Section 304.180

Title XIX MOTOR VEHICLES, WATERCRAFT AND AVIATION

Chapter 304

Effective - 28 Aug 2023, 11 histories   

  304.180.  Regulations as to weight — axle load, tandem axle defined — transport of specific items, total gross weight permitted — requirements during disasters — specific vehicles, maximum weight. — 1.  No vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be moved or operated on any highway in this state having a greater weight than twenty thousand pounds on one axle, no combination of vehicles operated by transporters of general freight over regular routes as defined in section 390.020 shall be moved or operated on any highway of this state having a greater weight than the vehicle manufacturer's rating on a steering axle with the maximum weight not to exceed twelve thousand pounds on a steering axle, and no vehicle shall be moved or operated on any state highway of this state having a greater weight than thirty-four thousand pounds on any tandem axle; the term "tandem axle" shall mean a group of two or more axles, arranged one behind another, the distance between the extremes of which is more than forty inches and not more than ninety-six inches apart.

  2.  An "axle load" is defined as the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels whose centers are included between two parallel transverse vertical planes forty inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle.

  3.  Subject to the limit upon the weight imposed upon a highway of this state through any one axle or on any tandem axle, the total gross weight with load imposed by any group of two or more consecutive axles of any vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the maximum load in pounds as set forth in the following table:

Distance in feet between the extremes of any group of two or more consecutive axles, measured to the nearest foot, except where indicated otherwise
	Maximum load in pounds
feet	2 axles	3 axles	4 axles	5 axles	6 axles
4	34,000
5	34,000
6	34,000
7	34,000
8	34,000	34,000
More 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

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Notwithstanding the above table, two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of thirty-four thousand pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirty-six feet or more.

  4.  Whenever the state highways and transportation commission finds that any state highway bridge in the state is in such a condition that use of such bridge by vehicles of the weights specified in subsection 3 of this section will endanger the bridge, or the users of the bridge, the commission may establish maximum weight limits and speed limits for vehicles using such bridge.  The governing body of any city or county may grant authority by act or ordinance to the commission to enact the limitations established in this section on those roadways within the purview of such city or county.  Notice of the weight limits and speed limits established by the commission shall be given by posting signs at a conspicuous place at each end of any such bridge.

  5.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting lawful axle loads, tandem axle loads or gross loads in excess of those permitted under the provisions of P.L. 97-424 codified in Title 23 of the United States Code (23 U.S.C. Section 101, et al.), as amended.

  6.  Notwithstanding the weight limitations contained in this section, any vehicle or combination of vehicles operating on highways other than the interstate highway system may exceed single axle, tandem axle and gross weight limitations in an amount not to exceed two thousand pounds.  However, total gross weight shall not exceed eighty thousand pounds, except as provided in subsections 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14 of this section.

  7.  Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the commission shall issue a single-use special permit, or upon request of the owner of the truck or equipment shall issue an annual permit, for the transporting of any crane or concrete pump truck or well-drillers' equipment.  The commission shall set fees for the issuance of permits and parameters for the transport of cranes pursuant to this subsection.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.133, cranes, concrete pump trucks, or well-drillers' equipment may be operated on state-maintained roads and highways at any time on any day.

  8.  Notwithstanding the provision of this section to the contrary, the maximum gross vehicle limit and axle weight limit for any vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with an idle reduction technology may be increased by a quantity necessary to compensate for the additional weight of the idle reduction system as provided for in 23 U.S.C. Section 127, as amended.  In no case shall the additional weight increase allowed by this subsection be greater than five hundred fifty pounds.  Upon request by an appropriate law enforcement officer, the vehicle operator shall provide proof that the idle reduction technology is fully functional at all times and that the gross weight increase is not used for any purpose other than for the use of idle reduction technology.

  9.  Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other law to the contrary, the total gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles hauling milk from a farm to a processing facility or livestock may be as much as, but shall not exceed, eighty-five thousand five hundred pounds while operating on highways other than the interstate highway system.  The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to vehicles operated and operating on the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways.

  10.  Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other law to the contrary, any vehicle or combination of vehicles hauling grain or grain coproducts during times of harvest may be as much as, but not exceeding, ten percent over the maximum weight limitation allowable under subsection 3 of this section while operating on highways other than the interstate highway system.  The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to vehicles operated and operating on the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways.

  11.  Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other law to the contrary, the commission shall issue emergency utility response permits for the transporting of utility wires or cables, poles, and equipment needed for repair work immediately following a disaster where utility service has been disrupted.  Under exigent circumstances, verbal approval of such operation may be made either by the department of transportation motor carrier compliance supervisor or other designated motor carrier services representative.  Utility vehicles and equipment used to assist utility companies granted special permits under this subsection may be operated and transported on state-maintained roads and highways at any time on any day.  The commission shall promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2014, shall be invalid and void.

  12.  Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, emergency vehicles designed to be used under emergency conditions to transport personnel and equipment and to support the suppression of fires and mitigate hazardous situations may have a maximum gross vehicle weight of eighty-six thousand pounds inclusive of twenty-four thousand pounds on a single steering axle; thirty-three thousand five hundred pounds on a single drive axle; sixty-two thousand pounds on a tandem axle; or fifty-two thousand pounds on a tandem rear-drive steer axle; except that, such emergency vehicles shall only operate on the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.

  13.  Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a vehicle operated by an engine fueled primarily by natural gas may operate upon the public highways of this state in excess of the vehicle weight limits set forth in this section by an amount that is equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system carried by that vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system.  In no event shall the maximum gross vehicle weight of the vehicle operating with a natural gas engine exceed eighty-two thousand pounds.

  14.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, local log trucks and local log truck tractors, as defined in section 301.010, may be operated with a weight not exceeding twenty-two thousand four hundred pounds on one axle or a weight not exceeding forty-four thousand eight hundred pounds on any tandem axle, except the front steering axle shall not exceed fifteen thousand pounds or the gross vehicle weight rating set by the manufacturer, and may have a total weight of up to one hundred nine thousand six hundred pounds.  Provided however, when operating on the national system of interstate and defense highways described in 23 U.S.C. Section 103, as amended, or outside the radius from the forested site specified in section 301.010 with an extended distance local log truck permit, the vehicle shall not exceed the weight limits otherwise specified in this section.

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(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, A.L. 2012 S.B. 470 merged with S.B. 568 merged with S.B. 631, A.L. 2013 H.B. 103, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1190, A.L. 2015 S.B. 12, A.L. 2017 S.B. 8 merged with S.B. 222 merged with S.B. 225, A.L. 2018 S.B. 683 merged with S.B. 881, A.L. 2020 H.B. 1963, A.L. 2022 1st Ex. Sess. H.B. 3, A.L. 2023 H.B. 202 merged with S.B. 138)

Prior revision: 1929 § 7787

(1971) The single axle, tandem axle and gross weight limits specified in § 304.180 are cumulative and each must be complied with. The state is not required to establish either intent to violate the limits or guilty knowledge of such violation to make a case. State v. Boze (A.), 472 S.W.2d 35.