OVERSIZE AND OVERWEIGHT PERMIT MOVEMENTS ON STATE HIGHWAYS

SUBPART C: ISSUANCE OF PERMITS

a)         For expedited service, the Department recommends the use of the Internet; however, permits may be applied for and issued by any of the following means:

1)         By Internet or telephone – routine permits as shown in Sections 554.504, 554.507, 554.508, and 554.604, Single Trip Movement permits, Round Trip Movement permits, Repeated Moves of Like Objects permits, Limited Continuous Operations permits;

2)         By Internet or fax – superload permits;

3)         By mail or in person – all permits. 

b)         Routine loads may be applied for via Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  All costs of transmission are borne by the applicant.
 

Permits are issued only during regular working hours, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except as otherwise provided, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

All District Offices may issue construction equipment permits for moves within a highway construction section consistent with Section 554.207. They may also authorize movement of excessive size and weight loads under emergency conditions.  The addresses of all offices are shown in the Appendix.

Applications may be submitted in person or by mail at: Illinois Department of Transportation, Permit Office, Room 017, 2300 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, Illinois 62764, or on the Internet at http://permits.dot.state.il.us/submit.html.  Permit applications may also be made by telephoning 217-785-1477 or 1-800-252-8636 within Illinois.  Permit applications may be faxed to 217-782-3572.  In compliance with Illinois Statutes, the Department has installed an automatic device for recording applications received and permits issued by telephone.  In making application by telephone, the Department and the applicant waive all objections to the recording of the conversation.  The following conditions apply to applications for various types of permits.

a)         Permits for single trip and round trip.

1)         Permits may be applied for on the Internet, by telephone or in writing by submitting Form OPER 1928 for routine permits as shown in Sections 554.504, 554.507, 554.508, and 554.604.

2)         Applications for superload permits shall be submitted by Internet, by fax, by mail, or by walk-in and shall be submitted on Form OPER 2270.

b)         Permits for repeated moves of like objects (minimum of five applications).

1)         Applications must all be submitted at one time to the Permit Office.

2)         The applicant may telephone the Permit Office to activate permits that were applied for without an effective date.

c)         Permits for limited continuous operation may be applied for on the Internet, by fax, or in writing.

d)         Permits for the repeated moves directly across a highway or for the movement of an overweight 2-axle truck loaded with sweet corn, soybeans, corn, wheat, milo or other small grains and ensilage may be applied for by fax at 217-782-3573 or in writing on current Department Form BT 1163 or BT 757, respectively.

Much of the data required on an application is specified by law.  Forms are available for use as a worksheet to assist in preparing permit applications.  These forms may be obtained through the Department's Internet address found in Section 554.306 or by contacting the Permit Office at 217-782-6271. 

Statutes and case law require the Department to analyze each application. The analysis must ensure that the application contains the data required by law, that the move can be safely made, that the highway system will not be irreparably damaged, and that the traveling public will not be unduly inconvenienced. 

Frequently, company or individual decisions depend upon the availability of special permits.  An applicant may submit an application for a proposed move following normal procedures but indicate that the due date of the move is unknown.  The proposed move will be analyzed and the applicant informed of the feasibility of movement.  If the move is feasible, the applicant may then submit the permit fee and the proposed date of movement.  If the proposed move is not feasible, the applicant will only be billed for any engineering inspections or investigations as described in Section 554.910.

a)         Following an arrest for violation of a permit, if the load can be shifted to comply with the provisions of the permit, the driver or owner may make the shift and then proceed.  If the load cannot be shifted or otherwise adjusted to comply with the permit, a new permit must be secured following the same procedures as for an original permit.

b)         If the permit designates and includes a routing to a certified scale that was requested on the original application as outlined in Section 554.607, the permittee, while enroute to the designated scale, shall be deemed in compliance with the weight provisions of the permit provided the axle or gross weights do not exceed any of the permitted limits by more than 2000 pounds on a single axle, 3000 pounds on a tandem axle, and 5000 pounds on the gross weight.  Before leaving the designated scale area, the permittee must either: 

1)         shift the load to comply with the permitted weights,

2)         obtain a revision from the Permit Office if the final weights exceed the permit limits but are within the tolerances, or

3)         obtain a new permit if the weight tolerances are exceeded.

c)         Once a permit is violated for weights above tolerance limits, a revision will not be issued even though weights can be adjusted to be within tolerance limits.

d)         The fact that a new permit may be issued to continue the move carries no assumption of intent, error, mistake, or mitigating circumstances concerning the limitations, conditions, or provisions contained in the original permit that may affect its status subsequent to arrest.

The permit to continue a move following a violation will be withheld until:

a)         The Permit Office has received clearance from the police agency making the arrest that the load may proceed.

b)         All fees or fee adjustments have been paid or charged to the appropriate account.

c)         Following a conviction for a third offense within a one year period, the Department shall not issue permits to the person, firm, or corporation for a period of one year after the date of the conviction for such third offense [625 ILCS 5/15-301(j)].

a)         Permits for oversize and overweight movements over the Illinois Toll Highway System are not issued by the Department but are required when legal dimensions or weights are exceeded.  A maximum width of 10 feet, height of 14 feet 6 inches, and gross weight of 120,000 pounds is allowed on most toll roads due to physical limitations.  A maximum width of 12 feet is allowed on the sections of the toll highway system that carry Interstate Route 80 and U.S. Route 51.

a)         Permit applications for movement upon local streets or highways should be submitted to the local authorities having maintenance jurisdiction over the street or roadway.  Section 15-301 of the Illinois Size and Weight Law authorizes local authorities to issue permits under the same conditions as the Department. Within the City of Chicago, it is necessary to obtain permits from both the State and City of Chicago, it is necessary to obtain permits for travel on State highways other than the expressways.

b)         The Department has no authority to issue permits for moves over streets or highways not under its control or jurisdiction.  A permit issued by the Department specifically states in the general provisions that it is void on any highway other than a State maintained highway.

c)         The Department will not knowingly terminate a move over a State highway at a local street or highway that may cause damage to the local facility. If a problem is anticipated, proof will be required from the applicant that permission from the local highway official has been obtained.

a)         Although structures over an Interstate highway, separating a local highway and the multilane highway, may have been built jointly by the Federal Government, State, County, or local municipality, maintenance jurisdiction of the roadway over such structures remains with the local authority.

b)         When oversize or overweight moves are required over these structures, permits must be obtained from the local authority having maintenance jurisdiction over the highway.  Should the ability of a structure to carry an overload be unknown, the Department will assist the local authority by analyzing the structure and reporting the findings.

a)         When operating under authority of an oversize/overweight permit issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation, the following list includes but is not limited to offenses that shall be considered a violation of permit but will not render the entire permit null and void:

1)         Incorrect license number or state;

2)         Incorrect make, model, description or serial number;

3)         Incorrect number of axles;

4)         Gross, tandem or single axle weights that are in excess of those permitted.  In this case, the violator may be fined for the excess weight in addition to the violation of permit;

5)         Incorrect width, length, and/or height of the permit load;

6)         Failure to comply with the general and specific provisions and notes listed on the permit. EXCEPTION:  Failure to comply with the general and specific provisions and notes pertaining to minimum axle spacing, as described on the permit application and accompanying permit, will be considered a load operating without a permit, and the permit will be deemed fraudulent in accordance with Section 554.212(d).