Road Weight and Size limitations: By State

TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT, ROUTE DESIGNATIONS -- LENGTH , WIDTH AND WEIGHT LIMITATIONS

BE ADVISED: Although we make every effort to assure that the information we provide is complete and accurate, it is not intended to take the place of published agency regulations. Regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations are published in the Federal Register and compiled in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Copies of appropriate volumes of the CFR in book format may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, or examined at many libraries.

State Maximum
Cont. Length
(Ft. & In.)		 20' Std,
Steel
40' Std.,
Alum		 40' HC,
Alum		 45' HC,
Alum		 40' Std,
Steel		 40' HC,
Steel		 Std Rfr,
Alum		 HC Rfr,
Alum		 Opentop,
Alum		 Opentop,
Steel		 Flat Rack
Steel		 Flat Plat,
Steel		 40' Rear 20'  (with slider) Rear Maximum Weight
Legal Gross Weight		 Legal Gross Weight
W / Permit		 Permit Cost Comments
Steer Drive Axle Gross Steer Drive Axle Gross
Alabama 53-6 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 100,000 $15  
Alaska 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Variable   per dot and bridge
Arizona 57-6 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 43,000                 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [11] below
Arkansas 53-6 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   permit within a county
California 48-0 * 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 43,000                 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [11] below
Colorado 57-4 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000   $15. + $5./axle  
Connecticut 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Delaware 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 90,000   see [1] below
District of Columbia 48-0 38,200     43,400 39,500 39,200 38,000 36,400 39,500 38,800 34,400 39,800 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Florida 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 95,000 $0.27/mile  
Georgia 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 100,000 $20 $20
Hawaii 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Idaho 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200                 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [11] below
Illinois 53-0 38,200     38,700 40,500 40,200 39,100 37,500 40,500 39,800 35,400 40,800 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [2,11] below
Indiana 48-6 ** 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Iowa 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Kansas 57-6 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Kentucky 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Louisiana 59-6 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 100,000 $65-$85 +admin fee  
Maine 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Maryland 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 90,000   see [4] below
Massachusetts 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Michigan 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Minnesota 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000     see [5] below
Mississippi 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 95,000 $10. + $5./1Klbs over  
Missouri 53-0 37,600     43,400 37,400 37,100 35,900 34,300 37,400 36,700 32,300 37,700 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [11] below
Montana 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200                 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [11] below
Nebraska 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 80,000+ $10  
Nevada 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200                 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [11] below
New Hampshire 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000     no set rule, per load base
New Jersey 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
New Mexico 57-6 38,200     43,400 43,200 42,900 41,700 40,100 43,200 42,500 38,100 43,500 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see[11] below
New York 48-0 38,200     43,400 43,400 43,100 41,700 40,300 43,400 42,700 38,300 43,700 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
North Carolina 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 94,500 $10  
North Dakota 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see[11]below
Ohio 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
Oklahoma 59-6 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000   $20. + $5./1Klbs over  
Oregon 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200                 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [11] below
Pennsylvania 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 95,000 $100.00 annually  
Puerto Rico 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000      
Rhode Island 48-6 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit   n/a
South Carolina 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 90,000 $20  
South Dakota 53-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000     see [7] below
Tennessee 50-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 90,000 $16. + $.05/1ton/mile over  
Texas 59-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000     permit per county
Utah 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200                 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [11] below
Vermont 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 90,000   see [8] below
Virginia 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 90,000 no cost  
Washington 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200                 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [11] below
West Virginia 48-0 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 110,000   see [9] below
Wisconsin 48-0 *** 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see [10,11] below
Wyoming 57-4 38,200     43,500 43,900 43,600 42,400 40,800 43,900 43,200 38,800 44,200 Reference Bridge Law Formula 80,000 Will not Permit if cargo is divisible   see[11]

 

Maximum Length notes:

* Semitrailers up to 53 feet may operate without a permit by conforming to a kingpin-to-rearmost axle distance of 38 feet. Semitratilers that are consistent with 23 CFR 658.13(h) may operate without a permit provided the distance from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle is 46 feet or less.

** Semitratilers up to 53 feet in length may operate without a permit by conforming to a kingpin-to-rearmost axle distance of 40 feet 6 inches. Semitrailers that are consistent with 23 CFR 658.13(h) may operate without a permit, provided the distance from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle is 46 feet or less.

*** Semitrailers up to 53 feet in length may operate without a permit by conforming to a kingpin-to-rearmost axles distance of 41 feet, measured to the center of the rear tandem assembly. Semitrailers that are consistent with 23 CFR 658.13(h) may operate without a permit provided the distance from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle is 46 feet or less.

[53 FR 2599, Jan. 29, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 1931, Jan. 18, 1989 and 62 FR 10181, March 5, 1997]

Maximum Weight notes:

[1] Delaware will permit 90,000 for state roads only, at $200.00 per year.

[2] Illinois will permit on a sliding scale as follows:
73,281 lbs - 80,000 lbs
80,001 lbs - 88,000 lbs

[3] Louisiana may permit weight to 100,000 and permits on a sliding scale as follows:
< 150 miles $65
> 150 miles $85

[4] Maryland overweight containers must pass through Baltimore to be given permit.

[5] Load specific

[7] South Dakota will permit on a sliding scale as follows: < 85,000 lbs
(formula) ex: 90,000 lbs @ 100 miles

[8] Vermont blanket permit for state roads only

[9] West Virginia will permit for loads originating or terminating in their state only. Cannot drive through.

[10] Wisconsin permits on the following scale:
< 90,000 lbs
90,001 - 100,000 lbs
ea 10,000 > 100,001 lbs

[11] This state does not provide overweight/over dimensional permits unless cargo is not able to be broken up (one solid unit), at which point, special arrangements have to be made with a specialized carrier. 80,000 is legal in AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA; however, there may be issues with axle weights if not loaded correctly.

!!! If permits are ordered through an agency, there may be additional administrative costs added to the cost of the permit.

Additional Weight Considerations: As a general rule, gross weight (tractor/tare weight/cargo weight) for 40' equipment should be 80,000 lbs., with a cargo weight of 45,000 depending on tractor

 

Additional Weight Considerations (cont.):

40' reefer cargo weight should be between 39,000-40,000 cargo weight to stay under 80,000 lbs gross weight (tractor/tare weight/cargo weight)

In WA / OR / MT / ID - allow for use of super chassis/triaxle on 40' equipment at additional cost of $130+ per load. Weights = 12,000; 34,000; 42,000; 88,000 Use of superchassis/triaxle will allow cargo weight in 40' reefers to go up to 47,000-48,000 lbs and still keep gross weight at 88,000 lbs. Special arrangements can be made for use of 4 axle chassis which would allow total gross weight to reach 96,000 (12,000; 42,000; 42,000) but equipment rental expense is considerably more than standard or tri axle. 20' laws in all states are governed by new bridge law weight which took effect in 1998. Distance between wheel base determines actual weight per axle and gross weight. As a general rule, cargo weight should not surpass 39,000 lbs with a total gross weight (tractor/tare weight/cargo weight) of 68,000 lbs. MAXIMUM BRIDGE LAWS (supercede all suggested weight laws!): It is possible to be considered overweight in one or all of the following ways: 1.Gross weight 2.Axle weight 3.Bridge formula

1. Gross Weight: Maximum allowable total gross weight for trucks on U.S. Interstates is 80,000 lbs, including tractor weight, chassis and container weight, cargo weight, etc. Off-interstate limits are typically lower. Please refer to to the American Trucking Association's "Summary of Size and Weight Limits". 2. Axle Weight: Allowable gross weight on a single or set of axles is regulated by individual states. States typically allow 34,000 lbs per tandem axle and 20,000 lbs per single axle. Please refer to the American Trucking Association's "Summary of Size and Weight Limits". Note : Over 50% of all U.S. citations issued are for axle weight violations, usually the result of uneven distribution of the load inside the container.

2. Bridge formula: This law sets maximum weights according to the distance between sets of axles. "Inner Bridge" measurement = distance between axle 2 and axle 5 "Outer Bridge" measurement = distance between axle 1 and axle 5(steering axle is axle 1, tractor drive axle is axle 2, etc.)

To determine Inner Bridge compliance, measure distance from center of wheel of axle 2 to center of wheel of axle 5. Refer to "Summary of Size and Weight Limits" appropriate bridge chart (table A or B). Find appropriate distance, follow row to 4 axles column to find maximum gross weight for 4 axles.

To determine Outer Bridge compliance, measure distance from center of wheel of axle 1 to center of wheel of axle 5. Refer to "Summary of Size and Weight Limits" appropriate bridge chart (table A or B) Find appropriate distance, follow row to 5 axles column to find maximum gross weight for 5 axles. example: a) Outer bridge = 37 ft. b) Inner bridge = 22 ft. a) axle 1 weight = 10,900 lbs axles 2 & 3 weight = 27,620 lbs axles 4 & 5 weight = 27,500 lbs Max. weight, according to chart for 66,020 lbs 37 ft. on 5 axles = 66,500 lbs, load is OK b) axles 2 & 3 weight = 27,620 lbs axles 4 & 5 weight = 27,500 lbs Max. weight, according to chart for 55,120 lbs 22 ft. on 4 axles = 56,500 lbs, load is OK