321.463  Maximum gross weight — exceptions — penalties.
  1.  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.
  2.  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. This subsection does not apply to implements of husbandry.
  3.  Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, indivisible loads operating under the permit requirements of sections 321E.7, 321E.8, 321E.9, and 321E.29A shall be allowed a maximum of twenty thousand pounds per axle.
  4.  a.  Self-propelled implements of husbandry used exclusively for the application of organic or inorganic plant food materials, agricultural limestone, or agricultural chemicals, unless traveling under a permit issued pursuant to section 321E.8A, shall be operated in compliance with this section.
  b.  (1)  Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the weight on any one axle of a fence-line feeder, grain cart, or tank wagon operated on the highways of this state shall not exceed twenty-four thousand pounds from February 1 through May 31 or twenty-eight thousand pounds from June 1 through January 31, provided, however, that the maximum gross vehicle weight of the fence-line feeder, grain cart, or tank wagon shall not exceed ninety-six thousand pounds.
  (2)  Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a tracked implement of husbandry operated on the highways of this state shall not have a maximum gross weight in excess of ninety-six thousand pounds.
  (3)  A fence-line feeder, grain cart, tank wagon, or tracked implement of husbandry shall comply with the other provisions of this section and chapter when operated over a bridge in this state. A local authority may issue a special permit, based on a statewide standard developed by the department, allowing the operation over a bridge within its jurisdiction of a fence-line feeder, grain cart, tank wagon, or tracked implement of husbandry with a weight in excess of the weights allowed under this chapter.
  (4)  For purposes of this paragraph “b”:
  (a)  “Highway” does not include a bridge.
  (b)  “Fence-line feeder, grain cart, or tank wagon” means all of the following:
  (i)  A fence-line feeder, grain cart, or tank wagon manufactured on or after July 1, 2001.
  (ii)  After July 1, 2005, any fence-line feeder, grain cart, or tank wagon.

  5.  a.  The maximum gross weight allowed to be carried on a vehicle or combination of vehicles on highways which are part of the primary system is as follows:
MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT TABLE — PRIMARY HIGHWAYS
Distance

  in feet      2 Axles            3 Axles                   4 Axles                          5 Axles                                 6 Axles7 Axles

    4      34,000

    5      34,000

    6      34,000

    7      34,000            34,000

    8      34,000            34,000

    8’1”      38,000            42,000

    9      39,000            42,500

  10      40,000            43,500                   48,500

  11            44,000                   49,500

  12            45,000                   50,000

  13            45,500                   50,500                          56,000

  14            46,500                   51,500                          57,000

  15            47,000                   52,000                          57,500

  16            48,000                   52,500                          58,000

  17            48,500                   53,500                          58,500                                 64,000

  18            49,500                   54,000                          59,000                                 65,000

  19            50,000                   54,500                          60,000                                 65,500

  20            51,000                   55,500                          60,500                                 66,00071,500

  21            51,500                   56,000                          61,000                                 66,50072,500

  22            52,500                   56,500                          61,500                                 67,00073,000

  23            53,000                   57,500                          62,500                                 68,00073,500

  24            54,000                   58,000                          63,000                                 68,50074,000

  25            54,500                   58,500                          63,500                                 69,00074,500

  26            55,500                   59,500                          64,000                                 69,50075,000

  27            56,000                   60,000                          65,000                                 70,00076,000

  28            57,000                   60,500                          65,500                                 71,00076,500

  29            57,500                   61,500                          66,000                                 71,50077,000

  30            58,500                   62,000                          66,500                                 72,00077,500

  31            59,000                   62,500                          67,500                                 72,50078,000

  32            60,000                   63,500                          68,000                                 73,00078,500

  33                   64,000                          68,500                                 74,00079,500

  34                   64,500                          69,500                                 74,50080,000

  35                   65,500                          70,000                                 75,000

  36                   68,000                          70,500                                 75,500

  37                   68,000                          71,000                                 76,000

  38                   68,000                          72,000                                 77,000

  39                   68,000                          72,500                                 77,500

  40                   68,500                          73,000                                 78,000

  41                   69,500                          73,500                                 78,500

  42                   70,000                          74,000                                 79,000

  43                   70,500                          75,000                                 80,000

  44                   71,500                          75,500

  45                   72,000                          76,000

  46                   72,500                          76,500

  47                   73,500                          77,500

  48                   74,000                          78,000

  49                   74,500                          78,500

  50                   75,500                          79,000

  51                   76,000                          80,000

  52                   76,500

  53                   77,500

  54                   78,000

  55                   78,500

  56                   79,500

  57                   80,000
  b.  The maximum gross weight allowed to be carried on a vehicle or combination of vehicles on nonprimary highways is as follows:
NONPRIMARY HIGHWAYS — MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT TABLE
Distance

  in feet      2 Axles            3 Axles                   4 Axles                          5 Axles                                 6 Axles7 Axles

    4      34,000

    5      34,000

    6      34,000

    7      34,000            34,000

    8      34,000            34,000

    8’1”      38,000            42,000

    9      39,000            42,500

  10      40,000            43,500                   45,000

  11            44,000                   46,000

  12            45,000                   47,000

  13            45,500                   48,000                          48,500

  14            46,500                   49,000                          49,500

  15            47,000                   50,000                          50,500

  16            48,000                   51,000                          51,500

  17            48,500                   52,000                          52,500                                 54,000

  18            49,500                   53,000                          53,500                                 55,000

  19            50,000                   54,500                          54,500                                 56,000

  20            51,000                   55,500                          55,500                                 57,000

  21            51,500                   56,000                          56,500                                 58,000

  22            52,500                   56,500                          57,500                                 59,000

  23            53,000                   57,500                          58,500                                 60,000

  24            54,000                   58,000                          59,500                                 61,000

  25            54,500                   58,500                          60,500                                 62,000

  26            55,500                   59,500                          61,500                                 63,000

  27            56,000                   60,000                          62,500                                 64,000

  28            57,000                   60,500                          63,500                                 65,000

  29            57,500                   61,500                          64,500                                 66,000

  30            58,500                   62,000                          65,500                                 67,000

  31            59,000                   62,500                          66,500                                 68,000

  32            60,000                   63,500                          67,500                                 69,000

  33                   64,000                          68,500                                 70,000

  34                   64,500                          69,500                                 71,000

  35                   65,500                          70,000                                 72,000

  36                   68,000                          70,500                                 73,000

  37                   68,000                          71,000                                 74,000

  38                   68,000                          72,000                                 75,000

  39                   68,000                          72,500                                 76,000

  40                   68,500                          73,000                                 77,000

  41                   69,500                          73,500                                 78,00078,000

  42                   70,000                          74,000                                 79,00079,000

  43                   70,500                          75,000                                 80,00080,000

  44                   71,500                          75,500

  45                   72,000                          76,000

  46                   72,500                          76,500

  47                   73,500                          77,500

  48                   74,000                          78,000

  49                   74,500                          78,500

  50                   75,500                          79,000

  51                   76,000                          80,000

  52                   76,500

  53                   77,500

  54                   78,000

  55                   78,500

  56                   79,500

  57                   80,000
  c.  (1)  The maximum gross weight allowed to be carried on a commercial motor vehicle, other than a special truck, on noninterstate highways, provided the vehicle is operated by a person with a commercial driver’s license valid for the vehicle operated unless section 321.176A applies, is as follows:
NONINTERSTATE HIGHWAYS

MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT TABLE

COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE

Distance in feet                6 Axles                              7 Axles

   44                80,500                              80,500

   45                81,000                              81,500

   46                81,500                              82,500

   47                82,000                              83,500

   48                83,000                              84,000

   49                83,500                              85,000

   50                84,000                              86,000

   51                84,500                              87,000

   52                85,000                              88,000

   53                86,000                              88,500

   54                86,500                              89,500

   55                87,000                              90,500

   56                87,500                              91,500

   57                88,000                              92,000

   58                89,000                              93,000

   59                89,500                              94,000

   60                90,000                              95,000

   61                              95,500

   62                              96,000
  (2)  Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the maximum gross weight allowed to be carried on a noninterstate highway by a livestock vehicle with five axles, a minimum distance in feet between the centers of the first and fifth axles of sixty-one feet, and a minimum distance between the two rear axles of at least eight feet and one inch is eighty-six thousand pounds.
  d.  For the purposes of the maximum gross weight tables in paragraphs “a”, “b”, and “c”, distance in feet is the measured distance in feet between the centers of the extreme axles of any group of axles, rounded to the nearest whole foot.
  e.  The maximum gross weight allowed to be carried on a tracked implement of husbandry when operated on a noninterstate highway bridge is as follows:
NONINTERSTATE HIGHWAY BRIDGES

MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT TABLE

TRACKED IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY

Length of Track in Feet                         Weight in Pounds

     4                           34,000

     5                           34,000

     6                           34,000

     7                           34,000

     8                           42,000

     9                           42,500

   10                           45,000

   11                           46,000

   12                           47,000

   13                           48,500

   14                           49,500

   15                           50,500

   16                           51,500

   17                           54,000

   18                           55,000

   19                           56,000

   20                           57,000

   21                           58,000

   22                           59,000

   23                           60,000

   24                           61,000

   25                           62,000

   26                           63,000

   27                           64,000

   28                           65,000

   29                           66,000

   30                           67,000

   31                           68,000

   32                           69,000

   33                           70,000

   34                           71,000

   35                           72,000

   36                           73,000

   37                           74,000

   38                           75,000

   39                           76,000

   40                           77,000

   41                           78,000

   42                           79,000

   43                           80,000
  “Length of track in feet” means the length of track on one side of the tracked implement of husbandry which is in contact with the ground or roadway surface.
  6.  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.
  7.  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, and which is operating on a highway that is not part of the interstate system and along a route of travel approved by the department or the appropriate local authority, 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. If the vehicle exceeds the ten percent tolerance allowed under this subsection, the fine shall be computed on the difference between the actual weight and the ten percent tolerance weight allowed for the axle or tandem axle.
  8.  A vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting materials or equipment on nonprimary highways to or from a construction project or commercial plant site may operate under the maximum gross weight table for primary highways in subsection 5, paragraph “a”, if the route is approved by the appropriate local authority. Route approval is not required if the vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting materials or equipment to or from a construction project or commercial plant site complies with the maximum gross weight table for noninterstate highways in subsection 5, paragraph “c”.
  9.  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.
  10.  a.  A person who operates a vehicle in violation 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 this section shall be fined according to the following schedule:
AXLE, TANDEM AXLE, AND GROUP OF AXLES

WEIGHT VIOLATIONS

Pounds Overloaded                        Amount of Fine

Up to and including 1,000 pounds                              $12

Over 1,000 pounds up to and 

  including 2,000 pounds                              $22

Over 2,000 pounds up to and 

  including 3,000 pounds                            $155

Over 3,000 pounds up to and 

  including 4,000 pounds                            $240

Over 4,000 pounds up to and 

  including 5,000 pounds                            $375

Over 5,000 pounds up to and 

  including 6,000 pounds                            $585

Over 6,000 pounds up to and 

  including 7,000 pounds                            $850

Over 7,000 pounds up to and 

  including 8,000 pounds                            $950

Over 8,000 pounds up to and 

  including 9,000 pounds                          $1,050

Over 9,000 pounds up to and 

  including 10,000 pounds                          $1,150

Over 10,000 pounds up to and 

  including 11,000 pounds                          $1,300

Over 11,000 pounds up to and 

  including 12,000 pounds                          $1,400

Over 12,000 pounds up to and 

  including 13,000 pounds                          $1,500

Over 13,000 pounds up to and 

  including 14,000 pounds                          $1,600

Over 14,000 pounds up to and 

  including 15,000 pounds                          $1,700

Over 15,000 pounds up to and 

  including 16,000 pounds                          $1,800

Over 16,000 pounds up to and 

  including 17,000 pounds                          $1,900

Over 17,000 pounds up to and 

  including 18,000 pounds                          $2,000

Over 18,000 pounds up to and 

  including 19,000 pounds                          $2,100

Over 19,000 pounds up to and 

  including 20,000 pounds                          $2,200

Over 20,000 pounds                      $2,200 plus ten cents 

                      per pound in excess

                      of 20,000 pounds
  b.  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.
  c.  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.
  d.  The schedule of fines may be assessed in addition to any other penalties provided for in this chapter.
  11.  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.
  12.  A person shall not issue or execute, or cause 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.
  13.  A person who violates this section commits 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; 97 Acts, ch 100, §5, 12; 97 Acts, ch 104, §22; 98 Acts, ch 1103, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1178, §6, 7; 99 Acts, ch 108, §7; 2000 Acts, ch 1016, §17; 2000 Acts, ch 1040, §1; 2001 Acts, ch 32, §23 – 25; 2002 Acts, ch 1063, §33, 55; 2005 Acts, ch 20, §5 – 7, 12, 13; 2007 Acts, ch 143, §17; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §121; 2010 Acts, ch 1139, §1; 2010 Acts, ch 1140, §16, 17

For scheduled fines listed in subsection 10, violations are charged and fines are applied pursuant to §805.8A, subsection 12, paragraph e