Simplify Your Oversize/Overweight Loads
Max Legal Weight for GVW under 80,000 lbs and Max Permitted Weight for GVW over 80,000 lbs
To travel legally on any Indiana roads, you cannot exceed the following weight:
Axle Group | Maximum |
Single | 20,000 pounds |
Tandem (Two Axle) | 34,000 pounds |
Steering Axle | 12,000 pounds |
Gross Vehicle Weight | 80,000 pounds |
An overweight vehicle is generally any vehicle whose overall weight exceeds 80,000 pounds. However, road and bridge stress levels are determined by the distribution of the weight, so it is important that the weight per axle, or sets of tandem axles, are observed. Weight per tire is also considered. The total gross weight may be calculated by the following federal bridge formula and then compared with the established weight limits listed above.
Where:
W - The overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles, to the nearest 500 pounds,
L - The distance between the extreme of any group of two or more consecutive axles, and
N - The number of axles in the group under consideration, except that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each, providing the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles are at least 36 feet or more apart.
If your truck and load exceed the legal dimensions and your load is non-divisible, you may apply for an Indiana oversize/overweight vehicle permit.
Garbage Trucks: Except on an interstate highway, a garbage truck that is designed and equipped with a selfcompactor or detachable container, that is used exclusively for garbage, refuse or recycling operations and is laden with garbage, refuse or recycles may not exceed a gross weight of: 1) twenty-four thousand (24,000) pounds upon a single axle; and 2) forty-two thousand (42,000) pounds upon a tandem axle group.
An oversize and/or overweight permit is for a load (except mobile homes) that is over the legal dimensions but does not exceed the following dimensions: 120,000 pounds.
A 90-day or annual permit may be obtained only for oversize loads that are over legal dimensions but do not exceed the following dimensions: 80,000 pounds (Subject to axle weights).
The Overweight Commodity Permit may be obtained for hauling, delivering, or otherwise carrying divisible loads of steel or aluminum, agricultural commodities, bark, logs, sawdust, or wood chips. The permits must be legal width, height, and legal trailer and load length. Steel or aluminum commodity permits may go up to a gross vehicle weight of 120,000 pounds, and agriculture permits or permits to haul bark, logs, sawdust or wood chips may go up to a gross vehicle weight of 97,000 if hauling from the point of harvest to the point of first destination. Axle weights cannot exceed 20,000 pounds on a single, and only one group of tandem axles may not exceed 48,000 pounds. Any other tandem combination may not exceed 40,000 pounds.
Special Weight Permits, commonly known as “Michigan Train Permits,” are used for certain vehicle configurations that haul only in northern Indiana.
Special weight permits may be obtained for loads that are over legal weight but do not exceed the following dimensions:
A toll road gate permit is needed anytime an oversize and/or overweight vehicle needs to travel to or from an Indiana toll gate using an Indiana road.
To qualify for an annual toll road gate permit, your vehicle must not exceed the following limits:
Source of information: https://www.in.gov/dor/files/osowhandbook.pdf