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Texas Axle Weight Limits

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Max Legal Weight for GVW under 80,000 lbs and Max Permitted Weight for GVW over 80,000 lbs

Vehicle configuration

Maximum Legal Weight Allowed

Texas has established size and weight limits for vehicles and loads moving with or without oversize and/or overweight permit on Texas roadways and bridges. Weight includes the weight of the vehicle or combination, plus the weight of the load being transported.

Axle Group	Maximum
Single	20,000 pounds
Tandem	34,000 pounds
Triple	42,000 pounds
Quadrum	50,000 pounds
Gross Vehicle Weight	80,000 pounds

Note: The basis for maximum legal weight is the number of axles. This information, in conjunction with the Permissible Weight Table, is used to determine maximum legal weight for a vehicle.
Note: An axle group must have a minimum spacing of 40 inches between axles within the group.

This formula determine the maximum legal weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles. The formula may be applied to inner axle groups such as the drive axles and the trailer or trailers, or the entire combination of axles from the steering axle or the power unit to the last trailing axle of the trailer.

W=500 [(LN/(N-1)) +12N+36],

Where:

W = the maximum weight in pounds that can be carried on a group of two or more axles to the nearest 500 pounds;
L = the distance in feet between the outer axles of any two or more consecutive axles;
N = the number of axles being considered.

Maximum Permit Weight Allowed

The maximum permit weight for an axle or axle group is based on 650 pounds per inch of tire width or the following axle or axle group weight, whichever is the lesser limit.

Axle Group	Maximum
Single	25,000 pounds
Tandem (Two Axle)	46,000 pounds
Tridem (Three Axle)	60,000 pounds
Quadrum (Four Axle)	70,000 pounds
Quint (Five Axle)	81,400 pounds
Six or More Axles	Determined by MCD based on engineering study of the equipment and measurements.

Permit Axle Weight Distribution

An axle group must have a minimum spacing of 40 inches between axles within the group.
Weight may not exceed the manufacturer’s rated tire carrying capacity.
The weight of two or more consecutive axle groups with an axle spacing of less than 12 feet between groups, will be reduced by 2.5% for each foot less than 12 feet.
The weight for an axle group should be distributed equally between axles in the group to not allow more than a 10% weight difference between any two axles in the group.

Trunnion axles may have up to 30,000 pounds per axle if the trunnion configuration has two axles, eight tires per axle, the axles are at least 10-feet wide and there is at least five feet of spacing between the axles, but not more than six feet.

Travel on load-restricted roads requires that the axle and axle group weights be load-zoned. Load-zoned weight is 10% less than the maximum permitted. For example, load-zoned weight on a tandem is 41,400 pounds.

Vehicles and loads with axle, axle group and gross weight that exceed these limits may qualify for a Super Heavy permit.TxDMV issues a single-trip super heavy permit for the movement of non-divisible vehicles and/or loads that exceed 254,300 pounds total gross weight, the maximum permit weights on any axle or axle group or between 200,001 pounds and 254,300 pounds with less than 95 feet of axle spacing.Single-trip permits may only be used for one movement, during the times specified on the permit, from a specific point of origin to a specific destination.

Source of information: http://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/texas-size-weight-limits