1. A combination of four vehicles is not allowed on the highways of this state, except for
power units saddle mounted on other power units which shall be restricted to a maximum
overall length of ninety-seven feet.
2. The maximum length of any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles operated on the
highways of this state is as follows:
a. A single truck, unladen or with load, shall not have an overall length, inclusive of front
andrearbumpers, inexcessofforty-fivefeet. Whendeterminingtheoveralllengthofasingle
truck, the following shall be excluded:
(1)Cargo extending not more than three feet beyond the front bumper and not more than
four feet beyond the rear bumper when transporting motor vehicles, boats, and chassis.
(2)An unladen cargo carrying device extending no greater than twenty
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1. A combination of four vehicles is not allowed on the highways of this state, except for
power units saddle mounted on other power units which shall be restricted to a maximum
overall length of ninety-seven feet.
2. The maximum length of any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles operated on the
highways of this state is as follows:
a. A single truck, unladen or with load, shall not have an overall length, inclusive of front
andrearbumpers, inexcessofforty-fivefeet. Whendeterminingtheoveralllengthofasingle
truck, the following shall be excluded:
(1) Cargo extending not more than three feet beyond the front bumper and not more than
four feet beyond the rear bumper when transporting motor vehicles, boats, and chassis.
(2) An unladen cargo carrying device extending no greater than twenty-four inches from
the rear of the bed of the truck.
(3) A cargo carrying device with load.
b. A single bus shall not have an overall length, inclusive of front and rear bumpers, in
excessofforty-fivefeet, exceptthatbusesconstructedsoastocontainaflexiblepartallowing
articulation shall not exceed sixty-one feet.
c. Amanufacturedormobilehomenotinexcessofforty-eightfeetinlengthmaybedrawn
by any motor vehicle, except a motor truck, provided that the manufactured or mobile home
and its towing unit are not in excess of an overall length of sixty feet. For the purposes of this
subsection, a light delivery truck, panel delivery truck, or “pickup” is not a “motor truck”. A
portable livestock loading chute not in excess of a length of thirteen feet including its hitch or
tongue may be drawn by any vehicle or combination of vehicles, provided that the vehicle or
combinationofvehiclesdrawingtheloadingchuteisnotinexcessofthelegallengthprovided
for such vehicles or combinations.
d. A combination of three vehicles coupled together one of which is a motor vehicle,
unladen or with load, other than a truck tractor, shall not have an overall length, inclusive of
front and rear bumpers, in excess of seventy feet.
e. A motor vehicle or combination of vehicles may be operated upon the highways of this
state, irrespective of the length and weight limitations imposed by the laws of this state, if
the motor vehicle or combination of vehicles is operated within the corporate limits of a city
abutting a border of this state and such operations have been approved by ordinance of the
city council and if the length and weight of the motor vehicle or combination of vehicles is in
conformity with the laws relating to length and weight of the abutting state. If a city council
has authorized such operation upon highways within the corporate limits, then the limit of
travel for such motor vehicles or combination of vehicles within the state is extended to the
commercial zones as described by federal regulations concerning interstate commerce, 49
C.F.R. §1048.101, and to the interstate system as provided in 23 U.S.C. §127 and 49 U.S.C.
§31112(c), as amended by Pub. L. No. 104-59.
f. A trailer or semitrailer, laden or unladen, shall not have an overall length in excess
of fifty-three feet when operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination exclusive of
retractable extensions used to support the load. However, when a trailer or semitrailer is
used exclusively for the transportation of passenger vehicles, light delivery trucks, panel
delivery trucks, pickup trucks, recreational vehicle chassis, or boats, the load carried on
the trailer or semitrailer may extend up to three feet beyond the front bumper and up to
four feet beyond the rear bumper of the trailer or semitrailer. A lowboy semitrailer, laden
or unladen, which is designed and exclusively used for the transportation of construction
equipment shall not have an overall length in excess of fifty-seven feet when used in a truck
tractor-semitrailer combination.
g. A trailer or semitrailer, laden or unladen, shall not have an overall length in excess of
twenty-eight feet six inches when operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination
or truck tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination. When the semitrailers in a truck
tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination are connected by a rigid frame extension
including a fifth-wheel connection point attached to the rear frame of the first semitrailer,
the length of the frame extension shall not be included when determining the overall length
of the first semitrailer.
h. Power units designed to carry cargo, when used in combination with a trailer or
semitrailer shall not exceed sixty-five feet in overall length for the combination exclusive of
retractable extensions used to support the load. However, if a combination of vehicles is
used exclusively for the transportation of passenger vehicles, light delivery trucks, panel
delivery trucks, pickup trucks, recreational vehicle chassis, or boats, the load may extend up
to three feet beyond the front bumper of the power unit and up to four feet beyond the rear
bumper of the trailer or semitrailer.
i. A stinger-steered automobile transporter shall not have an overall length exceeding
eighty feet, exclusive of retractable extensions used to support the load and all other devices
or appurtenances related to the safe and efficient operation of the vehicle, except that the
load may extend up to four feet beyond the front bumper and up to six feet beyond the rear
bumper.
j. A motor home or motorsports recreational vehicle shall not have an overall length,
excluding front and rear bumpers and safety equipment, in excess of forty-five feet.
k. A combination of two vehicles coupled together, one of which is a motor home, shall
not have an overall length in excess of sixty-five feet.
l. A combination of two vehicles coupled together, one of which is a travel trailer or
fifth-wheel travel trailer, shall not have an overall length in excess of sixty-five feet.
m. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, and to the extent allowed under
federal law, the maximum length of a towaway trailer transporter combination operated on
the highways of this state is eighty-five feet. For purposes of this paragraph, “towaway trailer
transporter combination” means a combination of vehicles consisting of a towing vehicle and
two unladen trailers or unladen semitrailers in which the trailers or semitrailers constitute
inventory property of the manufacturer intended for sale and which are being transported
from a trailer manufacturer to a trailer distributor or authorized trailer dealer.
n. (1) Notwithstanding paragraph “g” or any other provision of this chapter, the
department is authorized to adopt rules providing for economic export corridors for the
transportation of goods or products manufactured in Iowa to or through the state of South
Dakota and for the return of unladen semitrailers or unladen full trailers used for the
transportation of those goods or products. The rules may authorize the operation of the
following combinations of vehicles on an economic export corridor:
(a) A truck tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer converted to a full trailer by use of a dolly
equipped with a fifth wheel which is considered a part of the trailer for all purposes, and not
a separate unit.
(b) A truck tractor-semitrailer-full trailer.
(c) A truck tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination, where the semitrailers are
connected by a rigid frame extension including a fifth wheel connection point attached to the
rear frame of the first semitrailer. The length of the frame extension shall not be included
when determining the overall length of the first semitrailer.
(2) Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph “n” shall provide that combinations of
vehicles authorized to operate on an economic export corridor shall meet all of the following
requirements:
(a) The length of the combination of vehicles, excluding the length of the truck tractor,
shall not exceed eighty-one and one-half feet.
(b) The length of either semitrailer or full trailer shall not exceed forty-five feet.
(c) The weight of the second semitrailer or full trailer shall not exceed the weight of the
first semitrailer by more than three thousand pounds.
(d) The gross weight of the combination of vehicles shall not exceed eighty thousand
poundsandthecombinationofvehiclesshallnotexceedthegrossaxleweightlimitsofsection
321.463, subsection 2.
(e) The load on each semitrailer or full trailer in the combination shall be an indivisible
load. For the purpose of issuing permits for height or width under chapter 321E, the
combination of vehicles shall be considered an indivisible load so long as the load on each
semitrailer or full trailer in the combination remains an indivisible load.
(3) An economic export corridor established by the department shall not include any
segment of the interstate system or any part of the national network of highways identified
pursuant to 23 C.F.R. pt. 658. This subparagraph does not prohibit operation on any segment
of the interstate system or part of the national network of highways that is permitted under
paragraph “e”.
(4) For purposes of this paragraph “n”, “full trailer” means as defined in 49 C.F.R. §390.5.
o. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, and to the extent allowed under
federal law, a combination of two vehicles coupled together, one of which is a motorsports
recreational vehicle, shall not have an overall length in excess of eighty-five feet.
p. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, and to the extent allowed under
federal law, a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting a divisible load of hay, straw,
stover, or bagged livestock bedding shall not have an overall length in excess of seventy-five
feet.
3. Fire fighting apparatus and vehicles operated during daylight hours when transporting
poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of a structural nature which cannot be readily
disassembled when required for emergency repair of public service facilities or properties
are not subject to the limitations on overall length of vehicles and combinations of vehicles
imposed under this section. However, for operation during nighttime hours, these vehicles
and the load being transported shall be equipped with a sufficient number of clearance
lamps on both sides and marker lamps at the extreme ends of the projecting load to clearly
mark the dimensions of the load. A member of the state patrol shall also be notified prior to
the operation of the vehicle.