Vermont Axle Weight Limits

Maximum Legal Weight Allowed

• No vehicle may exceed a gross weight in excess of 80,000 pounds unless the operator or owner of the vehicle has complied with the provisions of section 1400 of this title, or except as otherwise provided in this section.
• No two axles in the tri-axle group shall support more than 42,000 pounds with a 10 percent tolerance;
• No single axle of the tri-axle group shall support more than 22,400 pounds with a 10 percent tolerance;
• The total load supported by the tri-axle group shall not exceed 54,000 pounds;
• The gross weight of the four axles of the truck shall not exceed 60,000 pounds.

Maximum Permit Weight Allowed

Blanket Permits

Maximum Weight for Non-divisible Loads Only:

One hundred eight thousand (108,000) pounds, depending on the number of axles and axle spacing. Twelve thousand (12,000) pounds allowed on the steering axle, twenty thousand (20,000) pounds on all other axles: Five (5) axle combination vehicle = ninety-two thousand (92,000) pounds, Six (6) or more axle combination vehicle = one hundred eight thousand (108,000) pounds. Vehicle must be registered to the maximum allowed for the vehicle’s configuration.

No vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be operated upon the highways of this state when the gross weight on the road surface through any wheel thereof exceeds six hundred (600) pounds per inch of tire width. (Manufacturer’s designation shall be used for computing tire width.) Any permit issued shall not be valid upon the state highways, state aid or town roads or bridges that are posted for a lower road limit than the gross weight of the vehicle and load.

Single Trip Permits

When considering permits for weight up to one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) pounds the Department may consider the application within the Department if there are sufficient axles on the vehicle to distribute the weight at the rate of twenty thousand (20,000) pounds per axle with dual wheels and twelve thousand (12,000) pounds per axle with single wheels, commonly steering axles. If the weight exceeds a total that can be covered by this formula it will be denied. Further consideration may require additional information or an engineering review.

Special Excess Weight Permits

3-Axle Straight Trucks:

With a single steering axle and rear tandem axles, both powered and braked, registered to the minimum of fifty-five thousand (55,000) pounds may obtain a permit to gross sixty thousand (60,000) pounds.

4-Axle Straight Trucks:

With a single steering axle and rear tri-axle group with two axles of the tri-axle group powered and braked, registered to the minimum of sixty thousand (60,000) pounds may obtain a permit to gross sixty-nine thousand (69,000) pounds.

4-Axle Truck/Tractor Semi-Trailer Combination:

With a maximum gross weight of not more than seventy-two thousand (72,000) pounds, provided the distance between the second axle of the tractor and the rear axle of the trailer is at least twenty-four feet (24’) measured to the nearest foot. (For each foot or fraction of a foot less than twenty-four feet (24’) measured to the nearest foot, a reduction of two thousand [2,000] pounds in the maximum gross weight shall be made.)

5 or more Axle Truck/Tractor Semi-Trailer or Truck Trailer Combination:

With a maximum gross weight of not more than seventy-six thousand (76,000) pounds provided that the distance between the first and last axle of two (2) consecutive sets of tandem axles is at least twenty-four feet (24’) measured to the nearest foot. (For each foot or fraction of a foot less than twenty-four feet (24’) measured to the nearest foot, a reduction of two thousand (2,000) pounds in the maximum gross weight shall be made.)

Ninety-Nine Thousand (99,000) Pound Permits: Requires six (6) or more axles, and fifty-one feet (51’) between centers of the extreme axles. Must be registered to eighty thousand (80,000) pounds.

Special Purpose Blanket Permit

Maximum Weight for Non-divisible Loads Only: One hundred eight thousand (108,000) pounds, depending on the number of axles and axle spacing. Vehicle must be registered to at least eighty thousand (80,000) pounds.

Superloads/Engineering Inspections

An Engineering Inspection is required when the vehicle and/or load meets or exceeds any one of the following: One hundred fifty thousand (150,000) pounds or more except on town highways.

Source of information: http://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VX-012-Oversize_Permit_Rules_0.pdf
https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/013/01392