Maryland Truck Weight Limits
Complete guide to commercial vehicle weight regulations in Maryland, including axle limits, permit requirements, and seasonal restrictions.
Weight Limits
| Axle Type | Maryland Limit | Federal Limit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Axle | 20,000 lbs | 20,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
| Tandem Axle | 34,000 lbs | 34,000 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) | 20,000 lbs | 20,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
Maryland 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
Maryland 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 Maryland
| Permissible Gross Loads for Vehicles in Maryland | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 34,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | 34,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | 34,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | 34,000 | 42,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | 39,000 | 42,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | 40,000 | 43,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | 40,000 | 44,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | 40,000 | 45,000 | 50,000 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | 40,000 | 45,500 | 50,500 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | 40,000 | 46,500 | 51,500 | — | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 15 | 40,000 | 47,000 | 52,000 | — | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 16 | 40,000 | 48,000 | 52,500 | 58,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 17 | 40,000 | 48,500 | 53,500 | 58,500 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 18 | 40,000 | 49,500 | 54,000 | 59,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 19 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 54,500 | 60,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 20 | 40,000 | 51,000 | 55,500 | 60,500 | 66,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 21 | 40,000 | 51,500 | 56,000 | 61,000 | 66,500 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 22 | 40,000 | 52,500 | 56,500 | 61,500 | 67,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 23 | 40,000 | 53,000 | 57,500 | 62,500 | 68,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 24 | 40,000 | 54,000 | 58,000 | 63,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | — | 80,000 |
| 25 | 40,000 | 54,500 | 58,500 | 63,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 26 | 40,000 | 55,500 | 59,500 | 64,000 | 69,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 27 | 40,000 | 56,000 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 70,000 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 28 | 40,000 | 57,000 | 60,500 | 65,500 | 71,000 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 29 | 40,000 | 57,500 | 61,500 | 66,000 | 71,500 | 77,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 30 | 40,000 | 58,500 | 62,000 | 66,500 | 72,000 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 31 | 40,000 | 59,000 | 62,500 | 67,500 | 72,500 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 32 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 63,500 | 68,000 | 73,000 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 33 | 40,000 | 60,500 | 64,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 34 | 40,000 | 61,500 | 64,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 35 | 40,000 | 62,000 | 65,500 | 70,000 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 36 | 40,000 | 63,000 | 66,000 | 70,500 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 37 | 40,000 | 63,500 | 66,500 | 71,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 38 | 40,000 | 64,500 | 67,500 | 71,500 | 77,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 39 | 40,000 | 65,000 | 68,000 | 72,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 40 | 40,000 | 66,000 | 68,500 | 73,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 41 | 40,000 | 66,500 | 69,500 | 73,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 42 | 40,000 | 67,500 | 70,000 | 74,000 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 43 | 40,000 | 68,000 | 70,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 44 | 40,000 | 69,000 | 71,500 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 45 | 40,000 | 69,500 | 72,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 46 | 40,000 | 70,500 | 72,500 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 47 | 40,000 | 71,000 | 73,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 48 | 40,000 | 72,000 | 74,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 49 | 40,000 | 72,500 | 74,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 50 | 40,000 | 73,500 | 75,500 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 51 | 40,000 | 74,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 52 | 40,000 | 75,000 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 53 | 40,000 | 75,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 54 | 40,000 | 76,500 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 55 | 40,000 | 77,000 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 56 | 40,000 | 78,000 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 57 | 40,000 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 58 | 40,000 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 59 | 40,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 60 | 40,000 | 80,000 | 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.
Maryland allows a 5% enforcement tolerance on gross weight.
Maryland 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 Maryland DOT before making shipping decisions.
Permit Information
Requirements & Costs
- Overweight threshold
- 80,000 lbs
- Single trip permit
- $75
- Annual permit
- $750
- Processing time
- 24 hours
- Divisible loads
- Not permitted
- Online application
- Available
Required Documents
- Insurance
- Registration
Special Vehicle Provisions
dump Service Registration
Special dump service registration weight limits
permit Weights
Permitted weights with special permits
weigh Stations
Mandatory weigh station stops
Contact Information
Permit Office
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM EST
Official Website
Maryland DOT WebsiteImportant Notes
- Interstate: 80,000 lbs (Federal limit)
- Dump service registration - 2 axles: 40,000 lbs
- Dump service registration - 3 axles: 55,000 lbs
- Dump service registration - 4+ axles: 70,000 lbs (Allegany and Garrett counties)
- Permitted: Up to 30,000 lbs per axle (≤110,000 lbs GVW)
- Federal Bridge Formula applies
- All vehicles >10,000 lbs must stop at weigh stations
- Special dump service registration available
Calculate Your Weight Compliance
Use our interactive calculator to check if your truck configuration is compliant with Maryland regulations.
Open Weight CalculatorNeighboring States
Need Help With Maryland Compliance?
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Get Expert ConsultationSource: Maryland Transportation Code Title 24 | Last Updated: 1/15/2025 | Effective: 1/1/2025
Always verify current regulations with official sources before making shipping decisions.