Maine Truck Weight Limits
Complete guide to commercial vehicle weight regulations in Maine, including axle limits, permit requirements, and seasonal restrictions.
Weight Limits
| Axle Type | Maine Limit | Federal Limit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Axle | 22,400 lbs | 20,000 lbs | +2,400 lbs |
| Tandem Axle | 38,000 lbs | 34,000 lbs | +4,000 lbs |
| Tridem Axle | 48,000 lbs | 0 lbs | |
| Gross Vehicle Weight | 80,000 lbs | 80,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
| Steer Axle (min) | 12,000 lbs | 12,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
| Steer Axle (max) | 22,400 lbs | 20,000 lbs | +2,400 lbs |
Maine has source-verified table, spacing, route, permit, or vehicle-specific rules. The calculator applies verified base limits and implemented contexts, but exact special-case output still needs source-chart fixtures.
Showing interstate route, standard operation.
Enforcement tolerance: 5% on gross weight.
Bridge Formula
Maine uses the standard Federal Bridge Formula to calculate maximum weight on groups of consecutive axles.
- W = Maximum weight (lbs)
- L = Distance between outer axles (ft)
- N = Number of axles in the group
Permissible Gross Loads in Maine
| Permissible Gross Loads for Vehicles in Maine | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Based on FederalBridge Formula: W = 500 × [LN/(N-1) + 12N + 36] | ||||||||
| Showing interstate route, standard operation | ||||||||
Distance (ft) L | 2 AXLES | 3 AXLES | 4 AXLES | 5 AXLES | 6 AXLES | 7 AXLES | 8 AXLES | 9 AXLES |
| 4 | 34,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | 35,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | 36,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | 37,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | 38,000 | 42,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | 39,000 | 42,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | 40,000 | 43,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | 41,000 | 44,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | 42,000 | 45,000 | 50,000 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | 43,000 | 45,500 | 50,500 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | 44,000 | 46,500 | 51,500 | — | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 15 | 44,800 | 47,000 | 52,000 | — | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 16 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 52,500 | 58,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 17 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 53,500 | 58,500 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 18 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 54,000 | 59,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 19 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 54,500 | 60,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 20 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 55,500 | 60,500 | 66,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 21 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 56,000 | 61,000 | 66,500 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 22 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 56,500 | 61,500 | 67,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 23 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 57,500 | 62,500 | 68,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 24 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 58,000 | 63,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | — | 80,000 |
| 25 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 58,500 | 63,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 26 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 59,500 | 64,000 | 69,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 27 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 70,000 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 28 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 60,500 | 65,500 | 71,000 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 29 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 61,500 | 66,000 | 71,500 | 77,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 30 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 62,000 | 66,500 | 72,000 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 31 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 62,500 | 67,500 | 72,500 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 32 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 63,500 | 68,000 | 73,000 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 33 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 64,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 34 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 64,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 35 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 65,500 | 70,000 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 36 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 66,000 | 70,500 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 37 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 66,500 | 71,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 38 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 67,500 | 71,500 | 77,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 39 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 68,000 | 72,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 40 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 68,500 | 73,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 41 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 69,500 | 73,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 42 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 70,000 | 74,000 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 43 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 70,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 44 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 71,500 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 45 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 72,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 46 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 72,500 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 47 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 73,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 48 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 74,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 49 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 74,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 50 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 75,500 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 51 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 52 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 53 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 54 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 55 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 56 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 57 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 58 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 59 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 60 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
Values reflect FHWA policy of rounding down when calculated weights fall exactly halfway between 500-pound increments.
Maine GVW limit of 80,000 lbs differs from the federal interstate limit of 80,000 lbs.
Maine allows a 5% enforcement tolerance on gross weight.
Maine has source-verified table, spacing, route, permit, or vehicle-specific rules. The calculator applies verified base limits and implemented contexts, but exact special-case output still needs source-chart fixtures.
Always verify current regulations with Maine DOT before making shipping decisions.
Seasonal Weight Restrictions
Spring Weight Restrictions
25% weight reduction on secondary
Exemptions: emergency, milk_haulers
Permit Information
Requirements & Costs
- Overweight threshold
- 100,000 lbs
- Single trip permit
- $70
- Annual permit
- $700
- Processing time
- 24 hours
- Divisible loads
- Not permitted
- Online application
- Available
Required Documents
- Insurance
- Registration
Special Vehicle Provisions
grandfather Rights
Maine grandfathered provisions allow higher weights on Interstate highways including tri-axle units up to 48,000 lbs and 6-axle combinations up to 100,000 lbs
Single Axle: 22,400 lbs
Tandem Axle: 38,000 lbs
Contact Information
Permit Office
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Official Website
Maine DOT WebsiteCalculate Your Weight Compliance
Use our interactive calculator to check if your truck configuration is compliant with Maine regulations.
Open Weight CalculatorNeighboring States
Need Help With Maine Compliance?
Our experts can help you maximize payload while staying compliant.
Get Expert ConsultationSource: Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A | Last Updated: 1/15/2025 | Effective: 1/1/2025
Always verify current regulations with official sources before making shipping decisions.