La. Admin. Code tit. 55 § I-2315

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-2315 - Weight Limitations

A. Legal Limitations

1. The maximum legal axle weights on interstate highways are:

a. single axles	20,000 pounds
b. tandem axles	34,000 pounds
c. tridum axles	42,000 pounds
d. quadrum axles	50,000 pounds

2. Axle variances of 2,000 pounds for single axles and 3,000 pounds for tandem, tridum, and quadrum axles are allowed on non-interstate highways. Therefore, the maximum legal weights on non-interstate highways are:

a. single axles	22,000 pounds
b. tandem axles	37,000 pounds
c. tridum axles	45,000 pounds
d. quadrum axles	53,000 pounds.

3. The maximum legal weight on a tire is 650 pounds per inch width of tire.

4. The sum of the legal axle weights on a vehicle or combination of vehicles is its legal gross weight. But regardless of the number and type of axles the maximum legal gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles (except a combination with a tridum or quadrum axle) is 80,000 pounds.

5. Regardless of the number and type of axles, the maximum legal gross weight of any combination of vehicles which has a tridum or quadrum axle is:

a. 83,400 pounds on interstate highways;

b. 88,000 pounds on non-interstate highways.

B. Vehicles operating on the interstate highway shall comply with the federal bridge formula subject to the following exceptions:

1. vehicles with Type Two axle configuration (three-axle combination with one single axle and one set of tandem axles); or

2. Type Six axle configuration (five-axle combination with one single axle and two sets of tandem axles); or

3. a vehicle with Type Eight axle configuration (six-axle combination with one single axle, one tandem axle, and one tridem axle);

4. or vehicles with Type Ten axle configuration (double bottom);

5. or Type Eighteen axle configuration (four-axle combination with one single axle and one set of tridem axles) carrying any of the following bulk commodities thereof:

a. forest products in their natural state;

b. lumber;

c. sand;

d. gravel;

e. agricultural products in their natural state;

f. loose or mixed concrete (including asphaltic or Portland cement); or

g. bulk liquid commodities.

C. Any truck fitted with a compactor body which is engaged in the collecting and hauling of solid waste shall not be assessed a penalty for exceeding the maximum permissible gross weight if the waste is wet and the location from which the waste was collected had received measurable precipitation within 24 hours prior to collection.

D. The owner or operator of a vehicle which exceeds the maximum allowable axle weights shall be permitted to shift the load as long as no part of the shipment is removed and only if the shift can be performed safely and within a reasonable period of time.

La. Admin. Code tit. 55, § I-2315

Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Police, LR 26:2629 (November 2000), amended LR 28:1803 (August 2002).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 32:380-389.