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Vehicle Size and Weight

Oversize and Overweight Load Permit Information

The following are the Federally mandated maximum weights for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways and reasonable access thereto (23 CFR Part 658.17):

  1. 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
  2. 20,000 pound single axle weight
  3. 34,000 pound tandem axle weight

Axle spacing is another consideration that must be taken into account when looking at Federal weight compliance. To protect bridges, the number and spacing of axles carrying the vehicle load must be calculated. Thus, a bridge weight formula is also applied to commercial vehicles in determining their compliance with Federal weight limits. The Federal bridge formula applies when the gross weight on two or more consecutive axles exceeds the limitations of the formula, except that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axle is 36 feet or more.

W=500(LN/N-1 + 12N + 36); where W=overall gross weight on any group of 2 or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds. L=distance in feet between the extreme of any group of 2 or more consecutive axles, and N=number of axles in the group under consideration

Permits

The Federal government does not issue permits for oversize or overweight vehicles. This is a State option.

Nondivisible Loads:

Permits may be issued by the States without regard to the axle, gross, or Federal bridge formula requirements for nondivisible vehicles or loads. Nondivisible is defined as any load or vehicle exceeding applicable length or weight limits which, if separated into smaller loads or vehicles, would:

  1. Compromise the intended use of the vehicle, i.e., make it unable to perform the function for which it was intended;
  2. Destroy the value of the load or vehicle, i.e., make it unusable for its intended purpose; or
  3. Require more than 8 work hours to dismantle using appropriate equipment. The applicant for a nondivisible load permit has the burden of proof as to the number of workhours required to dismantle the load.

Divisible Loads:

Designated divisible load permits may be issued by the State based upon historic State "grandfather" rights or Congressional authorization for a State-specific commodity or route movement at a greater size or weight.

State grandfathered rights regarding longer combination vehicles can be found in Appendix C to 23 CFR Part 658-Trucks Over 80,000 Pounds on the Interstate System and Trucks Over STAA Lengths on the National Network.

Overwidth Permits:

States may grant special use permits to motor vehicles, including manufactured housing, that exceed the Federal 102 inch width limitation.

Obtaining an Oversize or Overweight Permit:

To attain State permits, you will need to contact the State(s) in which you wish to travel. See below for the State permitting web site, or contact the State permitting office by telephone.

Canadian Provinces

Permit Facts and Figures FY 2003

The following table indicate the number of overweight permits issued by States for nondivisible and divisible single trip load movements, nondivisible and divisible annual (or multiple use) load movements, and for divisible overwidth load movements.

State Nondivisible Trip Nondivisible Annual Divisible Trip Divisible Annual Divisible Overwidth Totals
Alabama 20313 5194 0 0 0 25507
Alaska 6953 93 9 0 3 7058
Arizona 80771 342 0 2538 0 83651
Arkansas 38787 0 0 0 0 38787
California 174314 23436 0 0 0 197750
Colorado 9903 3905 0 1956 0 15764
Connecticut 61988 0 0 2627 0 64615
Delaware 47453 0 127828 0 0 175281
DC 424 708 226 220 0 1578
Georgia 58439 11056 0 0 33 69528
Hawaii 1054 98 0 0 1615 2767
Idaho 18272 9106 5 34012 49 61444
Illinois 133619 0 0 0 0 133619
Indiana 125630 0 68369 13610 0 207609
Iowa 29625 833 0 86 0 30544
Kansas 39622 2009 0 1705 50 43386
Kentucky 77348 6454 0 0 2578 86380
Louisiana 67892 1995 0 15600 0 85487
Maine 19373 0 0 0 0 19373
Maryland 136547 8613 0 0 0 145160
Massachusetts 44576 3821 0 21542 0 69939
Michigan 102056 21220 0 216 0 123492
Minnesota 18765 1302 0 3799 314 24180
Mississippi 124953 12104 0 0 0 137057
Missouri 39182 4791 24 0 0 43997
Montana 10318 971 769 201 1326 13585
Nebraska 19005 0 65 35081 35 54186
Nevada 12490 2217 50 3757 0 18514
New Hampshire 0 0 0 0 0 0
New Jersey 9592 0 0 0 0 9592
New Mexico 12842 4867 0 172 0 17881
New York 116587 4989 0 72394 0 193970
North Carolina 66748 5737 8 0 0 72493
North Dakota 17574 0 31726 0 494 49794
Ohio 92751 4028 6810 17186 0 120775
Oklahoma 35512 1076 0 917 36 37541
Oregon 31648 16360 351 83929 93 132381
Pennsylvania 104830 7310 0 0 0 112140
Rhode Island 10206 224 0 4898 0 15328
South Carolina 44576 2886 2075 3664 1511 54712
South Dakota 38373 3697 546 762 65 43443
Tennessee 100260 3821 0 0 0 104081
Texas 160987 11908 0 20425 0 193320
Utah 7443 1320 2781 8742 0 20286
Vermont 21418 1552 0 3815 0 26785
Virginia 65627 14327 0 0 0 79954
Washington 78632 26500 16409 17828 0 139369
West Virginia 34956 0 0 0 36080 71036
Wisconsin 12400 3546 0 5163 0 21109
Wyoming 46758 191 155 637 480 48221
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals: 2629392 234607 258206 377482 44762 3544449

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