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.

Attorney's Note

Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Simple misdemeanorup to 30 daysbetween $105 and $855
For details, see Iowa Code§ 903.1
medical exam

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Terms Used In Iowa Code 321.463

  • Department: means the state department of transportation. See Iowa Code 321H.2
  • Driver: means a person who operates a motor vehicle for the transportation of railroad workers in the motor vehicle on behalf of a railroad worker transportation company, whether the person is employed by the company for wages or drives for the company as an independent contractor. See Iowa Code 327F.39
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • highway: means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular travel, except in public areas in which the boundary shall be thirty-three feet each side of the center line of the roadway. See Iowa Code 321I.1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Livestock: includes but is not limited to an animal classified as an ostrich, rhea, or emu. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Motor vehicle: means a self-propelled vehicle purchased or leased in this state, except as provided in section 322G. See Iowa Code 322G.2
  • Operate: means to ride in or on, other than as a passenger, use, or control the operation of an all-terrain vehicle in any manner, whether or not the all-terrain vehicle is moving. See Iowa Code 321I.1
  • Operator: means a person who operates or is in actual physical control of an all-terrain vehicle. See Iowa Code 321I.1
  • Owner: means a person, other than a lienholder, having the property right in or title to an all-terrain vehicle. See Iowa Code 321I.1
  • Person: includes any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, joint adventure, or association, and the plural as well as the singular number. See Iowa Code 321H.2
  • road: include public bridges, and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" "common road" and "state road". See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Roadway: means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. See Iowa Code 321I.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Vehicle: means any vehicle as defined in chapter 321. See Iowa Code 321H.2
 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, 321E.29A, and 321E.29B, and divisible loads operating under the permit requirements of section 321E.26, shall be allowed a maximum of twenty thousand pounds per axle.
 4. a. (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the weight on any one axle of a self-propelled implement of husbandry used exclusively for the application of organic or inorganic plant food materials, agricultural limestone, or agricultural chemicals operated on the highways of this state shall not exceed twenty-five thousand pounds.

 (2) A self-propelled implement of husbandry used exclusively for the application of organic or inorganic plant food materials, agricultural limestone, or agricultural chemicals shall comply with the other provisions of this section and chapter when operated over a bridge in this state, other than any provision limiting the weight on any one axle to less than twenty-five thousand pounds. 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 such a self-propelled implement of husbandry with a weight in excess of the weights allowed under this chapter.
 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 any fence-line feeder, grain cart, or tank wagon.
 5. a. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a motor vehicle equipped with an engine fueled primarily by natural gas may exceed any applicable maximum gross weight limit under this chapter, up to a maximum gross weight of eighty-two thousand pounds, by an amount equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system installed in the vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel fuel tank and fueling system.

 b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a motor vehicle described in paragraph “a” equipped with an auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit that reduces fuel use and emissions during engine idling may exceed any applicable maximum gross weight limit under this chapter by five hundred fifty pounds or the weight of the auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit, whichever is less. This paragraph “b” does not apply unless the operator of the vehicle provides to the department of public safety a written certification of the weight of the auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit, demonstrates or certifies to the department of public safety that the idle reduction technology unit is fully functional at all times, and carries with the operator the written certification of the weight of the auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit in the vehicle at all times to present to law enforcement in the event the vehicle is suspected of violating any applicable weight restrictions.
 6. a. The maximum gross weight allowed to be carried on a vehicle or combination of vehicles on highways which are part of the primary road system is as follows:

MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT TABLE – PRIMARY HIGHWAYS

Distance  in feet      2 Axles            3 Axles                   4 Axles                          5 Axles                                 6 Axles 7 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                                 66,000 71,500   21            51,500                   56,000                          61,000                                 66,500 72,500   22            52,500                   56,500                          61,500                                 67,000 73,000   23            53,000                   57,500                          62,500                                 68,000 73,500   24            54,000                   58,000                          63,000                                 68,500 74,000   25            54,500                   58,500                          63,500                                 69,000 74,500   26            55,500                   59,500                          64,000                                 69,500 75,000   27            56,000                   60,000                          65,000                                 70,000 76,000   28            57,000                   60,500                          65,500                                 71,000 76,500   29            57,500                   61,500                          66,000                                 71,500 77,000   30            58,500                   62,000                          66,500                                 72,000 77,500   31            59,000                   62,500                          67,500                                 72,500 78,000   32            60,000                   63,500                          68,000                                 73,000 78,500   33                   64,000                          68,500                                 74,000 79,500   34                   64,500                          69,500                                 74,500 80,000   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 Axles 7 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                                 78,000 78,000   42                   70,000                          74,000                                 79,000 79,000   43                   70,500                          75,000                                 80,000 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

 c. (1) The maximum gross weight allowed to be carried on a commercial motor vehicle 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. (1) 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

 (2) “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.
 7. 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.
 8. 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.
 9. 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 6, paragraph “a”, or the maximum gross weight table for noninterstate highways in subsection 6, paragraph “c”. When crossing a bridge, such a vehicle or combination of vehicles shall comply with any weight restriction imposed for the bridge pursuant to section 321.471 or 321.474, provided signs that conform to the manual of uniform traffic-control devices adopted by the department that give notice of the restriction are posted as required under section 321.472 or 321.474, as applicable.
 10. 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.
 11. 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.
 12. 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.
 13. 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.
 14. a. A person operating a vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with a retractable axle may raise the axle when necessary to negotiate a turn, provided that the retractable axle is lowered within one thousand feet following completion of the turn. This paragraph does not apply to a vehicle or combination of vehicles operated on an interstate highway, including a ramp to or from an interstate highway, or on a bridge.

 b. A vehicle or combination of vehicles operated with a retractable axle raised as permitted under paragraph “a” is exempt from the weight limitations of this section as long as the vehicle or combination of vehicles is in compliance with the weight limitations of this section when the retractable axle is lowered.
 c. This subsection does not prohibit the operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with a retractable axle with the retractable axle raised when the vehicle or combination of vehicles is in compliance with the weight limitations of this section with the retractable axle raised.
 15. A person who violates this section commits a simple misdemeanor.
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