Truck Size and Weight Regulations for all 50 US States!
Truck Size and Weight Regulations for all 50 US States! https://truckscience.com/wp-content/uploads/Truck-Size-and-Weight-Regulations-for-all-50-US-States-Feature-Image-1024x506.jpg 1024 506 TruckScience https://truckscience.com/wp-content/uploads/Truck-Size-and-Weight-Regulations-for-all-50-US-States-Feature-Image-1024x506.jpgHaving just added Federal regulations for District of Columbia (DC), North Dakota (ND), New Hampshire (NH), Rhode Island (RI), South Dakota (SD) and Vermont (VT), the TruckScience Axle Weight Calculator now has full coverage of truck size and weight regulations for the Interstate Highway System in all 50 US states!
Automatic Compliance Checks
Any truck that you configure in the tool is automatically checked against not just the maximum legal weight for the states the vehicle will be operated in, but also the legal length, legal width and legal height, where applicable.
Keeping track of maximum permittable axle weights in different states is an onerous task, when one has to take into account the vehicle combination – straight truck, truck-tractor, semi-trailer, etc. – axle layout – single axle, tandem axle, triple axle or more – axle spacing, overall length, weight per inch width of tire, trailer length, the interior and exterior bridge measurement… Not to mention special permits, oversize permits and overweight permits, depending on the vehicle application.
Of course, the Weight Limitations Charts are useful resources to reference maximum legal gross axle weights, but there’s a lot of scope for error with so many calculations and sub-calculations to be done.
Manufacturer Ratings
Having the federal highway regulations built into the tool allows you to determine the legal permissible gross weight of your particular vehicle in the states in which it will operate.
The allowed weight on a vehicle/vehicle combination may increase by either adding additional axles or by increasing the distance between axles. All of this is covered in the implementation of the regulations in the Axle Weight Calculator. If you add a pusher or tag axle, or extend the wheelbase or CT (Cab to Tandem dimension) of a chassis, new weight limits are automatically applied to your configuration.
In some cases, especially with lighter duty vehicles, it is the manufacturer or OEM’s maximum Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVW / GVWR) or Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) which limit the maximum load that can be carried. Therefore, axle load limits are calculated as the lesser of the Bridge Formula Application on the Interstate System and the manufacturer’s ratings for the vehicle. The manufacturer ratings are also built in, in a pre-populated library of manufacturer specs.
Essential Calculations
Many users of the TruckScience Axle Weight Calculator started out doing these calculations using an Excel spreadsheet, but migrated to the Axle Weight Calculator when they sought a more advanced software solution, to add another level of professionalism with the graphical reports produced by the tool.
Regardless of the method of calculating the maximum payload capacity of a truck, it is vitally important that drivers understand what the axle weight limitations of their truck are, and not wait for the scales at the weigh station to find out that weight limits have been exceeded.
Non-Interstate highways
In some instances, States have laws that allow sizes and weights on non-Interstate highways in excess of the current Federal truck size and weight limits. Limits also vary depending on the application, for example garbage trucks, dump trucks, etc. This Summary of State Exceptions to Federal Truck Weight Limits may be useful.
Bridge Formula Application on the State Highway System
We are adding truck size and weight regulations for the state highway system and all provinces in Canada now. Watch this space for further announcements. Or register for a free trial, so you’ll be added to our mailing list and updated when these and other new features are released.
What next?
We love to hear your feedback about how our Axle Weight Calculator is benefiting your business. But what we value even more is when you tell us what it’s missing. Please pop open the chat, drop us an email or pick up the phone to tell us what else you’d like to see in the app, or how we can improve on what’s already there.
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