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
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	Steer	Drive	Axle	Gross	Steer	Drive	Axle	Gross	Maximum Weight Legal Gross Weight	Legal Gross Weight W / Permit	Permit Cost	Comments
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

Close this Window