304.180. Regulations as to weight--axle load, tandem axle defined--idle reduction technology, increase in maximum gross weight permitted, amount--hauling livestock, total gross weight permitted.
Regulations as to weight--axle load, tandem axle defined--idlereduction technology, increase in maximum gross weight permitted,amount--hauling livestock, total gross weight permitted.
304.180. 1. No vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be moved oroperated on any highway in this state having a greater weight than twentythousand pounds on one axle, no combination of vehicles operated bytransporters of general freight over regular routes as defined in section390.020, RSMo, shall be moved or operated on any highway of this statehaving a greater weight than the vehicle manufacturer's rating on asteering axle with the maximum weight not to exceed twelve thousand poundson a steering axle, and no vehicle shall be moved or operated on any statehighway of this state having a greater weight than thirty-four thousandpounds on any tandem axle; the term "tandem axle" shall mean a group of twoor more axles, arranged one behind another, the distance between theextremes of which is more than forty inches and not more than ninety-sixinches apart.
2. An "axle load" is defined as the total load transmitted to theroad by all wheels whose centers are included between two paralleltransverse vertical planes forty inches apart, extending across the fullwidth of the vehicle.
3. Subject to the limit upon the weight imposed upon a highway ofthis state through any one axle or on any tandem axle, the total grossweight with load imposed by any group of two or more consecutive axles ofany vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the maximum load inpounds as set forth in thefollowing table:Distance in feetbetween the extremesof any group of two ormore consecutive axles,measured to the nearestfoot, except whereindicated otherwise Maximum load in poundsfeet2 axles 3 axles 4 axles 5 axles 6 axles 4 34,000 5 34,000 6 34,000 7 34,000 8 34,000 34,000More than 8 38,000 42,000 9 39,000 42,500 10 40,000 43,500 11 40,000 44,000 12 40,000 45,000 50,000 13 40,000 45,500 50,500 14 40,000 46,500 51,500 15 40,000 47,000 52,000 16 40,000 48,000 52,500 58,000 17 40,000 48,500 53,500 58,500 18 40,000 49,500 54,000 59,000 19 40,000 50,000 54,500 60,000 20 40,000 51,000 55,500 60,500 66,000 21 40,000 51,500 56,000 61,000 66,500 22 40,000 52,500 56,500 61,500 67,000 23 40,000 53,000 57,500 62,500 68,000 24 40,000 54,000 58,000 63,000 68,500 25 40,000 54,500 58,500 63,500 69,000 26 40,000 55,500 59,500 64,000 69,500 27 40,000 56,000 60,000 65,000 70,000 28 40,000 57,000 60,500 65,500 71,000 29 40,000 57,500 61,500 66,000 71,500 30 40,000 58,500 62,000 66,500 72,000 31 40,000 59,000 62,500 67,500 72,500 32 40,000 60,000 63,500 68,000 73,000 33 40,000 60,000 64,000 68,500 74,000 34 40,000 60,000 64,500 69,000 74,500 35 40,000 60,000 65,500 70,000 75,000 36 60,000 66,000 70,500 75,500 37 60,000 66,500 71,000 76,000 38 60,000 67,500 72,000 77,000 39 60,000 68,000 72,500 77,500 40 60,000 68,500 73,000 78,000 41 60,000 69,500 73,500 78,500 42 60,000 70,000 74,000 79,000 43 60,000 70,500 75,000 80,000 44 60,000 71,500 75,500 80,000 45 60,000 72,000 76,000 80,000 46 60,000 72,500 76,500 80,000 47 60,000 73,500 77,500 80,000 48 60,000 74,000 78,000 80,000 49 60,000 74,500 78,500 80,000 50 60,000 75,500 79,000 80,000 51 60,000 76,000 80,000 80,000 52 60,000 76,500 80,000 80,000 53 60,000 77,500 80,000 80,000 54 60,000 78,000 80,000 80,000 55 60,000 78,500 80,000 80,000 56 60,000 79,500 80,000 80,000 57 60,000 80,000 80,000 80,000
Notwithstanding the above table, two consecutive sets of tandem axles maycarry a gross load of thirty-four thousand pounds each if the overalldistance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets oftandem axles is thirty-six feet or more.
4. Whenever the state highways and transportation commission findsthat any state highway bridge in the state is in such a condition that useof such bridge by vehicles of the weights specified in subsection 3 of thissection will endanger the bridge, or the users of the bridge, thecommission may establish maximum weight limits and speed limits forvehicles using such bridge. The governing body of any city or county maygrant authority by act or ordinance to the state highways andtransportation commission to enact the limitations established in thissection on those roadways within the purview of such city or county.Notice of the weight limits and speed limits established by the commissionshall be given by posting signs at a conspicuous place at each end of anysuch bridge.
5. Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting lawfulaxle loads, tandem axle loads or gross loads in excess of those permittedunder the provisions of Section 127 of Title 23 of the United States Code.
6. Notwithstanding the weight limitations contained in this section,any vehicle or combination of vehicles operating on highways other than theinterstate highway system may exceed single axle, tandem axle and grossweight limitations in an amount not to exceed two thousand pounds.However, total gross weight shall not exceed eighty thousand pounds, exceptas provided in subsection 9 of this section.
7. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, thedepartment of transportation shall issue a single-use special permit, orupon request of the owner of the truck or equipment, shall issue an annualpermit, for the transporting of any concrete pump truck or well-drillers'equipment. The department of transportation shall set fees for theissuance of permits pursuant to this subsection. Notwithstanding theprovisions of section 301.133, RSMo, concrete pump trucks or well-drillers'equipment may be operated on state-maintained roads and highways at anytime on any day.
8. Notwithstanding the provision of this section to the contrary, themaximum gross vehicle limit and axle weight limit for any vehicle orcombination of vehicles equipped with an idle reduction technology may beincreased by a quantity necessary to compensate for the additional weightof the idle reduction system as provided for in 23 U.S.C. Section 127, asamended. In no case shall the additional weight increase allowed by thissubsection be greater than four hundred pounds. Upon request by anappropriate law enforcement officer, the vehicle operator shall provideproof that the idle reduction technology is fully functional at all timesand that the gross weight increase is not used for any purpose other thanfor the use of idle reduction technology.
9. Notwithstanding subsection 3 of this section or any otherprovision of law to the contrary, the total gross weight of any vehicle orcombination of vehicles hauling livestock may be as much as, but shall notexceed, eighty-five thousand five hundred pounds while operating on U.S.Highway 36 from St. Joseph to U.S. Highway 65, and on U.S. Highway 65 fromthe Iowa state line to U.S. Highway 36.
(RSMo 1939 § 8406, A.L. 1943 p. 663, A. 1949 S.B. 1113, A.L. 1951 p. 695, A.L. 1957 p. 624, A.L. 1963 p. 417, A.L. 1965 p. 489, A.L. 1967 p. 412, A.L. 1983 H.B. 539, A.L. 1985 H.B. 157 merged with H.B. 330, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1948, A.L. 2001 S.B. 244, A.L. 2008 S.B. 930 & 947)Prior revision: 1929 § 7787