An axle may be divided into two or more parts, except that all parts in the same vertical transverse plane shall be considered as one axle.
The gross weight on any one axle of a vehicle, or of a combination of vehicles, operated on the highways of this state, shall not exceed twenty thousand pounds on an axle equipped with pneumatic tires, and shall not exceed fourteen thousand pounds on an axle equipped with solid rubber tires. The gross weight on any tandem axle of a vehicle, or any combination of vehicles, shall not exceed thirty-four thousand pounds on an axle equipped with pneumatic tires.
Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, indivisible loads operating under the permit requirements of sections 321E.7, 321E.8, and 321E.9 shall be allowed a maximum of twenty thousand pounds per axle.
A group of two or more consecutive axles of any vehicle or combination of vehicles, shall not carry a load in pounds in excess of the overall gross weight determined by application of the following formula: W equals 500 (LN/N-1 + 12N + 36). W equals the overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest five hundred pounds, L equals the distance in feet, rounded to the nearest whole foot, between the extreme of any group of two or more consecutive axles, and N equals the number of axles in the group under consideration. The following are exceptions to application of the formula:
1. Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of thirty-four thousand pounds each providing the overall distance between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirty-six feet or more.
2. On highways not part of the interstate system, a vehicle or combination of vehicles having:
a. Four axles where the extreme axles are eighteen feet apart may carry a gross load of fifty-three thousand pounds.
b. Five axles where the extreme axles are thirty-two feet apart may carry a gross load of sixty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.
c. Six or more axles where the extreme axles are forty-one feet apart may carry a gross load of seventy-eight thousand pounds. P MARGINS L For every foot of distance between extreme axles less than the above axle spacings, the overall gross weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be determined by deducting one thousand pounds from the gross loads specified in paragraphs "a", "b" and "c". All measurements between extreme axles shall be rounded to the nearest whole foot.
The maximum gross weight shall not exceed eighty thousand pounds.
The weight on any one axle, including a tandem axle, of a vehicle which is transporting livestock on highways not part of the interstate system may exceed the legal maximum weight given in this chapter providing that the gross weight on any particular group of axles on such vehicle does not exceed the gross weight allowable under this chapter for such groups of axles.
In addition, the weight on any one axle, including a tandem axle, of a vehicle which is transporting raw materials from a designated borrow site to a construction project or transporting raw materials from a construction project, may exceed the legal maximum weight otherwise allowed under this chapter by ten percent if the gross weight on any particular group of axles on the vehicle does not exceed the gross weight allowed under this chapter for that group of axles. However, if the vehicle exceeds the ten percent tolerance allowed for any one axle or tandem axle under this paragraph the fine to be assessed for the axle or tandem axle shall be computed on the difference between the actual weight and the ten percent tolerance weight allowed for the axle or tandem axle under this paragraph. This paragraph applies only to vehicles operating along a route of travel approved by the department.
A vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting materials to or from a construction project or commercial plant site shall comply with the formula under this section which is used for travel on highways that are part of the interstate system. This paragraph applies only to a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating along a route of travel approved by the department or appropriate local authority.
A vehicle designed to tow wrecked or disabled vehicles shall be exempt from the weight limitations in this section while the vehicle is towing a wrecked or disabled vehicle.
A person who operates a vehicle in violation of the provisions of this section, and an owner, or any other person, employing or otherwise directing the operator of a vehicle, who requires or knowingly permits the operation of a vehicle in violation of the provisions of this section shall be fined according to the following schedule: Q $KIP$ 1 P MARGINS C *T( {CAXLE, TANDEM AXLE, ~~ AND GROUP OF AXLES ~~ WEIGHT VIOLATIONS{{ ~~ P MARGINS F Q $KIP$ 1 Pounds Overloaded$T13@ Amount of Fine ~~ ~~ Up to and including$T13@ $10 plus one-half cent ~~
1,000 pounds$T14@ per pound ~~ Over 1,000 pounds to and$T13@ $15 plus one-half cent ~~
including 2,000 pounds$T14@ per pound ~~ Over 2,000 pounds to and$T13@ $80 plus three cents ~~
including 3,000 pounds$T14@ per pound ~~ Over 3,000 pounds to and$T13@ $100 plus four cents ~~
including 4,000 pounds$T14@ per pound ~~ Over 4,000 pounds to and$T13@ $150 plus five cents ~~
including 5,000 pounds$T14@ per pound ~~ Over 5,000 pounds to and$T13@ $200 plus seven cents ~~
including 6,000 pounds$T14@ per pound ~~ Over 6,000 pounds$T13@ $200 plus ten cents ~~ $T14@ per pound ~~ Q $KIP$ 1 P MARGINS L *T)
Fines for gross weight violations for vehicles or combinations of vehicles shall be assessed at one-half of the fine rate schedule for axle, tandem axle, and groups of axles weight violations.
Except as otherwise provided, the amount of the fine to be assessed shall be computed on the difference between the actual weight and the maximum legal weight specified in this section by applying the appropriate rate in the preceding schedule for the total amount of overload.
The schedule of fines may be assessed in addition to any other penalties provided for in this chapter.
Overloads on axles and tandem axles and overloads on groups of axles or on an entire vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be considered as separate violations of the provisions of this section.
A person who issues or executes, or causes to be issued or executed, a bill of lading, manifest, or shipping document of any kind which states a false weight of the cargo set forth on such bill, manifest, or document, which is less than the actual weight of the cargo, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, § 5065; C39, § 5035.12; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 321.463; 81 Acts, ch 110, § 1, ch 111]
89 Acts, ch 200, § 1, 2; 92 Acts, ch 1238, § 35; 94 Acts, ch 1199, §79; 95 Acts, ch 118, §26; 96 Acts, ch 1089, § 4
Referred to in § 312.2, 321.1, 321.452, 321.459, 321.473, 321E.1, 321E.7, 321E.8, 321E.9, 321E.9A, 321E.16, 321E.17, 321E.29, 805.8(2v)
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Search: Iowa Code 1997
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