Understanding Semi Truck Weights and Dimensions - Textbook

Understanding Semi Truck Weight and Dimension Regulations:
Truck Driver Training Textbook
Copyright © 2016 by Paul Jakubicek
ISBN: 978-0-9949931-0-6
All rights reserved. This document or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the author.
The document may be printed by the purchaser for their use.
Published electronically in Canada
Author: Paul Jakubicek

Published by: Freight Transport Research Institute
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Websites:
www.Freight-Transport-Institute.com
www.BigTruckGuide.com
Contents
1 Introduction ______________________________________________________________ 5
1.1 Learning Objectives __________________________________________________________ 5
2 Weight Restrictions on Semi Trucks ___________________________________________ 6
2.1 Gross Weights _______________________________________________________________ 6
2.2 Axle Weights ________________________________________________________________ 7
2.3 Tire Weight Limits ___________________________________________________________ 7
2.4 Manufacturer’s Weight Limits __________________________________________________ 8
2.5 Finding the lowest weight _____________________________________________________ 9
2.6 Bridge weights _____________________________________________________________ 10
2.7 Quiz 1 - Introduction to Truck Weights __________________________________________ 11
3 US Federal Laws – How they work ___________________________________________ 13
3.1 STAA and ISTEA ____________________________________________________________ 13
3.2 Roads where Federal Limits apply ______________________________________________ 14
3.3 Types of Trucks _____________________________________________________________ 15
3.4 Who Governs What? ________________________________________________________ 15
4 US Federal Law - Dimensions _______________________________________________ 16
4.1 Widths____________________________________________________________________ 16
4.2 Dimensions – Overall Lengths _________________________________________________ 16
4.2.1 Straight trucks _____________________________________________________________________ 16
4.2.2 Semi Trucks and Semi Doubles ________________________________________________________ 16
4.2.3 Other Combinations ________________________________________________________________ 17
4.3 Dimensions – Trailer Lengths __________________________________________________ 17

4.3.1 Semi Truck Trailers _________________________________________________________________ 17
4.3.2 Semi Doubles _____________________________________________________________________ 18
4.4 Quiz 2 – US Federal Law – ‘How they work’ and Dimensions_________________________ 19

5 US Federal Laws - Weights _________________________________________________ 21
5.1 Gross Weights ______________________________________________________________ 21
5.2 Axle Weights _______________________________________________________________ 22
5.3 Bridge Weights _____________________________________________________________ 23
5.3.1 The Federal Bridge Formula __________________________________________________________ 23
5.3.2 Federal Bridge Tables _______________________________________________________________ 23
5.3.3 Big Truck Guide Weight Calculator_____________________________________________________ 25
© www.BigTruckGuide.com 3
5.3.4 Bridge Law Exceptions ______________________________________________________________ 25
5.4 Bridge Weight Example ______________________________________________________ 25

5.5 Quiz 3 – US Federal Law – Weights _____________________________________________ 28
6 Kingpin to Rear Axle Measurements and Scaling out your Truck ___________________ 31
6.1 Determining the correct distance for your truck __________________________________ 31
6.2 How to be compliant ________________________________________________________ 34
6.3 When to move trailer axles forwards ___________________________________________ 35
6.4 When to move trailer axles backwards __________________________________________ 36
6.5 Kingpin to Rear Axle Minimums _______________________________________________ 37
6.5.1 Bridge laws can reduce the weight of the truck __________________________________________ 37
6.5.2 Rear Effective Overhang _____________________________________________________________ 38
6.6 Quiz 4 – Kingpin to Rear Trailer Axles Distances ___________________________________ 39
7 Resources_______________________________________________________________ 41
8 Quiz Answers ____________________________________________________________ 42
8.1 Quiz 1 – Introduction to Truck Weights __________________________________________ 42
8.2 Quiz 2 – US Federal Law – ‘How they work’ and Dimensions_________________________ 44
8.3 Quiz 3 – US Federal Weights and Bridge Laws ____________________________________ 46
8.4 Quiz 4 – Kingpin to Rear Trailer Axles Distances ___________________________________ 48
9 Notes and Disclaimer _____________________________________________________ 50
1 Introduction
Trucking regulations are complicated, and the cost of operating a truck not in compliance is high for both
truck drivers and trucking companies. This book is meant to help in training classes, orientation classes,
and for general reference by drivers on the road. It is accompanied by a series of 4 quizzes that test the
knowledge of the student so they fully understand the complicated world of trucking regulations.
Working through the four chapters gives an overview of trucking regulations in the United States and
Canada. The first chapter explains the concepts of gross weight, tare weight, tire weights, axle weights
and manufacturers’ weights. The following two chapters explain US Federal regulations, and importantly,
where these regulations apply and where they do not. The final chapter concentrates on a topic that is
confusing and that many drivers find difficult, the distance that a set of tandem axles on a standard 5 axle
truck can be from the kingpin of the trailer.
1.1 Learning Objectives

After working through this book you will be able to:
 Distinguish between gross weights, tare weights, and payloads

 Identify the different types of weight limits that apply to vehicles
o Gross Weights
o Axle weights
o Tire Weights
o Manufacturers’ Weights
 Learn where US Federal Laws apply
 Understand how the Federal government controls truck dimensions
 Understand how the Federal government regulates weights including bridge weights
 Learn why kingpin to rear axle restrictions are in place
 Find out how to adjust your axles, and in what direction
 Find out what the maximum and minimum limits are for kingpin to rear axle measurements
2 Weight Restrictions on Semi Trucks
2.1 Gross Weights
The gross weight is the total weight of a semi truck. Governments make regulations that are concerned
with the total weight of the truck, because this is the weight that can be easily measured, and is the weight
that impacts roadways and bridges. In addition to paying attention to gross weights, drivers, trucking
companies and shippers also have to be concerned about the weight of the truck without a load. This is
because the empty weight of a truck changes the amount of weight there is left on a truck for a load. The
pictures below explain these differences.
Comparing Payload, Gross Weight, and Tare Weight
𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 + 𝑃𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
Tare weight is the weight of the truck,

trailer, driver, fuel and all equipment.
Payload is the amount of weight you

can load on the truck.
Gross Weight is the total weight of the

truck, all its contents, and its load.
Drivers have to know how much weight they can load on their
Dunnage is extra material brought
truck. This is something that the driver has to measure,
along on a truck (or ship) that is used
especially when operating a flatbed truck with a lot of
to secure freight. It is not revenue
equipment. The weight of the truck will always be different
generating.
depending on what the driver puts into the truck.
If a driver wants to carry more weight as payload, an easy way

to do this is by putting the truck on a “weight diet” and getting rid of unnecessary dunnage and truck
decorations that add up in weight. Some companies reduce the size and weight of sleepers for trucks that
routinely haul heavier goods.
The most common gross weight restriction in the United States

is an 80,000 lbs truck. This weight restriction applies on the 80,000 lbs is the legal weight on all
Interstate and National Network system of highways. Some Interstate and National Network
states, through grandfathering clauses, allow higher weights Highways
than 80,000 lbs.
2.2 Axle Weights

This section is an introduction to axle weights. These weight restrictions will be covered in more detail in
Section 5.2 - Axle Weights.
Axle weights are a cap on the weight of one axle, or a group of axles by the government. Federal laws in
the US set a maximum weight limit for a single axle to 20,000 lbs, and a group of tandem axles to 34,000
lbs. Steer axles are counted as single axles, but are subject to other weight restrictions like tire weight
restrictions and manufacturers’ weight restrictions, so most steer axles are not allowed to carry 20,000
lbs.
In the same way as the gross weight restrictions described above, these axle weights are valid on
interstates and the national network system of highways.
US Federal Law:
 Single Axle: 20,000 lbs*

 Tandem Axles: 34,000 lbs
* Steer axle weight is usually restricted

to 12,000 lbs by the manufacturer
2.3 Tire Weight Limits

Tire weight limits are put into place to make sure that the individual tires on a truck are not overloaded.
This is controlled by establishing a maximum weight per inch of tire width.
US Federal Regulations specify:
 500 lbs per inch of tire width

 Steer tires do not have to comply
How to calculate tire width:
To calculate the tire width, a tape measure can

be used, or the width is shown on the numbers
that are printed on the side of the tire. The first
number in the code on the tire is the width, and
can be used for your calculation. In the picture
at right, the tire shown has a width of 295
millimeters, which must be converted to
inches. Looking on the internet, we can have
this conversion done or we can convert using
the following information:
 1 millimeter = 0.0393701 inches
This equals about 11.6 inches. After working through the math, see that in this case, we can cap the
applicable tire weight limit to each tire at 5,500 lbs, and for an axle of tandem tires to 22,000 lbs.
How to calculate tire weights:
 295 mm X 0.0393701 = 11.6 inches

 Round down to 11 inches to make the
math easier (you don’t have to)
 11” X 500 lbs = 5,500 lbs per tire
 4 tires per axle
 5,500 lbs X 4 tires = 22,000 lbs per axle
 22,000 lbs X 2 axles = 44,000 lbs
2.4 Manufacturer’s Weight Limits

Manufacturers rate the equipment that they build for a certain weight. This makes sense, as the
equipment itself must be able to carry the weight that you put on it, regardless of where you are driving
the truck.
If a truck is operated off of public roads, for instance, if someone operates a dump truck on their own
property, then this person would want to check the amount of weight recommended by the manufacturer
so that the equipment isn’t overloaded and damaged.
The manufacturer’s weights must also be followed on public roads as law. What this means is that if a
manufacturer rates their equipment for 12,000 lbs, but federal law allows 20,000 lbs, then the
manufacturer’s weight limit must be followed by law.
Some common weight restrictions imposed by

manufacturers’ include:
 GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating – weight

of the tractor itself)
 GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
 GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating –
weight of the entire combination)
Manufacturers’ weight limits should be printed on a

panel or sticker usually on the driver’s door. In the example of manufacturer’s specifications that are
shown in the picture above, the gross weight of the tractor itself is specified, and the weight that can be
loaded onto each of the axles.
In the picture above, the gross weight of the tractor can be Exceptions
up to 52,000 lbs, which means the combined weight of the
Trucks built to haul building materials
steer and drive axles. The weight on the steer axle can be
or with a crane mounted on the truck
12,000 lbs, and each drive axle is limited to 20,000 lbs.
often have a ‘beefed-up’ steer axle
Drivers need to pay attention to this situation because this that can carry more than 12,000 lbs.
is where the steer weight regulation comes into place. Be sure to carry clear proof with you
While most drivers will tell you that the weight allowed on a while operating your vehicle that you
steer axle is 12,000 lbs, most drivers also are not aware that are allowed to carry more weight if
this regulation comes from the manufacturers’ operating such a vehicle.
specifications, and not a government regulation.
2.5 Finding the lowest weight

In order to find the legal weight for the group of axles, or axles of a truck, all of the applicable weights
must be calculated and the lowest weight must be complied with.
In this lesson, examples were used to calculate the axle weight, tire weight and manufacturer’s weights
for a typical 5 axle truck combination. In this way, the lowest weight that is applied to the truck must be
used as the operating weight. Essentially, all the rules of the road must be followed!
Steer Axle Drive Axles Trailer Axles

Axle Weights 20,000 lbs 34,000 lbs 34,000 lbs
Tire Weights N/A 44,000 lbs 44,000 lbs
Manufacturer’s Weights 12,000 lbs 40,000 lbs 40,000 lbs
Legal Weight 12,000 lbs 34,000 lbs 34,000 lbs
2.6 Bridge weights
Bridge weights will be explained in detail in the 5.3 - Bridge Weights section. The goal of bridge weights
is to protect bridges and roads from damage due to heavy truck traffic. Bridge laws prevent damage to
roadways by ensuring that the more axles there are on a truck, or the bigger the distance between axles,
the more weight the truck can carry. United States federal bridge laws apply on Interstates and National
network. Many states apply the federal bridge formulas on state roads as well, and some states use
modified versions of the bridge formula on their roadways. Some Canadian provinces incorporate similar
laws.
Longer 80,000 lbs truck, less damage
Shorter 80,000 lbs truck, more damage
Work through the quiz to test your understand of what you learned in this chapter!
2.7 Quiz 1 - Introduction to Truck Weights
Question 1:
Gross weight is the weight of the truck without a load.
a) True
b) False
Question 2:
The amount of payload you can carry will change based on the amount of fuel in the truck.
a) True
b) False
Question 3:
The US Federal weight limit on a set of tandem axles is:
a) 15,000 lbs
b) 20,000 lbs
c) 34,000 lbs
d) 40,000 lbs
Question 4:
Tare weight includes:
a) The weight of the truck

b) The weight of the driver and his/her things
c) The fuel in the truck
d) All of the above
Question 5:
Joe Driver sees that the manufacturers’ weight limit is 20,000 lbs per axle. The axle weight on a group of
tandem axles as legislated by the federal government is 34,000 lbs. Which of the following weights are
legal:
a) 20,000 lbs
b) 39,567 lbs
c) 33,954 lbs
d) A) or C)
Question 6:
Manufacturer’s weight limits are always higher than weight limits set by federal and state laws.
a) True
b) False
Question 7:
A typical manufacturer’s weight limit for a steer axle of a semi truck is:
a) 10,000 lbs
b) 12,000 lbs
c) 18,000 lbs
d) 20,000 lbs
Question 8:
You can usually find the manufacturer’s weight limits for a truck:
a) In the vehicle manual

b) On the trailer
c) On the driver’s door
d) Under the mattress in the sleeper
Question 9:
Bridge weights change according to how far apart and how many axles there are:
a) True
b) False
Question 10:
If the manufacturer specifies a limit of 40,000 lbs on a set of tandems, the Federal Government 34,000
lbs, and the tire weight limit for the tandem axles is 44,000 lbs combined, you can legally load what
maximum on the set of tandems?
a) 40,000 lbs
b) 34,000 lbs
c) 44,000 lbs
Answers to the quiz can be found at the end of the book.
3 US Federal Laws – How they work
Drivers operating in the United States need to understand the basic laws surrounding federal size and
weight regulations and how these regulations impact drivers as they operate throughout the country.
Federal laws in the US are important because they offer a “lowest common denominator” of truck; they
specify trucks that are able to operate across all states.
Federal laws specify that states have to allow trucks of a US Federal Weight Laws
certain size on Interstates and the National Network of Apply on Interstates and the National
roadways. If a state sets laws restricting these trucks from Network of Highways. States can
operating, they will lose federal funding for highways. choose to follow these regulations on
In this chapter, you will learn about: their own highways.
 The specific US Federal Regulations governing

truck sizes
 Where these laws apply
 Types of trucks that these regulations include
 Weight and Dimension Regulations that these laws specify
3.1 STAA and ISTEA

The two most important laws for trucks in the United States are the Surface Transportation Assistance Act
(STAA) of 1982, and the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991.
Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982
 Defined highways where width and length limits apply

 Set up the National Network of highways
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991
 Froze the weight of vehicles that were defined in state law

 ‘Grandfathered’ high weight trucks
 Made a maximum weight of 80,000 lbs standard across America
These two laws set out most of the rules that truck drivers operate under within the United States. STAA
set out how large trucks and trailers can be, and set minimums that states had to follow. According to
this law, states cannot restrict trailers to be less than 48’ on interstates, and states cannot restrict the
overall length of semi truck combinations. ISTEA grandfathered laws into place for trucks that are over
the federal limits, and made a weight of 80,000 lbs standard across America.
3.2 Roads where Federal Limits apply Reasonable Access definition:
These federal limits apply on all of these routes:
States must allow for access to freight
 Interstates terminals, food, and parking facilities
 “National Network” highways within 1 mile of the Interstate or
 “Reasonable Access” routes National Network of highways. Many
states allow further distances.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations,
Freight Analysis Framework, version 3.4, 2013.
- List of these routes: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/fapg/cfr06581.htm
3.3 Types of Trucks
The Federal Laws and Regulations discussed apply to different truck types, and different parts of the laws
apply to different parts of trucks. These are all the types of trucks mentioned in the federal regulations:
 Straight Trucks
 Semi Trucks
 Semi Truck Doubles
 Dromederries
 Auto and Boat Transporters
 Maxi-Cube Vehicles
 Saddlemount and Full mount combinations
 Beverage Trucks
The most commonly used trucks are straight trucks, semi trucks and semi truck doubles. These are the
combinations that will be explained in this book. For more information on the other types of trucks, a
good source is the “Federal Size Regulations for Commercial Motor Vehicles” document put out by the
federal government.
3.4 Who Governs What?

When specifying equipment configuration and when operating a truck it is important to understand
whether the Federal government regulates the size and weight of the truck, or if it is governed at the state
level.
Straight Trucks Semi Trucks + Semi

Doubles
Width Federal Federal
Height State State
Trailer length N/A Federal - Minimums
Overall Length State Federal – No Limit
Allowed
Axle Weights Federal Federal
Gross Weights Federal Federal
4 US Federal Law - Dimensions
4.1 Widths
The widths of all vehicles are regulated by the federal government and are a standard 102” everywhere,
except for Hawaii where the width is 108”. The actual legal measure is 102.36” which is the ‘metric
equivalent’ of 2.6 meters. Some states will restrict vehicles to 8’ or 96” on smaller roads, which essentially
restricts all heavy trucks and only allows a cube van down those roads.
4.2 Dimensions – Overall Lengths

Overall lengths of vehicles are specified by the federal government, who specifies a length (or no length
allowed) by the type of truck. The following sections will describe length restrictions on different truck
types.
4.2.1 Straight trucks

The federal government leaves it to states to regulate the length of straight trucks, even on the interstates.
However, 40’ length is allowed everywhere in the United States and Canada. If you would like to operate
a straight truck longer than this, see the map below for where longer straight trucks can be operated.
4.2.2 Semi Trucks and Semi Doubles

Semi Trucks and Semi Doubles cannot have an overall length limit imposed on them. This means that
states cannot restrict the total length of these types of trucks while they are on the interstates, national
network system of highways, or ‘reasonable access’ routes. This rule effectively only allows tractors with
very long wheelbases, because the length of trailers is restricted according to another part of the federal
code.
4.2.3 Other Combinations
Other specialized combinations have different minimum lengths that the states must allow.
 Saddlemounts - 75 feet (trucks pulling other trucks, usually to a dealership)

 Automobile or boat carriers – 75 feet
 Maxi-Cube vehicles – 65 feet
Dromederries are semi truck combinations that carry cargo on the truck itself, and then have a regular
trailer attached. The federal government does not regulate the length of these vehicles, with the
exception of some department of defense vehicles. It is up to the states to decide how to regulate the
lengths of dromederries.
These combinations will not be discussed in detail in this book, see the federal and state regulations for
details on these combinations.
4.3 Dimensions – Trailer Lengths

4.3.1 Semi Truck Trailers
The federal government also put a
‘minimum’ on the shortest length that
a trailer can restricted to by the state
governments. In all states except
Hawaii, the length of trailers that are
operated is 53 feet.
The federal government rule is that trailers 48 feet or less must be allowed to be operated in a state with
no restrictions. Here is where it gets complicated:
 All states except Hawaii allow 53’ trailers, which is above the minimum distance the federal
government allows.
 States are not allowed by federal law to restrict trailers 48’ or shorter on federal highways. But
they are allowed to restrict trailers over 48 feet.
 States with Kingpin to Rear Axles restrictions can only restrict trailers over 48’, and many states
restrict these trailers by setting a Kingpin to Rear Axles maximum distance.
These laws will be discussed in detail in Section 6 - Kingpin to Rear Axle Measurements and Scaling out.
Summarized rules for semi truck
trailers:
 53’ is the standard length in a

semi – truck combination
 State trailer limits that were
in place before 1982 are
allowed to continue, so that
many states have limits over
53’
 States must allow at least 48’
WITHOUT restricting Kingpin
to axle distances
 Many states restrict kingpin
to trailer axles distances for
trailers between 48’-53’ (see
lesson 4)
4.3.2 Semi Doubles

The length of trailers in double trailer
combinations is regulated by the
federal government at 28 feet, or 28 ½’
if the trailer was in use before 1982.
4.4 Quiz 2 – US Federal Law – ‘How they work’ and Dimensions
Question 1:
The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA):
a) Set up the National Network of highways and defined where width and length limits apply
b) Made one set of trucking laws that apply everywhere
c) Set the weight of all trucks across the United States to 80,000 lbs
d) b) and c)
Question 2:
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA):
a) Grandfathered Long Combination Vehicles and weights of trucks over 80,000 lbs
b) Made the 80,000 lbs truck a standard weight on the national network
c) Allowed twin 40’ trailers to be operated everywhere
d) a) and b)
Question 3:
To make interstate commerce easier, the weight limits put in place by the federal government apply on
particular roads across the United States. The federal regulations apply:
a) On Interstates
b) On the “National Network” system of highways
c) At least within a mile of the national network to access facilities for loading / unloading / rest and
fuel
d) All of the above
Question 4:
On Federally Regulated roads, the federal government regulates the following weights and dimensions of
a Semi Truck EXCEPT
a) Width
b) Height
c) Axle Weights
d) Gross Weights
Question 5:
The maximum width of all vehicles operating in every state except Hawaii is:
a) 8’ 0” (96”) OR 2.44 meters

b) 8’ 6” (102”) OR 2.59 meters
c) 8’ 6.36” (102.36”) OR 2.6 meters
d) 9’ 0” (108”) OR 2.74 meters
Question 6:
Is it the federal government or the states that control straight truck lengths on the interstate?
a) Federal Government
b) State Governments
Question 7:
What is the overall length limit of semi trucks and semi doubles on the Interstate and National Network?
a) 65 feet
b) 75 feet
c) 85 feet
d) No Overall Length Limit
Question 8:
What is the maximum length of trailers that are allowed on the interstate and national network with no
restrictions?
a) 48 feet
b) 53 feet
c) 57 feet
d) No length limit
Question 9:
What is the most common length of trailers on the interstate and national network?
a) 48 feet
b) 53 feet
c) 57 feet
d) All types
Question 10:
What is the maximum trailer length allowed for doubles combinations on the interstate and national
network?
a) 28 feet
b) 28 ½ feet
c) 28 or 28 ½ feet, depending on when the trailer was made.
5 US Federal Laws - Weights
5.1 Gross Weights
Gross weight limits apply on the roadways mentioned earlier in the text:
 Interstates
 “National Network” highways
 “Reasonable Access” routes
The 80,000 lbs gross weight limit applies as a ‘minimum maximum.’ This means that on designated routes
states cannot apply a lower weight regulation. There are two ways in which this 80,000 lbs limit can be
different.
1) Roads off of the Interstate and National Network. Here, state laws apply.
2) The 80,000 lbs limit is not the maximum in some states. Before 1991, there were some states
that had maximum weights allowable on interstates that were much higher than 80,000 lbs. In
these states, the old (grandfathered) weights apply, but these weights are always higher than the
80,000 lbs limit.
So there is no way that 80,000 lbs will not apply on interstate highways and the national network.
The following map shows the maximum weight that you can operate a 5 axle truck at within a state. These
weights do not apply on all roads, and a list of where these limits apply is listed on the Big Truck Guide
website, or in the state legal codes / DOT’s of each state. To operate a truck above 80,000 lbs, a permit
from the state authority may be required, and the vehicle may not be able to operate on the interstate.
5.2 Axle Weights
In the first section, the federal weight limit for single axles was discussed to be 20,000 lbs, and a set of
tandem axles is set at 34,000 lbs. But it is also important to know exactly what single axles and tandem
axles are defined to be.
Single Axle: 20,000 lbs

 One axle or two axles 40” or less apart from each other are a single axle
Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

 Two axles between 40” and 96” apart
 More than 96” follow the bridge formula
When axles are moved apart more than 96” on a truck or trailer, then the 34,000 lbs limit no longer
applies, and the maximum weight that this axle group can carry is then determined by the federal bridge
formula.
5.3 Bridge Weights
The federal government has implemented bridge weights in
order to reduce the impact that heavy trucks have upon bridges
and roadways. The idea behind bridge weights is that a short,
heavy truck will do more damage to bridges than a longer truck
that has the same weight. The two pictures at right illustrate this
concept.
Bridge weights are calculated in one of three different ways:
 Using the formula (and looking up exceptions)

 Using the FHWA weight table
 Using Big Truck Guide’s online tool
5.3.1 The Federal Bridge Formula

Where:
𝐿𝑁  W = Weight allowed
𝑊 = 500 ( + 12𝑁 + 36)
(𝑁 − 1)  L = Length between the axles
 N = Number of Axles
Use this formula to calculate the weight that can be loaded on each set of axles, and each group of axle
groupings. The bridge formula must be met for every possible axle combination on the vehicle. So, it
must be applied on from the first axle to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th axles on the truck combination above.
5.3.2 Federal Bridge Tables

The Federal Bridge Weight Table can be used to find the amount of weight that can be carried on a
combination of axles. Looking up the weight limit for a truck in the federal bridge table is a far better
method than using just the bridge formula. This is because exceptions that are part of the bridge law are
shown in the bridge weight table.
Maximum load in pounds on any group of 2 or more consecutive axles
Distance between
2 Axles 3 Axles 4 Axles 5 Axles 6 Axles 7 Axles 8 Axles 9 Axles
axles in feet
4 34,000 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
5 34,000 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
6 34,000 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
7 34,000 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
8 34,000 34,000 --- --- --- --- --- ---
More than 8 / less
38,000 42,000 --- --- --- --- --- ---
than 9
9 39,000 42,500 --- --- --- --- --- ---
10 40,000 43,500 --- --- --- --- --- ---
11 --- 44,000 --- --- --- --- --- ---
12 --- 45,000 50,000 --- --- --- --- ---
13 --- 45,500 50,500 --- --- --- --- ---
14 --- 46,500 51,500 --- --- --- --- ---
15 --- 47,000 52,000 --- --- --- --- ---
16 --- 48,000 52,500 58,000 --- --- --- ---
17 --- 48,500 53,500 58,500 --- --- --- ---
18 --- 49,500 54,000 59,000 --- --- --- ---
19 --- 50,000 54,500 60,000 --- --- --- ---
20 --- 51,000 55,500 60,500 66,000 --- --- ---
21 --- 51,500 56,000 61,000 66,500 --- --- ---
22 --- 52,500 56,500 61,500 67,000 --- --- ---
23 --- 53,000 57,500 62,500 68,000 --- --- ---
24 --- 54,000 58,000 63,000 68,500 74,000 --- ---
25 --- 54,500 58,500 63,500 69,000 74,500 --- ---
26 --- 55,500 59,500 64,000 69,500 75,000 --- ---
27 --- 56,000 60,000 65,000 70,000 75,500 --- ---
28 --- 57,000 60,500 65,500 71,000 76,500 82,000 ---
29 --- 57,500 61,500 66,000 71,500 77,000 82,500 ---
30 --- 58,500 62,000 66,500 72,000 77,500 83,000 ---
31 --- 59,000 62,500 67,500 72,500 78,000 83,500 ---
32 --- 60,000 63,500 68,000 73,000 78,500 84,500 90,000
33 --- --- 64,000 68,500 74,000 79,000 85,000 90,500
34 --- --- 64,500 69,000 74,500 80,000 85,500 91,000
35 --- --- 65,500 70,000 75,000 80,500 86,000 91,500
36 --- --- 66,000 / 68,000* 70,500 75,500 81,000 86,500 92,000
37 --- --- 66,500 / 68,000* 71,000 76,000 81,500 87,000 93,000
38 --- --- 67,500 / 68,000* 71,500 77,000 82,000 87,500 93,500
39 --- --- 68,000 72,000 77,500 82,500 88,500 94,000
40 --- --- 68,500 73,000 78,000 83,500 89,000 94,500
41 --- --- 69,500 73,500 78,500 84,000 89,500 95,000
42 --- --- 70,000 74,000 79,000 84,500 90,000 95,500
43 --- --- 70,500 75,000 80,000 85,000 90,500 96,000
44 --- --- 71,500 75,500 80,500 85,500 91,000 96,500
45 --- --- 72,000 76,000 81,000 86,000 91,500 97,500
46 --- --- 72,500 76,500 81,500 87,000 92,500 98,000
47 --- --- 73,500 77,500 82,000 87,500 93,000 98,500
48 --- --- 74,000 78,000 83,000 88,000 93,500 99,000
49 --- --- 74,500 78,500 83,500 88,500 94,000 99,500
50 --- --- 75,500 79,000 84,000 89,000 94,500 100,000
51 --- --- 76,000 80,000 84,500 89,500 95,000 100,500
52 --- --- 76,500 80,500 85,000 90,500 95,500 101,000
53 --- --- 77,500 81,000 86,000 91,000 96,500 101,500
54 --- --- 78,000 81,500 86,500 91,500 97,000 102,000
55 --- --- 78,500 82,500 87,000 92,000 97,500 102,500
56 --- --- 79,500 83,000 87,500 92,500 98,000 103,000
57 --- --- 80,000 83,500 88,000 93,000 98,500 104,000
58 --- --- --- 84,000 89,000 94,000 99,000 104,500
59 --- --- --- 85,000 89,500 94,500 99,500 105,000
60 --- --- --- 85,500 90,000 95,000 100,500 105,500
* A 5 Axle truck with two consecutive sets of tandems can have 68,000 lbs on these 4 consecutive axles.
5.3.3 Big Truck Guide Weight Calculator
The third method is to use the Big Truck Guide
weight calculator. Fill in the axle – to – axle
distances for a truck, and the calculator will return
the legal weight on these axles, and the amount that
each axle group is over or underweight. These
calculators can be found on the following webpage:
http://www.bigtruckguide.com/bridge-weight-
calculator/
5.3.4 Bridge Law Exceptions

These are laws about trucking, and so they wouldn’t
be complete without some exceptions.
The first exception concerns the most common type

of semi truck in America, the 5 Axle Semi Truck. This
type of truck configuration is allowed to have its drive tandems and trailer tandems between 36 and 38
feet apart carry 68,000 lbs. If the bridge formula is followed, this would restrict the amount of weight on
such an axle grouping to between 66,000 and 67,500 lbs.
The second rule that has to be followed is that the US government does not always follow the rules of
math. Usually, when you end up with a fraction of 0.5, you would round up. But according to the bridge
law, if calculate the weight on a set of axles to 50,250 lbs, you have to round down to 50,000 lbs
5.4 Bridge Weight Example

The federal bridge law requires that every combination of axles on the vehicle is in compliance with bridge
weight regulations. In reality, on a 5 axle truck combination you can check four axle group combinations
to be sure of compliance with the bridge law.
In the following example, we will use the bridge weight table to make sure that this truck is in compliance
with weight regulations.
The first step is to measure the

distance between axles on the semi
truck. Without the information
about the distances between the
axles on the truck the bridge
formula compliance cannot be
calculated.
Once these distances have been

recorded, the 4 groups of axles are
checked to ensure compliance.
Group A:
All axles. 51 ft. This is the distance between the 1st

and last axle. The bridge table can be used to look
up the limit and in this case the limit is 80,000 lbs.
Follow the red lines in the table below to find this
weight limit.
Group B:
Distance between the steer and last drive axle is

the weight of the truck. This has 3 axles and a
distance of 20ft. The bridge table can be used to
find that the weight that can be placed on these
axles is 51,000 lbs.
Group C:
This is a critical distance to check, as it can normally be changed by moving the tandem axles back and
forth. In this example, the distance between first and last axle in this group is 35 ft, and there are 4 axles.
The bridge table is used to see that the the maximum weight is 65,500 lbs.
This is one instance where the bridge formula

limit will reduce the axle weight limits. Dividing
65,500 lbs / 2 = 32,750 lbs! This means that if a
truck with this axle spacing has 34,000 lbs on its
tandems, it will be overweight!
Group D:
Group D refers to the tandem axle group, and in

some instances the bridge law will allow more than 34,000 lbs on a set of two axles if the spacing is
different. If the tandems are moved apart, then
the weight that can be placed on them increases.
Warning! If tandem axles are spread beyond 96”,

then they are not tandem axles anymore and
have to comply with stricter Kingpin to Rear Axle
measures in some states.
5.5 Quiz 3 – US Federal Law – Weights
Question 1:
Where does the 80,000 lbs limit apply?
a) Interstate
b) National Network
c) Reasonable access routes to the interstate and national network
d) All of the above
Question 2:
Where does the 80,000 lbs limit NOT necessarily apply:
a) State Roads
b) Interstates
c) Reasonable Access Routes
Question 3:
Two axles that are 38” apart count as a tandem axle and can carry 34,000 lbs.
a) True
b) False
Question 4:
Tandem axles are defined as 2 axles set between 40” and 96” apart.
a) True
b) False
Question 5:
You can calculate your compliance with federal bridge laws using the:
a) Federal Bridge Formula

b) The Bridge Formula table put out by the Federal Government
c) The Big Truck Guide bridge law calculator
d) All of the above
Question 6:
You have a 5 axle semi truck and you use the bridge formula to calculate the weight you can put on your
tandem drives and tandem trailer axles. The distance you measure between the first drive axle and the
last trailer axle is 36 feet. According to federal bridge laws, the total amount you can load on your two
sets of tandems is:
a) 65,000 lbs
b) 66,000 lbs
c) 68,000 lbs
d) 80,000 lbs
Question 7:
By law, which sets of axles have to comply with the federal bridge laws?
a) Group A and B
b) Group C and D
c) Group A, B, C and D
d) All possible combinations of 2 or more axles
Question 8:
What is the amount of weight that can be loaded on axles 2, 3 and 4?
a) 34,000 lbs
b) 50,000 lbs
c) 54,500 lbs
d) 55,000 lbs
Question 9:
What is the amount of weight that can be loaded on axles 4, 5 and 6?
a) 34,000 lbs
b) 40,000 lbs
c) 43,500 lbs
d) 45,000 lbs
Question 10:
What is the amount of weight that can be loaded on axles 1, 2, 3 and 4?
a) 20,000 lbs
b) 59,500 lbs
c) 60,500 lbs
d) 80,000 lbs
6 Kingpin to Rear Axle Measurements and Scaling out
Federal laws apply on federally – designated roads, and state laws apply on state roads. But there are
instances where state laws may apply, even on a federally – designated road. This is the case for the
kingpin to rear tandems measurements.
When the federal government standardized vehicle sizes, it

also laid out the minimum length of trailers in a Semi-Trailer What trailers do KPRA laws apply to?
combination. This minimum length was 48 feet, and not only Kingpin to Rear Axle laws only apply to
did the federal government specify a length of 48 feet, it said trailers over 48 feet long on the
that states “may not restrict” trailers 48 feet or less. Most Interstate and National Network.
states (except Hawaii) have allowed 53 foot or longer trailers.
But because 53 foot trailers are longer than the 48 foot
minimum, states can “restrict trailers” and states do this through Kingpin to Rear Axle maximums.
The rationale behind a shorter kingpin to rear tandem measurement is that the longer the trailer
wheelbase, the less maneuverable the truck-trailer combination, and the more curbs and other things the
truck can run over when turning. Also, on windy roads, there is a risk that the trailer will travel into the
opposing lane.
6.1 Determining the correct distance for your truck

There is no one government source that keeps all the kingpin to rear axle information. The Big Truck
Guide website is the best place to get kingpin to rear axle information. Or you can look to state
governments to see what the legal KPRA distance is for that state.
Another difficulty in compliance is that some states measure KPRA measure from the kingpin to the rear
axle, and some states measure the distance to the center of the rear axles.
The general rule is that in the majority of states, the center of axles should be 41’ from the kingpin. There
are 2 states, Rhode Island and California, where the distance is significantly less than this, CA – 40’ and RI
– 41’, from the kingpin to the rear axle!
In the table below, find a current (February 2016) list of Kingpin to Rear Axle Measures:
Kingpin to Rear Axles Measures by State – USA and Canada
Jurisdiction – To Center of Axles Or Rear Axle Min Max
Alabama – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ Max – Applies to trailers between 53′6″- 57′
Alaska – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
Alberta – Kingpin to Center of Axles 20′ 6″ 41′ 0″
Arizona None Specified
Arkansas None Specified
Atlantic Provinces (Canada) – Kingpin to Center of Axles 20′ 6″ 41′ 0″
British Columbia – Kingpin to Center of Axles 20′ 6″ 41′ 0″
California STAA Routes – Blue and Green:
40′ 0″ Max – No KPRA Limit if trailer is less than 48′
California – Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle
California Black Routes:
40′ 0″ Max (Applies regardless of trailer length)
Colorado None Specified
Connecticut – Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle 43′ Max – Applies to trailers between 48′-53′
Delaware – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
Florida – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
Georgia None Specified
Hawaii None Specified
Idaho None Specified
Illinois – Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle 45′ 6″
Indiana – Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle 43′ 0″ Max – Applies to trailers between 48’6″-53′
Iowa None Specified
Kansas None Specified
Kentucky None Specified
Louisiana None Specified
Maine – Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle 43′ 0″
Manitoba – Kingpin to Center of Axles 20′ 6″ 41′ 0″
41′ 0″ Max – Applies to trailers between 48′ and
Maryland – Kingpin to Center of Axles
53′
Massachusetts None Specified
37′ 0″ Min /41′ 0″ Max – Applies to Trailers
Michigan – Kingpin to Center of Axles
between 50′-53′
Minnesota – Kingpin to Center of Axles 43′ 0″
Mississippi None Specified
Missouri None Specified
Montana None Specified
Nebraska None Specified
Nevada No Limit
New Hampshire – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
New Jersey – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
New Mexico None Specified
New York – Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle 43′ 0″
North Carolina – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
North Dakota None Specified
Ohio – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
Oklahoma None Specified
Ontario – Kingpin to Center of Axles 20′ 6″ 41′ 0″
Jurisdiction – To Center of Axles Or Rear Axle Min Max
Oregon None Specified
Pennsylvania – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
Quebec – Kingpin to Center of Axles 20′ 6″ 41′ 0″
Rhode Island – Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle 41′ 0″
Saskatchewan – Kingpin to Center of Axles 20′ 6″ 41′ 0″
South Carolina – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
South Dakota None Specified
Tennessee – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″ Max – Applies to trailers 48′-53′
Texas None Specified
Utah None Specified
Vermont – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
Virginia – Kingpin to Center of Axles 41′ 0″
Washington None Specified
41′ 0″ Max – Actual specification is 37′ from rear
West Virginia – Kingpin to Center of Axles
tractor axle to first axle of trailer
Wisconsin – Kingpin to Center of Axles 43′ 0″
Wyoming None Specified
6.2 How to be compliant
The different laws, on a state by state basis, result in drivers having to adjust their tandem axles forwards
or backwards, depending on the situation. Often, to scale out properly, the axles need to be moved
towards the rear of the trailer to comply with the correct maximum axle weight. However, kingpin to rear
axle measurements restrict the distance that axles can be moved backwards. Because of this, drivers have
to watch out that BEFORE they load their truck, they move
their axles to the furthest position back that they are allowed
Before leaving the area of the
to have their axles, across all states that they will drive across
shipper:
with that load.
Drivers must be sure that axle weights
For instance, travelling from Georgia to Kentucky, through
and KPRA distances are compliant for
Tennessee, then it does not matter that Georgia and
the most restrictive state the truck will
Kentucky have no KPRA limit, drivers still have to comply with
travel through.
the 41’ to center of axles limit in Tennessee.
Experienced drivers often use the total weight of the load declared on the shipper paperwork, plus an
estimate of the amount of weight on the drive axles from the air pressure gauge, and use these two
estimates to guesstimate the amount of weight on their trailer axles. For lighter loads this method can
be appropriate for experienced drivers, but for inexperienced drivers the only sure way to know whether
the axle weights are legal is to go to a scale and measure each axle group after the truck is loaded.
6.3 When to move trailer axles forwards

If a trailer is loaded that has too much weight on the drive How far should you move the axles?
axles, meaning that the weight of the load is concentrated at
the front of the trailer, then the trailer axles have to be A good rule of thumb is that one hole
moved forwards, to take weight off of the drive axles and put on the trailer equals 250 - 300 lbs
this weight on the trailer axles. being moved from the truck to trailer,
or vice versa.
Below is a picture of a trailer that has its load concentrated at
the front of the truck.
6.4 When to move trailer axles backwards
More trouble can be caused when there is more weight on the rear axles than the drive axles. In this case,
the axles can be moved backwards to move weight from the trailer to the truck. However, when this
happens, remember that the maximum Kingpin to Rear axle distances are checked. The picture below
shows a trailer that has been loaded with too much weight in the rear of the trailer.
6.5 Kingpin to Rear Axle Minimums
When moving trailer axles towards the truck, there are 2 issues that can limit this and these should be
considered.
6.5.1 Bridge laws can reduce the weight of the truck

The first issue is bridge laws, at a certain distance bridge laws will reduce the amount of weight that the
truck can carry. When the distance between the last axle of drives is 35 feet from the first axle on the
trailer, the amount of weight that these two tandem groups can carry has to be reduced.
Here is the part of the bridge table that shows this:
This means when axles 2 and 5 are 35’ apart (see picture below), the maximum weight on the tandem
drives and the trailer tandems is reduced to about 32,750 lbs.
To avoid having this weight reduction, keep the distance between axles 2 and 5 at least 36 feet apart.
6.5.2 Rear Effective Overhang
Some jurisdictions restrict trucks to have a rear overhang that is “35% of the trailer wheelbase.” In these
states there cannot be a very short distance between the kingpin and the tandems, and then a long
distance from the tandems to the end of the trailer. A typical 53’ van trailer has a 3’ kingpin setback. In
this instance, the minimum kingpin to center of the trailer
tandems cannot be less than 37’1”. Rear Effective Overhang:
Where does this apply? The distance from the center of the
trailer axles to the end of the trailer, or
 Canada
the load extending from the end of the
 Maine
trailer.
 Maryland
 New Jersey
6.6 Quiz 4 – Kingpin to Rear Trailer Axles Distances
Question 1:
Can states restrict the Kingpin to Rear axle distance on a trailer 48’ long on the interstate?
a) Yes
b) No
Question 2:
Which two states have the most restrictive Kingpin to Rear Axle measures?
a) California and Illinois

b) California and Rhode Island
c) Arkansas and Alaska
d) Maine and Rhode Island
Question 3:
Is there a Kingpin to Rear Axle restriction in Iowa?
a) Yes
b) No
Question 4:
When picking up a load, drivers should know the KPRA limit they need to comply with:
a) Before loading
b) Find out during loading
c) Find out when driving down the interstate
Question 5:
You should move your tandem axles forward (towards the truck) when:
a) The truck is overloaded on the tractor drive axles

b) The truck is overloaded on the trailer axles
c) The truck is overweight entirely
Question 6:
You should move your tandem axles backwards (towards the end of the trailer) when:
a) The truck is overloaded on the tractor drive axles

b) The truck is overloaded on the trailer axles
c) The truck is overweight entirely
Question 7:
Approximately how much weight is moved from the drive axles to the trailer axles when you move your
tandems forwards one hole?
a) 100 lbs
b) 250 – 300 lbs
c) 500 – 600 lbs
d) 1000 lbs
Question 8:
Moving your tandem axles forward will affect your bridge law compliance if you move your axles forward
far enough. What is the distance in the picture below when you can no longer load 34,000 lbs on your
drive axles and your trailer axles?
a) 30 feet
b) 35 feet
c) 36 feet
d) 41 feet
Question 9:
Although there is no Kingpin to Rear Axle Minimum in place in US states, some states have ‘Rear Effective
Overhang’ measurement in place. Does this effect how far forward you can move your tandem axles?
a) Yes
b) No
Question 10:
The state that you are travelling to has a maximum rear overhang specified which is of 35% of the tractor
wheelbase. If you are operating a 5 axle semi truck with a 3 foot kingpin setback and a 53 foot trailer,
then what is the minimum distance that the center of the tandems can be set from the kingpin?
a) 35 feet
b) 37 feet
c) 37 feet 1 inch
d) 38 feet
7 Resources
Big Truck Guide.com
Big Truck Guide offers resources on US federal and state level regulations which can be used to ensure
compliance with trucking weight laws. Big Truck Guide is actively updated so that you stay up to date with
the newest in trucking regulations.
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is responsible for administering federal truck sizes and weight
regulations in the United States. This agency produces materials that helps in understanding truck weights
and dimensions. Here are the references for the Federal Highway Administration documents used in this
book, they can be found online through a web search for the Federal Highway Administration:
US Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration. (2004). Federal Size Regulations for
Commerical Motor Vehicles. Retrieved from
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/size_regs_final_rpt/size_regs_final_rpt.pdf
US Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration. (2006). Bridge Formula Weights.

Office of Freight Management and Operations. doi:FHWA-HOP-06-105
State and Provincial Agencies
Unfortunately, the only official source of state regulations on state and provincial weight and size
regulations are the state governments. This is unfortunate because state agencies often have websites
that don’t work, and it is often hard to get a hold of someone on the phone.
Big Truck Guide offers links to the legal code in each state on the ‘sample state information’ page. Search
for the jurisdiction of interest on this page, and the links will become available. The website is updated
as links become old:
http://www.bigtruckguide.com/state-information-sample/
8 Quiz Answers
8.1 Quiz 1 – Introduction to Truck Weights
Question 1:
Answer: B - False
Gross Weight is the total weight of the truck, all its contents, and its load. The gross weight of a truck will
include all weight in the truck, whether it is revenue-generating or not.
Question 2:
Answer: A – True
The amount of payload that you carry will change based on the fuel that is in your truck. But, as a driver,
if you are racing from fuel pump to fuel pump to keep yourself at ½ tank, then you are really pushing the
gross weight limit of the truck and you should consider reducing other weight in your truck if this happens
frequently.
Question 3:
Answer: C – 34,000 lbs
Federal laws in the US cap a single axle at 20,000 lbs, and a group of tandem axles at 34,000 lbs. But
remember that axle weights are a cap on the total legal amount axles can carry on public highways.
Question 4:
Answer: D – All of the above
The tare weight of a truck includes all of these things. Remember, the tare weight is all the non-revenue
generating weight that is in your truck.
Question 5:
Answer: C – 20,000 lbs or 33,954 lbs
The lowest weight limit must be followed. In this case, that is 34,000 lbs according to the federal weight
limit.
Question 6:
Answer: B – False
This is not true. A common weight limit on a semi truck steer axle is 12,000 lbs, which is lower than the
federal limit of 20,000 lbs for a steer axle.
Question 7:
Answer: B – 12,000 lbs
Although the US federal government limits single axles to 20,000 lbs, most trucks cannot handle this
weight on a single axle.
Question 8:
Answer: C – On the driver’s door.
Although this may be in different places on the truck, you should always follow what is actually attached
to the truck, and not what is in the glove box.
Question 9:
Answer: A – True
Question 10:
Answer: B – 34,000 lbs
You always have to comply with the lowest weight limit specified for the tire, axle, set of axles, total truck,
etc… Always comply with the lowest limit!
8.2 Quiz 2 – US Federal Law – ‘How they work’ and Dimensions
Question 1:
Answer: A – Set up the National Network of highways and defined where width and length limits apply
The STAA act made sizes of trucks consistent across the United States and defined where these limits
apply.
Question 2:
Answer: D – Both A and B – Grandfathered Long Combination Vehicles and heavy trucks, and made the
80,000 lbs truck a standard weight.
This act was important because it standardized weights across the country. In this way, you can be sure
that an 80,000 lbs truck will be legal to operate everywhere.
Question 3:
Answer: D – All of the above.
These are the three types of roads where the federal limits apply. The federal government will not fund
national network highways if the state government lowers weight limits to below the federal limits. In
this way, the federal government ensures that state governments do not have lower weight limits than
80,000 lbs on roads that the federal government funds. Reasonable access routes are in place so that
trucks can access facilities from these roadways.
Question 4:
Answer: B – Height
The maximum height of trucks is regulated by state governments, even on federally funded roads. But
13’ 0” is the lowest limit put into place in all states, and the vast majority of highways allow at least 13’
6”.
Question 5:
Answer: C – 8’ 6.36” (102.36”) OR 2.6 meters
The maximum is not 8’6” exactly, but slightly larger than that, at 102.36”. This is so that when measured
using the metric system, the ‘equivalent’ of 2.6 meters is also legal.
Question 6:
Answer: B – State Governments
State Governments regulate the length of semi trucks, on state roads, AND on the interstate and national
networks. But all states and Canadian provinces allow at least 40’ of length.
Question 7:
Answer – D – No overall length limit
On federally designated highways, there is no overall length limit for semi trucks and semi doubles. If
states implement an overall length limit on the interstate, they will lose federal funding for highways.
Question 8:
Answer – A – 48 feet
State may not place restrictions on trailers that are 48 feet or shorter. This means that states cannot
restrict the kingpin to rear axle distance of trailers that are 48 feet long.
Question 9:
Answer – B – 53 feet
The most common length of trailers is 53 feet, and this applies across most states. (All states except
Hawaii.)
Question 10:
Answer – C – Depends
Trailers in twin trailer combinations are allowed to be 28 feet in length each, and if the trailers were built
before 1982, then they can be 28 ½ feet in length.
8.3 Quiz 3 – US Federal Weights and Bridge Laws
Question 1:
Answer – D – All of the above
The 80,000 lbs limit applies on the Interstate, National Network and Reasonable Access routes. This
means that states cannot impose a limit of less than 80,000 lbs on these roads.
Question 2:
Answer – A – State Roads
The 80,000 lbs limit does not necessarily apply on state roads. This means that states can legislate their
own limits on their roads, and many states have weight limits that are higher or lower than 80,000 lbs.
Question 3:
Answer – B – False
Axles that are less than 40” apart count as a single axle and can carry 20,000 lbs.
Question 4:
Answer – A – True
If you have two axles that are less than 40” apart, then they count as a single axle and can only carry
20,000 lbs. If you have two axles that are more than 96” apart, they follow the weight limits set out in the
bridge formula.
Question 5:
Answer – D – All of the above
Using all of these methods you can calculate your compliance. However, using just the bridge formula to
calculate your compliance is not recommended because you can easily forget about exceptions to the
bridge laws. Both the bridge table and the Big Truck Guide calculator take these exceptions into account.
Question 6:
Answer – C – 68,000 lbs
This is an exception built into the federal bridge law. Using the just the bridge formula results in a
maximum weight of 66,000 lbs on this set of axles. However, bridge laws allow semi trucks with 5 axles
(the most common combination) to have 68,000 lbs on this combination. This means that this
combination can operate with its axles fairly close together and still have a weight of 34,000 lbs on each
set of tandems.
Question 7:
Answer D – All possible combinations
All possible combinations of axles have to comply with the federal bridge laws. However, experience
shows that checking the axle groups indicated (A, B, C and D) that all other axles will be in compliance
with bridge laws.
Question 8:
Look into the federal bridge table and you see that the amount of weight on three axles 10’ apart is 54,500
lbs.
Question 9:
Look into the federal bridge table and you see that the amount of weight on three axles 10’ apart is 43,500
lbs.
Question 10:
Look into the federal bridge table and you see that the amount of weight on four axles 28’ apart is 60,500
lbs.
8.4 Quiz 4 – Kingpin to Rear Trailer Axles Distances
Question 1:
Answer – B – No
No states are allowed to restrict the KPRA distance on a 48 foot trailer when it is travelling on the
interstate and national network highways. That is why it is common to see 48 foot trailers (mostly on
flatbeds with a 10’ 1” spread, and the rear axle all the way at the back of the trailer. Some states do
restrict KPRA distances on trailers 48’ or longer.
Question 2:
Answer – B – California and Rhode Island
California has the most restrictive KPRA maximum, of 40 feet from the kingpin to the rear axle. Rhode
Island also has a very restrictive regulation with 41 feet from kingpin to rear axle.
Question 3:
Answer – B – No
There is no KPRA restriction in Iowa.
Question 4:
Answer – A – Before loading
Drivers should know the minimum distance before they load, so that they can set the tandems to that
distance (if allowed by the shipper) and then scale out the load without having to move the tandems from
the appropriate location.
Question 5:
Answer – A – Overloaded on the tractor drive axles
When the trailer has too much weight closer to the truck, and not enough underneath the trailer axles,
moving the trailer axles towards the truck will take some of this weight off of the tractor.
Question 6:
Answer – B – Overloaded on the trailer tandems
When the trailer has too much weight at the rear of the trailer (common on 53’ trailers), moving the trailer
tandems towards the rear will put more weight on the tractor.
Question 7:
Answer – B – 250 to 300 lbs
Moving your tandems the distance of one hole on the trailer moves about 250 – 300 lbs either forwards
or backwards. The exact amount depends on many factors like the make of the trailer, the exact distance
between holes, and the load itself. Only scaling the load will show the true amount of weight that has
been moved!
Question 8:
Answer – B – 35 feet
Less than 36 feet from axle 2 to axle 5 and the truck will have tandem axle weights lowered in accordance
with the bridge law. At 35 feet, the truck can only be loaded with 65,500 lbs, or 32,750 lbs for your trailer
tandem and tractor drives each.
Question 9:
Answer – A – Yes
The effective rear overhang restriction applies in Canada, Maine, Maryland, and New Jersey. This
dimension restriction effectively restricts the distance forward that you can move your trailer tandems.
In all these jurisdictions, you can only move the trailer tandems forward to shorten your KPRA distance
(or wheelbase) so that 35% of this ‘wheelbase’ is sticking out from the end of the trailer.
Question 10:
Answer – C – 37 feet and 1 inch
For a typical semi tractor, the furthest forward that the trailer tandems can be moved forward is to 37
feet 1 inch, in the jurisdictions that specify an effective rear overhang measurement. This minimum will
change if the kingpin setback changes or the trailer length changes.
9 Notes and Disclaimer
The laws and regulations of the United States and Canada and the individual states and provinces within
these two countries are all within the public domain. However, interpretation of these laws has been
undertaken in this book and related website, and the arrangement, diagrams, maps and other materials
found in this book are subject to the copyright notice.
All rights are reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written
permission of the author.
Regulations and laws surrounding truck weights and dimensions are constantly changing and because of
this, it is impossible to guarantee the accuracy of the materials found on this website. Additionally,
because the regulations and laws are interpreted by the author, and applied to specific truck types, these
interpretations may be differently interpreted by other professionals, for example law enforcement
officers. Because of this, the author cannot take any responsibility, including financial penalties, for advice
taken from this book. Please double check our interpretations and refer to the actual regulations in your
jurisdiction before making purchase and truck movement decisions. Also, to improve the accuracy of the
interpretations, please inform the author of any misinterpretations that have been made in this text, or
on the website, so that the interpretations of the laws provided here are as close to generally accepted
interpretations as possible.
If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, please contact a competent legal professional.

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Understanding Semi Truck Weight and Dimension Regulations:

Truck Driver Training Textbook

Copyright © 2016 by Paul Jakubicek

All rights reserved. This document or any portion thereof

Published electronically in Canada

Author: Paul Jakubicek

4.3 Dimensions – Trailer Lengths __________________________________________________ 17

4.4 Quiz 2 – US Federal Law – ‘How they work’ and Dimensions_________________________ 19

5.4 Bridge Weight Example ______________________________________________________ 25

1.1 Learning Objectives

 Distinguish between gross weights, tare weights, and payloads

Comparing Payload, Gross Weight, and Tare Weight

𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 + 𝑃𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

Tare weight is the weight of the truck,

Payload is the amount of weight you

Gross Weight is the total weight of the

If a driver wants to carry more weight as payload, an easy way

The most common gross weight restriction in the United States

2.2 Axle Weights

 Single Axle: 20,000 lbs*

* Steer axle weight is usually restricted

2.3 Tire Weight Limits

US Federal Regulations specify:

 500 lbs per inch of tire width

To calculate the tire width, a tape measure can

 1 millimeter = 0.0393701 inches

How to calculate tire weights:

 295 mm X 0.0393701 = 11.6 inches

2.4 Manufacturer’s Weight Limits

Some common weight restrictions imposed by

 GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating – weight

Manufacturers’ weight limits should be printed on a

2.5 Finding the lowest weight

Steer Axle Drive Axles Trailer Axles

Longer 80,000 lbs truck, less damage

Shorter 80,000 lbs truck, more damage

Gross weight is the weight of the truck without a load.

The US Federal weight limit on a set of tandem axles is:

Tare weight includes:

a) The weight of the truck

a) In the vehicle manual

Answers to the quiz can be found at the end of the book.

 The specific US Federal Regulations governing

3.1 STAA and ISTEA

Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982

 Defined highways where width and length limits apply

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991

 Froze the weight of vehicles that were defined in state law

3.4 Who Governs What?

Straight Trucks Semi Trucks + Semi

4.2 Dimensions – Overall Lengths

4.2.1 Straight trucks

4.2.2 Semi Trucks and Semi Doubles

 Saddlemounts - 75 feet (trucks pulling other trucks, usually to a dealership)

4.3 Dimensions – Trailer Lengths

 53’ is the standard length in a

4.3.2 Semi Doubles

The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA):

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA):

a) 8’ 0” (96”) OR 2.44 meters

Answers to the quiz can be found at the end of the book.

Single Axle: 20,000 lbs

Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

Bridge weights are calculated in one of three different ways: