1. A combination of four vehicles is not allowed on the highways of this state, except for power units saddle mounted on other power units which shall be restricted to a maximum overall length of seventy-five feet.
2. The maximum length of any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles operated on the highways of this state is as follows:
a. A single truck, unladen or with load, shall not have an overall length, inclusive of front and rear bumpers, in excess of forty feet.
b. A single bus shall not have an overall length, inclusive of front and rear bumpers, in excess of forty-five feet, except that buses constructed so as to contain a flexible part allowing articulation shall not exceed sixty-one feet.
c. A mobile home not in excess of forty-eight feet in length may be drawn by any motor vehicle, except a motor truck, provided that the mobile home and its towing unit are not in excess of an overall length of sixty feet. For the purposes of this subsection, a light delivery truck, panel delivery truck, or "pickup" is not a motor truck. A portable livestock loading chute not in excess of a length of thirteen feet including its hitch or tongue may be drawn by any vehicle or combination of vehicles, provided that the vehicle or combination of vehicles drawing the loading chute is not in excess of the legal length provided for such vehicles or combinations.
d. A combination of three vehicles coupled together one of which is a motor vehicle, unladen or with load, other than a truck tractor, shall not have an overall length, inclusive of front and rear bumpers, in excess of sixty feet.
e. A motor vehicle or combination of vehicles may be operated upon the highways of this state, irrespective of the length and weight limitations imposed by the laws of this state, if the motor vehicle or combination of vehicles is operated within the corporate limits of a city abutting a border of this state and such operations have been approved by ordinance of the city council and if the length and weight of the motor vehicle or combination of vehicles is in conformity with the laws relating to length and weight of the abutting state. If a city council has authorized such operation upon highways within the corporate limits, then the limit of travel for such motor vehicles or combination of vehicles within the state is extended to the commercial zones as described by federal regulations concerning interstate commerce, 49 C.F.R. § 1048.101, and to the interstate system as provided in 23 U.S.C. § 127 and 49 U.S.C. § 31112(c), as amended by Pub. L. No. 104-59.
f. A trailer or semitrailer, laden or unladen, shall not have an overall length in excess of fifty-three feet when operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination exclusive of retractable extensions used to support the load. However, when a trailer or semitrailer is used exclusively for the transportation of passenger vehicles, light delivery trucks, panel delivery trucks, pickup trucks, recreational vehicle chassis, or boats, the load carried on the trailer or semitrailer may extend up to three feet beyond the front bumper and up to four feet beyond the rear bumper of the trailer or semitrailer.
g. A trailer or semitrailer, laden or unladen, shall not have an overall length in excess of twenty-eight feet six inches when operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination or truck tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination. When the semitrailers in a truck tractor- semitrailer-semitrailer combination are connected by a rigid frame extension including a fifth-wheel connection point attached to the rear frame of the first semitrailer, the length of the frame extension shall not be included when determining the overall length of the first semitrailer.
h. Power units designed to carry cargo, when used in combination with a trailer or semitrailer shall not exceed sixty-five feet in overall length for the combination exclusive of retractable extensions used to support the load. However, if a combination of vehicles is used exclusively for the transportation of passenger vehicles, light delivery trucks, panel delivery trucks, pickup trucks, recreational vehicle chassis, or boats, the load may extend up to three feet beyond the front bumper of the power unit and up to four feet beyond the rear bumper of the trailer or semitrailer.
i. A stinger-steered automobile transporter shall not have an overall length exceeding seventy-five feet, exclusive of retractable extensions used to support the load and all other devices or appurtenances related to the safe and efficient operation of the vehicle, except that the load may extend up to three feet beyond the front bumper and up to four feet beyond the rear bumper.
3. Fire fighting apparatus and vehicles operated during daylight hours when transporting poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of a structural nature which cannot be readily disassembled when required for emergency repair of public service facilities or properties are not subject to the limitations on overall length of vehicles and combinations of vehicles imposed under this section. However, for operation during nighttime hours, these vehicles and the load being transported shall be equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both sides and marker lamps at the extreme ends of the projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load. A member of the state highway safety patrol shall also be notified prior to the operation of the vehicle.
[C31, 35, § 5067-d4; C39, § 5035.06; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 321.457; 82 Acts, ch 1056, § 2, 3]
83 Acts, ch 9, § 6, 7, 8; 83 Acts, ch 116, § 2; 84 Acts, ch 1077, § 1; 87 Acts, ch 186, § 6--;10; 88 Acts, ch 1208, §1; 89 Acts, ch 34, §2--;5; 91 Acts, ch 31, §1, 2; 93 Acts, ch 87, § 7; 94 Acts, ch 1087, §6, 7; 94 Acts, ch 1199, §78; 96 Acts, ch 1004, § 1; 96 Acts, ch 1089, § 2, 3; 96 Acts, ch 1219, § 26
Referred to in § 321E.1, 321E.10, 321E.11, 321E.17, 321E.24, 805.8(2m)
Iowa General Assembly
Search: Iowa Code 1997
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Last update: Mon Jan 27 16:05:08 CST 1997
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