Commercial Truck Weight Restrictions

Both the federal government and individual state governments require that commercial trucks comply with particular weight restrictions in order to keep roads in good condition and minimize construction and repairs paid for with taxpayer money.

Individual states each have their own requirements for state roads, while the federal government has a set of standards for interstate highways. To ensure that trucks are in compliance with these regulations, weights are checked at state-monitored checkpoints, often located at state borders.

Federal Truck Weight Limits

The federal government has set maximum weight limits for trucks traveling over interstate highways:

• Single axle: 20,000 pounds
• Tandem axle: 40,000 pounds
• Gross vehicle weight: 80,000 pounds

Certain types of cargo, such as equipment or steel beams, may cause the gross vehicle weight to exceed 80,000 pounds. In these cases, a truck may be granted an overweight permit as long as:

• The load cannot be divided and shipped in smaller loads in order to comply with the maximum weight standard
• There is no alternative to moving the cargo by truck

Trucking companies must also ensure that their cargo complies with the laws of individual states. Truck weight limits may vary dramatically across states. With overweight cargo, states may require escorts or may force drivers to follow a particular restricted route. By following both state and federal weight restriction requirements, you can eliminate fines and delays at weigh station checkpoints.

Contact Us

To streamline your trucking business accounts and receive the cash you need, when you need it, you may want to enlist the help of a freight factoring company. To learn more, contact the truck factoring experts of TBS Factoring Service, LLC, by calling 1-800-207-7661.