Semi Truck Weight – Axle and Gross Weight Maximums – 5 Axle – 2020

Semi Truck weight is governed in the USA at the Federal Level at 80,000 lbs.  State weight limits can vary, the lowest is on Kentucky Non-Designated Highways (36,000 lbs) and the highest in Missouri Commercial Zones (112,000 lbs).  The average allowable maximum gross weight in 111 different jurisdictions in the USA and Canada is 82,503 lbs.  These limits are applicable to the standard 5 axle semi truck depicted below.

These are the gross weight limits, or the total amount that the truck combination can weigh, including itself and its load.  The payload, or how much the truck can carry, depends on the gross weight limit and the weight of the truck and trailer itself (the tare weight). 

Gross Weight Limit – Tare Weight = Payload

Components of Gross Weight limits

The reason that it is hard to give a specific answer to the question of how much a truck can weigh is because there are 5 different types of weight limits that must be calculated to find the weight limit of a particular truck.

• Gross Weight Limit – Governments set a limit of the maximum total weight of a truck.
• Axle Weight Limits – Governments set a limit on the maximum weight on a group of axles.  The total weight cannot exceed the sum of these limits.
• Tire Width Limits – Governments set a limit on the amount of weight that can be put on a tire, based on its width.  The total weight of the truck cannot exceed this value times all the tire widths on the truck.
• Bridge Weight Limits – Some governments (like the US Federal Government) set a limit on the amount of weight that can be put on a group of axles based on the distance between them and the number of axles in each group.
• Manufacturers Weight Limits – The manufacturer of the truck, trailer, brakes, axles, suspension all set their own limits for how much weight can be carried on the semi truck. By law, the manufacturers’ limits must also be respected even if other limits are higher.

Tare Weight

A typical 5 axle semi truck, like the one depicted below will weigh approximately:

• Tandem Drive Truck Tractor with Sleeper: 18,000 lbs
• Van (Box) Trailer 53’ long with 2 axles: 17,650 lbs
• Total: 35,650 lbs

Payload

To find the amount of weight that a truck can carry, find the limit listed in the table below minus the weight of the truck.  For example:

• Gross Weight Limit – Tare Weight = Payload
• (80,000 lbs Federal Limit) – (35,650 lbs truck weight) = (44,350 lbs load allowed)

All Weights in Pounds

State	Ruleset	Jurisdiction	Bridge	Permit	Steer	Drives	Trailer	Gross	Notes
Alabama	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	20,000	34,000	34,000	80,000
Alaska	AK Law	Designated	Alaska Bridge Formula	No	20,000	38,000	38,000	87,249
Alberta	AB Provincial Law	Primary	None	No	13,227	37,478	37,478	87,082
Arizona	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	20,000	34,000	34,000	80,000
Arkansas	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	20,000	34,000	34,000	80,000
Atlantic Provinces (Canada)	Eastern Canada MOU	Primary	None	No	20,062	39,683	39,683	91,491
British Columbia	BC Provincial Law	Primary	None	No	13,227	37,478	37,478	95,019
California	US Federal	STAA Green and Blue Routes	US Bridge	No	20,000	34,000	34,000	80,000	40′ to rear axle. Weight not affected
Colorado	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	20,000	36,000	36,000	80,000
Colorado	CO Law	Non-Interstate Routes	Colorado Bridge Formula	No	20,000	40,000	40,000	85,000
Connecticut	CT Under 73,000 law	Interstate and Design. CT Routes 1-399, 450, 476, 508, 693, 695	None	No	22,400	36,000	36,000	73,000
Connecticut	CT Over 73,000 law	Interstate and Design. CT Routes 1-399, 450, 476, 508, 693, 695	US Bridge	No	22,400	36,000	36,000	80,000
Delaware	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	20,000	34,000	34,000	80,000
Delaware	DE Law	Non-Interstate Routes	None	No	22,400	36,000	36,000	80,000
Florida	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Florida	FL Law	State Roads and Turnpike	Florida Bridge Law Table 2	Yes	View	View	View	View
Georgia	US Federal	Interstate and NHS	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Georgia	GA Law	State Roads (Other than Interstate or NHS)	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Georgia	GA Law Under 73,280 Interstate	Interstate and NHS	None	No	View	View	View	View
Hawaii	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View	*48′ Trailer Max
Hawaii	HI Law	State Roads	HI Bridge Formula	No	View	View	View	View	*48′ Trailer Max
Idaho	US Federal	National Network	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Idaho	ID Law	National Network	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
Idaho	ID Law	Designated Secondary Highways	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View	*48′ Trailer Max
Illinois	US Federal	Class I and II Highways	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Indiana	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Indiana	IN Law (Under View lbs)	All Highways Except Heavy Duty Highways	None	No	View	View	View	View
Indiana	IN Toll Rules	Toll Road	None	No	View	View	View	View
Iowa	US Federal	Interstate and State Routes	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Kansas	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Kansas	KS State Law	Non-Interstate Highways	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Kentucky	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Kentucky	KY State Law	Non-Designated Highways	None	No	View	View	View	View
Louisiana	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Louisiana	LA Law	Non-Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Maine	ME Law – Under View lbs	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Maine	ME General Law	General Law Network	ME Table 2	No	View	View	View	View
Maine	ME Law – Over View lbs	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Manitoba	MB Provincial Law	Primary	None	No	View	View	View	View
Manitoba	MB Secondary Highways Law	Secondary Highways	None	No	View	View	View	View
Maryland	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Maryland	MD Law Under 73,000 lbs	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Maryland	MD Law Under View lbs	Non-State Highways	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Massachusetts	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Michigan	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Michigan	MI Law	Interstate and Designated	None	No	View	View	View	View
Minnesota	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Mississippi	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Missouri	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Missouri	US Federal	Non-Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Missouri	MO Commercial Zones	Commercial Zones	None	No	View	View	View	1View
Montana	US Federal	Designated Routes	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Montana	MT Law – Short	All NN Routes except US 87 from mile 79.3 to 82.5	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
Montana	MT Law – Long	All NN Routes except US 87 from mile 79.3 to 82.5	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
Nebraska	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Nebraska	NE Law	State Designated Highways	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Nebraska	NE Interstate Permit	Interstate	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
Nevada	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Nevada	NV Shorter Overweight Vehicle (SOV)	LCV Routes (Includes permitted vehicles over View lbs)	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
New Hampshire	US Federal	Interstate and Defense Highways	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
New Hampshire	NH Over Weight Registration	Interstates and Designated State Highways	NH Section 266:18 Tables	Yes	View	View	View	View
New Jersey	US Federal	Interstate and 102" / Twin Trailer network	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
New Mexico	NM Law	Interstate and Designated	New Mexico Bridge	No	View	Not Specified	View	View
New York	US Federal	Qualifying and Access Highways	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
New York	NY State Law	State and Designated Highways	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View	*48′ Trailer Max
New York	NY Type 1A – F1 Permit	Qualifying and Access Highways	None	Yes	View	View	View	View	*48′ Trailer Max
North Carolina	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
North Dakota	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
North Dakota	ND Non-Designated	Other State Highways not otherwise designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
North Dakota	ND Law – 75 feet	75′ and 105,500 lbs network	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
North Dakota	ND Law – 95 Feet	95′ and 105,500 lbs networks	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
North Dakota	ND – Interstate with Permit	Interstate	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
Ohio	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Ohio	OH Turnpike	Ohio Turnpike Commission Roads	None	No	View	View	View	View
Ohio	OH Non-Interstate Law	Non-Interstate	OH Bridge Table A	No	View	View	View	View
Ohio	OH Bridge Compliant Local	Non-Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Oklahoma	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Oklahoma	OK State Law	State Roads	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
Ontario	ON Provincial Law	Primary	None	No	View	View	View	View
Oregon	US Federal	Group 1 Routes (Interstates and Major Roads)	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Oregon	OR Extended Weight Permit	Group 1 Routes (Interstates and Major Roads)	OR Extended Weight Table 2	Yes	View	View	View	View
Pennsylvania	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Pennsylvania	PA Under View Law	Interstate and Designated	None	No	View	View	View	View
Pennsylvania	PA Under View Law	Non – Interstate and Access Roads	None	No	View	View	View	View
Quebec	QC Provincial Law A.13	Ordinary Class	None	No	View	View	View	View
Quebec	QC Thaw Period Weights A.13	Ordinary Class	None	No	View	View	View	View
Rhode Island	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View	41′ to Rear Axle. Weight not affected.
Saskatchewan	SK Primary Law	Primary	None	No	View	View	View	View
Saskatchewan	SK Secondary Law	Municipal Roads	None	No	View	View	View	View
South Carolina	SC Non-Interstate	Non – Interstate	None	No	View	View	View	View
South Carolina	SC Interstate under 75,185 lbs	Interstate	None	No	View	View	View	View
South Carolina	SC Interstate over View lbs	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
South Dakota	US Federal	Interstate and Routes listed in S.D. 32-22-21.2	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
South Dakota	SD Law	Interstate and Routes listed in S.D. 32-22-21.2	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
South Dakota	SD Law	Non-Interstate and Routes listed in S.D. 32-22-21.2	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Tennessee	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Texas	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Texas	TX Permit for Excess Weight	State and County Roads	None	Yes	View	View	View	View
Utah	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Utah	UT Overweight Permit	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
Vermont	US Federal	Interstate Only	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Vermont	VT All Products Permit	State Highways	None	Yes	View	View	View	View	*48′ Trailer Max
Vermont	VT State Law	State Highways	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View	*48′ Trailer Max
Virginia	US Federal	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Virginia	VA 46.2-1128 Overweight	Non – Interstate Roads	US Bridge	Yes	View	View	View	View
Washington	WA Law	Interstate and Designated	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
West Virginia	US Federal	Interstate	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
West Virginia	WV Law	US and WV State Routes	None	No	View	View	View	View
Wisconsin	US Federal	Interstates and Designated Trunk Highways	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Wyoming	WY Table 1 Comply	Interstate, Primary and Secondary Roads	US Bridge	No	View	View	View	View
Wyoming	WY Table 2 Comply	Primary and Secondary	WY Table 2	No	View	View	View	View