Ohio Axle Weight Limits

Axle Weight Regulations By State

Maximum Legal Weight Allowed

Maximum axle load, wheel load, gross weights, for pneumatic tired vehicles

(A) The maximum wheel load of any one wheel of any vehicle, trackless trolley, load, object, or structure operated or moved upon improved public highways, streets, bridges, or culverts shall not exceed 650 pounds per inch width of pneumatic tire, measured as prescribed by section 5577.03 of the Revised Code.
(B) The weight of vehicle and load imposed upon a road surface that is part of the interstate system by vehicles with pneumatic tires shall not exceed any of the following weight limitations:

  1. On any one axle, 20,000 pounds;
  2. On any tandem axle, 34,000 pounds;
  3. On any two or more consecutive axles, the maximum weight as determined by application of the formula provided in division (C) of this section.

(C) For purposes of division (B)(3) of this section, the maximum gross weight on any two or more consecutive axles shall be determined by application of the following formula:

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

where W equals the overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest five hundred pounds, L equals the distance in rounded whole feet between the extreme of any group of two or more consecutive axles, and N equals the number of axles in the group under consideration.

However, two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each, provided the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.

The weight of vehicle and load imposed upon a road surface that is not part of the interstate system by vehicles with pneumatic tires shall not exceed any of the following weight limitations:

1. On any one axle, 20,000 pounds;
2. On any two successive axles:

  • Spaced 4 feet or less apart, and weighed simultaneously, 24,000 pounds;
  • Spaced more than 4 feet apart, and weighed simultaneously, 34,000 pounds, plus 1000 pounds per foot or fraction thereof, over 4 feet, not to exceed 40,000 pounds.

3. On any 3 successive load-bearing axles designed to equalize the load between such axles and spaced so that each such axle of the 3-axle group is more than 4 feet from the next axle in the three-axle group and so that the spacing between the first axle and the third axle of the 3-axle group is no more than 9 feet, and with such load-bearing 3-axle group weighed simultaneously as a unit:

  • 48,000 pounds, with the total weight of vehicle and load not exceeding 38,000 pounds plus an additional 900 pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and the rearmost axle of the vehicle;
  • 42,500 pounds, if part of a 6-axle vehicle combination with at least 20 feet of spacing between the front axle and rearmost axle, with the total weight of vehicle and load not exceeding 54,000 pounds plus an additional 600 pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and the rearmost axle of the vehicle.

4. The total weight of vehicle and load utilizing any combination of axles, other than as provided for 3-axle groups in this section, shall not exceed 38,000 pounds plus an additional 900 hundred pounds for each foot of spacing between the front axle and rearmost axle of the vehicle.
5. The maximum overall gross weight of vehicle and load imposed upon the road surface shall not exceed 80,000 pounds.

This section applies to the weight of a vehicle and its load imposed upon any road surface that is not a part of the interstate system by vehicles with pneumatic tires.

Maximum Permit Weight Allowed

The Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code are the authorities on the maximum allowable weights on roadway and bridges within Ohio. The Hauling Permit Operational Guide, published by the Department of Transportation, explains these guidelines. The following explanation and example may further help to explain the arithmetic involved. If there is any conflict between the information here and the primary sources noted above, the latter are to be followed. All overweight (OW) permit applications are checked for these Axle Weight guidelines. Every axle is checked for each guideline as appropriate or as otherwise noted.

  • Single Axle maximum weight allowed is 29,000 pounds.
  • Short Tandem maximum weight allowed is 36,000 pounds.
  • Long Tandem maximum weight allowed is 50,000 pounds, provided the tandem has a minimum 4’1″ spacing, the vehicle has sufficient inner and outer bridge spacing to achieve the requested weight and the vehicle must pass analysis.
  • Short Tri Axle maximum weight allowed is 47,000 pounds.
  • Short Quad Axle or Long Tri Axle, maximum weight allowed is 60,000 pounds.
  • Long Quad Axle, maximum weight allowed is 80,000 lbs.

Tire Load

For each axle, the maximum weight allowed is the number of Tires, times the tread width of the tire in inches times 800. (Max Lbs. Allowed = #tires on axle * tire tread width in inches*800) (e.g. 2 tires with 11 inch tread width ==> 2*11*800 = 17,600 Lbs.)

Minimum Axle Weight

Every axle except the front axle must have at least 10,000 pounds.

Three Axles 16-32. Instead of treating these as two tandem groups, the axle pair with the shorter of the two spacings is analyzed as a tandem group and the third axle as a single axle. If the two spacings are the same, then two analyses are created: (1) 1st axle as single, 2&3 as tandem, and (2) 1&2 as tandem, 3rd as single. If at least one of the analyses pass, then the guideline is satisfied.

3 or Fewer Steel Coils or Aluminium (Single Trip and Continuing) Permit – GVW up to 120,000 pounds

Toledo Port Area

90 Day or 365 Day Continuing permits may be issued to allow a vehicle to make multiple moves between the Michigan/Ohio state line and various port and processing facilities in the Toledo area, hauling “Various Commodities” at Michigan legal weights (up to 154,000 pounds) and includes the use of load equalizing variable load suspension axles. Permits from local governmental agencies may also be required. Each power unit and/or different vehicle configuration will require its own permit.

Delta Steel Complex

90 Day or 365 Day Continuing permits may be issued to allow a vehicle to make multiple moves between the Michigan/Ohio state line and the Delta Ohio steel complex hauling “Steel Products/Raw Materials” at Michigan legal weights (up to 154,000 pounds) and includes the use of load equalizing variable load suspension axles. Permits from local governmental agencies may also be required. Each power unit and/or different vehicle configuration will require its own permit.

Michigan Legal Permits

90 Day or 365 Day Continuing permits allowing an overweight vehicle movement between a specified point in Williams, Fulton or Lucas counties in Ohio and the Michigan border, over prescribed routes. The permitted weight shall be based on the state of Michigan’s weight law, with a gross vehicle weight not to exceed 154,000 pounds, and shall have sufficient number of axles to meet the Michigan weight law.

Source: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Operations/Maintenance/Permits/Pages/AXLEWEIGHTGUIDELINES.aspx
Source: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Operations/Maintenance/Permits/Documents/OS-8%20Rev02-14.pdf
Source: Oversize.io

Tailored transport solutions to meet your needs

Understanding your requirements and objectives is important to us. Click below to tell us more about your upcoming shipment.
Request A Quote

Below is a list of states and their axle weight limits

Click on the states below for links to the state's guidelines for for axle weight limits for commercial vehicles / heavy haul shipping. These regulations are subject to change for each state. If something doesn't look correct, give us a shout and let us know so we can property update the page.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

What can we do for you? Find out more!

Lets Get Started