Truck Axle Weight and Overweight Statistics 2026

Key takeaways

1. Federal law limits a single axle to 20,000 lb on the Interstate SystemSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
2. A tandem axle (axles more than 40 in and not more than 96 in apart) is limited to 34,000 lbSource: Federal Highway Administration, Bridge Formula Weights, FHWA-HOP-19-028, August 2019
3. Maximum gross vehicle weight on the Interstate System is 80,000 lb, unless the Bridge Formula sets a lower numberSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
4. Two tandems may carry 34,000 lb each only if the first and last axles of the tandems are 36 ft or more apartSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
5. In 2024 states reported 313,957,837 vehicles weighed and 277,347 overweight violationsSource: Federal Highway Administration, Truck Size and Weight Enforcement Data (state annual certifications), Dataset updated September 16, 2026
6. A 20,000 lb single axle causes about 1.5 times the pavement wear of an 18,000 lb axle under the fourth power ruleSource: U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration, Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study, Working Paper 3: Pavements, 1998
7. Removing overweight axles from traffic lengthened the service life of flexible Interstate pavements by 19 to 34 percent in an FHWA analysisSource: Federal Highway Administration, Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study, Pavement Comparative Analysis, Chapter 5, June 2015
8. 5,340 people were killed in traffic crashes involving large trucks in 2024, 2.5 percent fewer than in 2023Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Large Trucks: 2024 Data, DOT HS 813 816, June 2026
9. Rollover was the first harmful event in 4 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2022Source: FMCSA, Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2022, Page updated October 10, 2025
10. Tires were the second most common vehicle out-of-service violation in the 2026 International Roadcheck: 2,914 violations, 20.9 percentSource: Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), CVSA Releases 2026 International Roadcheck Results, August 25, 2026
11. There were 3,482,896 registered combination trucks in the U.S. in 2024, averaging 55,276 miles and 7.1 miles per gallonSource: Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-1, Updated February 2026
12. The U.S. had 2,221,200 heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs in 2025Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, Last modified August 27, 2026
13. The average cost to operate a truck in 2025 was $2.336 per mile, 3.4 percent more than in 2024Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), New ATRI Report Details Accelerating Costs and Low Profitability Despite Cuts, July 15, 2026
14. A first weigh at a CAT Scale costs $15.25 and a reweigh at the same scale within 24 hours costs $5.25Source: CAT Scale Company, Frequently Asked Questions, Accessed October 2026

How much can a single axle legally carry?

A single axle can legally carry 20,000 lb on the Interstate System and reasonable access to it, including any one axle of a group of axles.

• The maximum gross weight upon any one axle, including any one axle of a group of axles, is 20,000 lbSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
• States may not limit steering axle weight to less than 20,000 lb or the axle rating set by the manufacturer, whichever is lowerSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
• States may not limit tire loads to less than 500 lb per inch of tire or tread width, except on the steering axleSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026

How much can a tandem axle legally carry?

A tandem axle can legally carry 34,000 lb on the Interstate System, where a tandem means axles spaced more than 40 inches and not more than 96 inches apart.

• The maximum gross weight on tandem axles is 34,000 lbSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
• Axles spaced more than 40 in and not more than 96 in apart count as tandem axlesSource: Federal Highway Administration, Bridge Formula Weights, FHWA-HOP-19-028, August 2019
• Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry 34,000 lb each if the overall distance between the first and last axle is 36 ft or moreSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
• Without that exception, the Bridge Formula would allow only 66,000 to 67,500 lb on tandems spaced 36 to 38 ft apartSource: Federal Highway Administration, Bridge Formula Weights, FHWA-HOP-19-028, August 2019

What is the maximum gross weight of a truck on the Interstate?

The maximum gross vehicle weight on the Interstate System is 80,000 lb, except where the Bridge Formula gives a lower weight.

• The maximum gross vehicle weight is 80,000 lb except where a lower weight is dictated by the Bridge FormulaSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
• States may issue special permits for nondivisible vehicles or loads without regard to the axle, gross or Bridge Formula limitsSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026

What is the federal Bridge Formula?

The Bridge Formula is W = 500 (LN / (N - 1) + 12N + 36), where W is the maximum weight in pounds on any group of two or more consecutive axles, L is the distance in feet between the outer axles of the group, and N is the number of axles in the group.

• The formula limits the gross weight on any two or more consecutive axles on the Interstate SystemSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
• In the FHWA example, a four axle truck at 57,000 lb meets the single, tandem and gross limits but violates the Bridge Formula on axles 2 through 4: 45,000 lb actual against 42,500 lb allowedSource: Federal Highway Administration, Bridge Formula Weights, FHWA-HOP-19-028, August 2019

Is there a tolerance on federal axle weight limits?

No, the federal axle, tandem, gross and Bridge Formula weights include all tolerances, with one exception: a scale allowance when portable wheel load scales are used.

• Portable scales are generally accurate within 2 or 3 percent, and an allowance of more than 5 percent may never be appliedSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
• Fine schedules that impose no fine up to a threshold, such as 1,000 lb, are treated as tolerances not authorized by federal lawSource: eCFR, Federal Highway Administration, 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026

How many trucks are weighed and how many are overweight?

In 2024 the states reported 313,957,837 vehicles weighed and 277,347 overweight violations to FHWA, about 0.09 percent of all weighings.

• Of the 2024 weighings, 254,136,436 were on weigh-in-motion scales, 59,314,615 on fixed platform scales and 344,452 on portable scalesSource: Federal Highway Administration, Truck Size and Weight Enforcement Data (state annual certifications), Dataset updated September 16, 2026
• States also reported 40,118 oversize violations and 6,529,040 oversize or overweight permits in 2024Source: Federal Highway Administration, Truck Size and Weight Enforcement Data (state annual certifications), Dataset updated September 16, 2026
• In 2023 the states reported 415,190,443 vehicles weighed and 276,959 overweight violationsSource: Federal Highway Administration, Truck Size and Weight Enforcement Data (state annual certifications), Dataset updated September 16, 2026
• The states with the most overweight violations in 2024 were Florida (32,450), Oklahoma (30,752) and Virginia (24,403)Source: Federal Highway Administration, Truck Size and Weight Enforcement Data (state annual certifications), Dataset updated September 16, 2026

How many weigh stations are there in the U.S.?

FHWA reported about 680 weigh stations in operation in the United States, based on a 2009 road atlas.

• Massachusetts and New York were the only states that indicated no permanent weigh stationsSource: Federal Highway Administration, Concept of Operations for Virtual Weigh Station, FHWA-HOP-09-051, June 2009
• Virtual weigh stations monitor trucks on routes that bypass fixed inspection stations and on secondary roadsSource: Federal Highway Administration, Concept of Operations for Virtual Weigh Station, FHWA-HOP-09-051, June 2009

How much is an overweight fine?

Overweight fines are set by each state; in California the base fine starts at $20 for up to 1,000 lb over and reaches $0.20 for each pound when the excess is 10,001 lb or more.

• California base fines: $20 for 0 to 1,000 lb over, $175 for 4,501 to 5,000 lb over, then $0.04 per pound for 5,001 to 6,000 lb overSource: California Legislative Information, California Vehicle Code Section 42030, Accessed October 2026
• California: $0.15 per pound for 8,001 to 10,000 lb over and $0.20 per pound for 10,001 lb and overSource: California Legislative Information, California Vehicle Code Section 42030, Accessed October 2026
• In California no part of the fine may be suspended when the excess weight is more than 4,000 lbSource: California Legislative Information, California Vehicle Code Section 42030, Accessed October 2026

How much more does a heavier axle damage the road?

Pavement wear grows roughly with the fourth power of axle load, so a 20,000 lb single axle counts as about 1.5 standard 18,000 lb axles.

• By convention one 18,000 lb single axle equals 1.00 ESAL (equivalent single axle load)Source: U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration, Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study, Working Paper 3: Pavements, 1998
• 100 passes of a 20,000 lb axle have the same effect on pavement life as 150 passes of an 18,000 lb axleSource: U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration, Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study, Working Paper 3: Pavements, 1998
• A 34,000 lb tandem axle is about 1.1 ESALs on flexible pavement and about 2.0 ESALs on rigid pavementSource: U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration, Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study, Working Paper 3: Pavements, 1998
• Later reanalyses of the AASHO Road Test data found a relationship closer to the third power, and a 1989 study found the second or third power in most casesSource: U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration, Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study, Working Paper 3: Pavements, 1998
• With overweight axles removed from traffic, flexible pavement service intervals grew 19 to 34 percent and rigid pavement intervals 0 to 10 percentSource: Federal Highway Administration, Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study, Pavement Comparative Analysis, Chapter 5, June 2015

How many people die in crashes involving large trucks?

5,340 people were killed in traffic crashes involving large trucks in 2024, down 2.5 percent from 5,478 in 2023.

• 70 percent of those killed in 2024 (3,753) were occupants of other vehicles and 17 percent (920) were occupants of large trucksSource: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Large Trucks: 2024 Data, DOT HS 813 816, June 2026
• An estimated 161,201 people were injured in traffic crashes involving large trucks in 2024Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Large Trucks: 2024 Data, DOT HS 813 816, June 2026
• An estimated 548,521 large trucks were in police-reported traffic crashes in 2024Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Large Trucks: 2024 Data, DOT HS 813 816, June 2026
• Large trucks were 5 percent of registered vehicles and 10 percent of vehicle miles traveled in 2024Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Large Trucks: 2024 Data, DOT HS 813 816, June 2026

How common are truck rollovers and jackknifes?

Rollover was the first harmful event in 4 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2022 and in 2 percent of nonfatal ones.

• In 2020, rollover was the first harmful event in 160 fatal large truck crashes (3.6 percent) and jackknife in 12 (0.3 percent)Source: FMCSA, Crashes Table 1: Fatal Crashes Involving Large Trucks by First Harmful Event, 2018-2020, February 7, 2023
• Cargo equipment loss or shift was the first harmful event in 6 fatal large truck crashes in 2020 (0.1 percent)Source: FMCSA, Crashes Table 1: Fatal Crashes Involving Large Trucks by First Harmful Event, 2018-2020, February 7, 2023
• Tractors pulling a single semitrailer made up 54 percent of the large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2022Source: FMCSA, Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2022, Page updated October 10, 2025

What do roadside inspections find?

In the 2026 International Roadcheck, 19 percent of inspected vehicles and 5.8 percent of drivers were placed out of service.

• Inspectors conducted 54,575 inspections across North America in three daysSource: Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), CVSA Releases 2026 International Roadcheck Results, August 25, 2026
• Brake systems were the top vehicle out-of-service violation with 3,379 violations (24.3 percent)Source: Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), CVSA Releases 2026 International Roadcheck Results, August 25, 2026
• Tires were second with 2,914 violations (20.9 percent); in the U.S. alone, 2,669 tire violations (22.3 percent)Source: Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), CVSA Releases 2026 International Roadcheck Results, August 25, 2026
• Cargo securement was fourth with 1,724 violations (12.4 percent)Source: Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), CVSA Releases 2026 International Roadcheck Results, August 25, 2026

How does tire pressure affect trucks?

About 7.08 percent of commercial vehicle tires were underinflated by 20 psi or more in FMCSA sample data, and only 44.15 percent were within plus or minus 5 psi of target.

• About 20 percent of tractor dual assemblies and 25 percent of trailer dual assemblies had tires that differed in pressure by more than 5 psiSource: FMCSA, Commercial Motor Vehicle Tire Pressure Sensors, Tech Brief FMCSA-PSV-05-002, July 2005
• Fuel economy loss due to improper tire inflation was about 0.6 percent for typical truckload and LTL operationsSource: FMCSA, Commercial Motor Vehicle Tire Pressure Sensors, Tech Brief FMCSA-PSV-05-002, July 2005
• Improper inflation raised operating costs by about $750 a year per tractor-trailer for a typical truckload or LTL operatorSource: FMCSA, Commercial Motor Vehicle Tire Pressure Sensors, Tech Brief FMCSA-PSV-05-002, July 2005

How many trucks and truck drivers are there in the U.S.?

There were 3,482,896 registered combination trucks and 2,221,200 heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs in the U.S. in the latest federal data.

• Combination trucks traveled 192,520 million miles in 2024, an average of 55,276 miles eachSource: Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-1, Updated February 2026
• Combination trucks averaged 7.1 miles per gallon in 2024 and used an average of 7,771 gallons eachSource: Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-1, Updated February 2026
• There were 16,082,510 registered large trucks (over 10,000 lb GVWR) in 2024Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Large Trucks: 2024 Data, DOT HS 813 816, June 2026
• Median pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $58,640 a year in May 2025Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, Last modified August 27, 2026
• Employment of these drivers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 214,500 openings a yearSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, Last modified August 27, 2026

How much does it cost to run a truck per mile?

The industry average cost to operate a truck in 2025 was $2.336 per mile, the highest in the history of the ATRI report.

• Excluding fuel, costs rose 4.2 percent to $1.854 per mileSource: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), New ATRI Report Details Accelerating Costs and Low Profitability Despite Cuts, July 15, 2026
• Tire costs rose 6.4 percent in 2025; tolls rose 13.2 percent and repair and maintenance 8.6 percentSource: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), New ATRI Report Details Accelerating Costs and Low Profitability Despite Cuts, July 15, 2026

How much does a certified truck scale cost?

A first weigh at a CAT Scale costs $15.25, and a reweigh of the same vehicle at the same scale within 24 hours costs $5.25.

• A California Weighmaster Certificate at CAT Scale costs $30.50 for a first weigh and $10.50 for a reweighSource: CAT Scale Company, Frequently Asked Questions, Accessed October 2026
• CAT Scale reports over 2,300 locations in the U.S. and CanadaSource: CAT Scale Company, CAT Scale home page, Accessed October 2026

How do drivers check axle weight?

Drivers check axle weight in two common ways: on a certified truck scale, or by reading the air suspension pressure gauges on the tractor and trailer.

• A certified scale, such as a truck stop scale, weighs the steer axle, drive tandem and trailer tandem separately and prints a scale receipt. A first weigh at a CAT Scale costs $15.25 and a reweigh within 24 hours costs $5.25Source: CAT Scale Company, Frequently Asked Questions, Accessed October 2026
• Air suspension pressure in PSI rises with the load on the axle. After a driver compares gauge readings with scale receipts for the same truck and trailer, the gauges can be used to estimate axle weights between scales
• Mouse Scale Light and Mouse Scale Pro are mobile apps that estimate axle weights from suspension PSI gauge readings. An estimate does not replace a certified scale where a legal weight is required

Sources

1. eCFR, Federal Highway Administration: 23 CFR 658.17 Weight, Up to date as of October 22, 2026
2. Federal Highway Administration: Bridge Formula Weights, FHWA-HOP-19-028, August 2019
3. Federal Highway Administration: Truck Size and Weight Enforcement Data (state annual certifications), Dataset updated September 16, 2026
4. California Legislative Information: California Vehicle Code Section 42030, Accessed October 2026
5. Federal Highway Administration: Concept of Operations for Virtual Weigh Station, FHWA-HOP-09-051, June 2009
6. U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration: Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study, Working Paper 3: Pavements, 1998
7. Federal Highway Administration: Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study, Pavement Comparative Analysis, Chapter 5, June 2015
8. NHTSA: Traffic Safety Facts, Large Trucks: 2024 Data, DOT HS 813 816, June 2026
9. FMCSA: Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2022, Page updated October 10, 2025
10. FMCSA: Crashes Table 1: Fatal Crashes Involving Large Trucks by First Harmful Event, 2018-2020, February 7, 2023
11. Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA): CVSA Releases 2026 International Roadcheck Results, August 25, 2026
12. FMCSA: Commercial Motor Vehicle Tire Pressure Sensors, Tech Brief FMCSA-PSV-05-002, July 2005
13. Federal Highway Administration: Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-1, Updated February 2026
14. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, Last modified August 27, 2026
15. American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): New ATRI Report Details Accelerating Costs and Low Profitability Despite Cuts, July 15, 2026
16. CAT Scale Company: Frequently Asked Questions, Accessed October 2026
17. CAT Scale Company: CAT Scale home page, Accessed October 2026

Totals for 2023 and 2024 enforcement are sums of the state reports in the FHWA dataset (50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico). Percentages marked "about" are calculated from the published numbers