Vehicle Weights

a

1 22 3 4 5

Axle 1- A single axle. G. S. 20-118 allows 20,000 pounds on a single axle.

a

1 22 3 4 5

20,000 lbs

Axle 2-3 and 4-5 - Axle two and three is a Tandem Axle set. A Tandem Axle, is two axles at least 40 inches apart and with-in 96 inches. G. S. 20-118 allows 38,000 pounds on the tandem.

a

1 22 3 4 5

20,000 lbs 38,000 lbs 38,000 lbs

1 ------------------------------- 3

2 ------------------------------------------------- 5

1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

The next lines indicate axle groupings. The weight distributed to the roadway is determined by the distance between axles and the number of axles touching the roadway. The measurement between axles is from thecenter to center of the hub. Those measurements that are less than 6 inches, 21 ft 4 inches is rounded down to 21feet. If one measures 21 ft 6 1/16 inch, then 22 feet would be used to determine allowable weight. The Axle groupings represented here are axle 1 to axle 3, axle 2 to axle 5, and axle 1 to axle 5.

a

1 22 3 4 5

1 ------------------------------- 3

2 ------------------------------------------------- 51 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

This axle group measures 18ft 5 ¾ inches. From there we look at the General Statute20-118 to find the amount of weight three axles can distribute to the roadway. Distance                                     Maximum Weight in Pounds for any Group of Two Between                                                                        or More Consecutive Axles Axles*  2 Axles         3 Axles         4 Axles          5 Axles              6 Axles             7 Axles 18                              49500            54000            59000

18 ft 5 ¾ in.

a

1 22 3 4 5

1 ---------49,500 lbs--------- 3

2 ------------------------------------------------- 5

1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

Axles 2 to 5 are categorized as another axle grouping. The distance for this axlegroup is measure from the center of axle 2 to the center of axle 5. For this example,the distance between axle 2 and 5 is 40 feet 6 ½ inches. The bridge chart in 20-118 allows 69,500 pounds.

Distance                                                         Maximum Weight in Pounds for any Group Between                                                                                               or More Consecutive Axles Axles*   2 Axles         3 Axles         4 Axles          5 Axles           6 Axles             7 Axles41                                                   69500            73500             78500

40ft 61/2 in

a

1 22 3 4 5

1 ---------49,500 lbs--------- 3

2 --------------69,500 lbs---------------------- 5

1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

Now the weight needs to be established for axles 1 through 5, known as the extreme bridge. The measurement from the center of axle one to the center of axle 5 is 52 feet. Look at GS-20-118 and the maximum weight for five axles, fifty two feet in length is 80,000 pounds.

Distance                                                         Maximum Weight in Pounds for any Group Between                                                                                               or More Consecutive Axles Axles*   2 Axles         3 Axles         4 Axles          5 Axles           6 Axles             7 Axles52                                                   76500 80000

In addition to the weight chart, 20-118 also establishes exceptions, the reasons trucks can weigh more than the established weight published in the chart.

40ft 61/2 in

18 ft

41 ft

Farm Exemptions

22000 42000 42000

90000

The above listed weights apply to a vehicle: a. Is hauling agricultural crops from the farm where the crop is grown to any market with-in 150 miles that farm. b. The vehicle is not operated on an Interstate Highway or exceed any Posted Bridge Weight limit. c. Does not exceed the weights listed above. d. And is registered for the maximum weight for the vehicle configuration.

Light Traffic Road Exemption

• 20-118 c.4. exempts the light traffic road weight restrictions for trucks transporting supplies, material or equipment necessary to carryout a farming operation when the destination of the vehicle and it’s load is solely located along the light traffic road.

• 20-118 c. 5 is an additional exemption from the light traffic road provision. This exemption allows products originating on the light traffic road to one of the nearest roadways that is not a light traffic road, and the point of origin is not adjacent to a non-light traffic roadway. The farm products that apply to this exception are; livestock, poultry and their bi-products from their point of

origin, meats and agriculture crop products transported from a farm to a first market.

10% Tolerance

• A vehicle may exceed the extreme and inner bridge restrictions of the weight chart by 10% provided the vehicle does not travel on an interstate, cross a posted bridge or exceed the maximum gross weight limit of 80,000 pounds..

Cotton Module Trucks

• Self loading cotton module trucks are allowed no more than 50,000 pounds on tandem axles when hauling cotton or sage from farm to market. This type of vehicle is also exempt from light weight road restrictions, if the load it is hauling originates on posted light weight road.