Michigan Truck Weight Limits
Complete guide to commercial vehicle weight regulations in Michigan, including axle limits, permit requirements, and seasonal restrictions.
Weight Limits
| Axle Type | Michigan 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 |
Michigan 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.
Michigan has route-specific weight limits. Default calculation uses interstate/standard operation; select a route context for higher state-route limits.
Showing interstate route, standard operation.
Enforcement tolerance: 5% on gross weight.
Bridge Formula
Michigan uses a custom weight formula: Michigan Formula.
Special Allowances
- 11-axle configurations up to 60 ft: 164,000 lbs
Permissible Gross Loads in Michigan
| Permissible Gross Loads for Vehicles in Michigan | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Based on Michigan FormulaBridge 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.
Michigan GVW limit of 80,000 lbs differs from the federal interstate limit of 80,000 lbs.
Michigan allows a 5% enforcement tolerance on gross weight.
Michigan 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.
Michigan has route-specific weight limits. Default calculation uses interstate/standard operation; select a route context for higher state-route limits.
Always verify current regulations with Michigan DOT before making shipping decisions.
Seasonal Weight Restrictions
Frost Law
35% weight reduction on all
Exemptions: milk_haulers, emergency
Permit Information
Requirements & Costs
- Overweight threshold
- 164,000 lbs
- Single trip permit
- $50
- Annual permit
- $1000
- Processing time
- Instant
- Divisible loads
- Permitted
- Online application
- Available
Required Documents
- Insurance
- Registration
Special Vehicle Provisions
interstate Vs Non Interstate
Interstate: federal 80,000 lbs GVW. Non-interstate designated highways: up to 164,000 lbs GVW with 11 axles using Michigan formula. Tandem assemblies allow 16,000 lbs per axle on designated highways.
agriculture
Vehicles hauling agricultural commodities exempt from seasonal frost law reductions if 48-hour notice given to county road commission. 5-axle ag trucks can carry up to 80,000 GVW with proper spacing.
GVW: 80,000 lbs
grandfather Rights
Michigan weight formula dates to pre-1982. Vehicles grandfathered under the May 1, 1982 date for state route weight allowances.
Contact Information
Permit Office
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Official Website
Michigan DOT WebsiteImportant Notes
- Michigan allows highest GVW in US at 164,000 lbs
- Frost Law restrictions apply to all roads
- Special provisions for milk haulers during restrictions
Calculate Your Weight Compliance
Use our interactive calculator to check if your truck configuration is compliant with Michigan regulations.
Open Weight CalculatorNeighboring States
Need Help With Michigan Compliance?
Our experts can help you maximize payload while staying compliant.
Get Expert ConsultationSource: Michigan Vehicle Code Act 300 | Last Updated: 1/15/2025 | Effective: 1/1/2025
Always verify current regulations with official sources before making shipping decisions.