Ford V Series Code Calculator.18
Kirby Apodaca
The scope of this report captures the current structure of existing truck size and weight limit laws from all 50 States and the District of Columbia. This report does not address the interplay of ever-changing case law and its effect on State laws. In some instances, State or Federal courts may have interpreted State law and issued rulings that are inconsistent with the statutes and laws in this report.
Through statute, administrative code, and enforcement policy, States have given exemptions to various types of vehicles and commodities to operate above standard Federal truck size and weight limits. These exemptions often only apply to non-Interstate highways; however, that is not always the case. Also, some exemptions or higher weights are allowed through specific permits. To summarize how prevalent exemptions are on the non-Interstate, including segments of the NHS, Exhibit 7 below shows the most common commodity and vehicle exemptions given through State statute and the number of States in which they are present (including the District of Columbia).
Federal law prevents States from enforcing vehicle weight limits on Interstate highways that deviate from established Federal weight limits and specific exceptions.11 According to these provisions, "the United States Secretary of Transportation shall withhold 50 percent of appropriated funds from a State that sets weight limits for Interstate travel that are higher or lower than the standard Federal limits for Interstate highways, with some exceptions" (23 U.S.C. 127[a]).
Many State statutes include clauses that place some level of restriction on State weight limits to avoid withholding of Federal funds due to non-compliance with Federal provisions. States ensure adherence to these Federal compliance clauses in a variety of ways.12 Many States require the legislature or the State Department with jurisdiction over vehicle weight regulations to increase the limits if Federal law changes or if it is brought to their attention that they do not comply with Federal law. A few States directly tie their limits to increases or decreases in Federal weight limits, while others simply void any provision that would threaten the appropriation of Federal funds to their State.
Although most States explicitly establish two sets of weight limits, one for State highways and one for Interstate highways, others do not explicitly draw out separate limits for Interstates in statute. In at least eight such States (Connecticut, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Washington, and Wyoming), the weight limits given in statute are higher than the standard Federal limits for Interstate highways,13 but a Federal compliance clause is in place that implies that the standard Federal weight limits would apply to Interstate travel to protect that State from losing any Federal funding.
The gross weight of vehicles in regular operations (operating without a special permit) is governed by the State's bridge formula (Computed Gross Weight Table in Ala. Code 32-9-20[a][4][c]). State law allows a 10 percent tolerance for weight enforcement (Ala. Code 32-9-20[a][4][d]). See Exhibit 8 for a summary of Alabama weight provisions under regular operations.
Agricultural Commodities: Two- and three-axle vehicles being used exclusively for the purpose of transporting agricultural commodities or products to and from a farm and for agricultural purposes relating to the operation and maintenance of a farm by any farmer, custom harvester, or husbandman may not be made to conform to the State axle and gross vehicle weight limits (Ala. Code 32-9-20[a][4][j]).
Milk for Human Consumption:Any truck or semitrailer truck transporting milk for human consumption where refrigeration and transit is reasonably necessary in the interest of public health, when moving under refrigeration to or from market and the area where the milk is collected or concentrated, is exempt from State size and weight provisions (Ala. Code 32-9-23).
Emission Reduction Equipment:State law has adopted a weight exemption for auxiliary power units or idle reduction technology units similar to the exemption in 23 U.S.C. 127(a)(12). The exemption, which applies to axle weight, gross vehicle weight, or bridge formula weight, is up to 400 lbs. or the certifiable weight of the unit, whichever is less (Ala. Code 32-9-20[b]).
Vehicles Constructed for Special Types of Work:Dump trucks, dump trailers, concrete mixing trucks, fuel oil trucks, gasoline trucks, and trucks designated and constructed for special types work or use do not need to conform with the axle spacing requirements specified by the State bridge formula. These vehicles are limited to a weight of 20,000 lbs. per axle plus scale tolerances, provided that the maximum gross weight does not exceed State limits and all axles are brake equipped (Ala. Code 32-9-20[a][4][e]).
Government-Owned Vehicles:Trucks, semitrailer trucks, or trailers owned by Federal, State, or local governments are generally exempt from State size and weight limits (Ala. Code. 32-9-22[a]).
Local Licenses and Limits:Vehicles licensed by a city or an incorporated town are exempt from State size and weight limits, provided that they are operating within the limits of the municipality or police jurisdiction, that the municipality has adopted ordinances governing the size and weight of vehicles within their police jurisdiction, and that the municipal limits are not less than State limits (Ala. Code 32-9-22[b]).
The Director of the Alabama Department of Transportation or a designee may issue both annual and single-trip permits for oversized vehicles or vehicle combinations, provided that the permits are issued for loads that are non-divisible. Annual permits can authorize overweight vehicles up to 150,000 lbs. GVW with up to 22,000 lbs. on a single axle. Vehicles over 100,000 lbs. require advance routing by the Department of Transportation (Ala. Code 32-9-29[a]). The Director may also issue annual permits for vehicles transporting rubber-tired equipment used for mining refractory grade bauxite authorizing single axle weights up to 27,000 lbs. (Ala. Code 32-9-29[b][1][b]). Farm and agriculture commodities and equipment are exempt from the requirement of obtaining permits for movement on the State highway system (Ala. Code 32-9-29[f]).
Alaska has a grandfather provision under Federal law (23 CFR Part 658, Appendix C) that allows vehicles to operate above 80,000 lbs. on parts of federally funded AK-1, AK-2, and AK-3. See the Routes section for a full description of the routes to which this grandfather provision applies.
Alaska is unique in that it does not have a stated gross vehicle weight limit. The gross weight of vehicles in regular operations (operating without a special permit) is governed by the FBF and State axle group limits, whichever is less. Because Alaska limits the length of cargo-carrying trailers or semitrailers to a length of 53 feet, the practical limit for a five-axle TST is a GVW of 80,000 lbs. See Exhibit 9 for a summary of Alaska's weight provisions under regular operations (Alaska Admin. Code, tit. 17, 25.013).
No defined upper limit. Gross vehicle weight is limited by the FBF or the summation of axle or axle group limits whichever is less. Weight limits on axles or axle groups may not exceed the following, and the distance between axles may not be less than the following:
Emission Reduction Equipment: State law has adopted a weight exemption for auxiliary power units or idle reduction technology units similar to the exemption in 23 U.S.C. 127(a)(12). The exemption, which applies to axle weight, gross vehicle weight, or bridge formula weight, is up to 400 lbs. or the certifiable weight of the unit, whichever is less (Alaska Admin. Code tit. 17, 25.013[g]).
Implements of Husbandry: Implements of husbandry are not subject to vehicle weight restrictions unless the implement is the load of another vehicle. These vehicles may be operated on highways subject to the jurisdiction of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities without obtaining a permit, subject to the provisions of Alaska Stat. 19.10.065.
Traction Weight Shifting in Axle Groups: Between October 1 and March 31, legal axle weights are allowed to be shifted for one, two, and three drive axle groupings on power vehicles traveling on the Steese, Elliott, Dalton, and Richardson highways between North Pole and Prudhoe Bay, or between North Pole and MP 30 of the Steese Highway. The shifted weight on these drive axle groupings may not exceed 2,000 lbs. per axle. The legal allowable gross weight on a vehicle or combination of vehicles may not exceed the maximum weight. Reasonable access for food, fuel, or rest up to 5 miles is also granted, subject to local ordinances (Alaska Admin. Code tit. 17, 25.013[d]).
Snow and Ice Tolerance: Alaska allows a tolerance of 1,500 lbs. for gross and axle weight limits for snow and ice buildup between October 1 and April 30 of each year (Alaska Admin. Code tit. 17, 25.335[b][3]).
Enforcement Tolerance: Weight violations up to 1,000 lbs. over limits will be issued a citation and allowed to proceed. Violations over 1,000 lbs. will be issued a citation and directed to a location to unload excess weight from the vehicle (Alaska Admin. Code tit. 17, 25.335[b][1]-[2]).
Government-Owned Vehicles: A vehicle that is owned by the State and operated by an employee of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is not subject to State weight limits (Alaska Admin. Code tit. 17, 25.011).
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is authorized to issue permits for the transportation of non-divisible loads that exceed State weight limits by up to 25 percent (Alaska Admin. Code tit. 17, 25.320).
As necessary, each permit will establish time limitations, designated routes, a limit on the number of trips, or other restrictions. The movement of permitted oversize or overweight vehicles or loads must also comply with requirements and safety considerations specified in the department's Administrative Permit Manual.
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