
44 devices adopted by the department that give notice of the
45 restriction are posted as required under section 321.472 or
46 321.474, as applicable.
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1 EXPLANATION
2 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
3 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
4 Current law limits the maximum gross weight of a vehicle
5 based on the number of axles and the distance between the
6 axles on the vehicle. Generally, vehicles with five axles are
7 allowed to have a maximum gross weight up to 80,000 pounds.
8 This bill incrementally increases the allowable maximum gross
9 weight up to 90,000 pounds for commercial motor vehicles with
10 five axles that are operating on noninterstate highways, based
11 on the distance measured between the centers of the extreme
12 axles of any group of axles.
13 The bill requires such a vehicle to comply with any weight
14 restriction imposed when crossing a bridge, provided proper
15 signs are posted giving notice of the restriction.
16 A vehicle that exceeds the allowable weight based on its
17 number of axles and the distance between the axles is subject
18 to a scheduled fine. The scheduled fine ranges from $12 to
19 $2,200 plus 10 cents per pound in excess of 20,000 pounds over
20 the limit.
21 A vehicle to which the bill applies would still be required
22 to comply with any applicable length restriction set forth in
23 Code section 321.457.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 321.463, 321.176A