Weight limits for truck safety on the road

The legal weight limits for trucks are primarily regulated at the federal level, with national standards setting a total limit of 80,000 pounds for semi trailers and trailers without a permit, although the limits may vary by state.

Maintaining a truck’s legal weight can be challenging; however, two main reasons support these limits: safety and the prevention of unnecessary road damage.

Regardless of the truck type, the total weight limit is crucial, and the actual cargo capacity ranges between approximately 43,000 and 48,000 pounds. To comply with the national limit, the truck’s empty weight must be kept below 32,000 pounds.

Exceeding legal load limits on interstate highways is illegal and can result in fines, reprocessing costs, shipping delays, and the risk of lawsuits in case of fatal accidents. The Department of Transportation (DOT) prioritizes public safety, and loading illegally can lead to financial and legal consequences.

Although the general rule applies to 53-foot trucks, there are exceptions, especially regarding weight limits based on axle type. The steering axles of a semi trailer for the front tires generally support between 12,000 and 15,000 pounds in total. On the other hand, a standard semi trailer has two drive axles, each with a limit of 17,000 pounds, totaling 34,000 pounds for both. This breaks down to approximately 6,750 pounds per front tire and 4,250 pounds per tire on the drive axle.